Railway Bridge Adverts.

[Envoy]

I saw a photo recently on a local Rail bridge in relation to a news article. It had an old advert for "Brains Beer" which I doubt anyone is now paying for.
There are a few around Cardiff. It must make people who don't use the trains that railways are old fashioned and decrepit. Surprised NR or TfW don't paint over them.
Do other parts of the country have painted on adverts on rail bridges, or is it just a South Wales thing?

You are right; those bridges in Cardiff make the railway look old fashioned and decrepit. You would think that they would paint them light grey and then have the word ‘Metro’ painted on them in red.

 

[hatifhafi3]

I saw a photo recently on a local Rail bridge in relation to a news article. It had an old advert for "Brains Beer" which I doubt anyone is now paying for.
There are a few around Cardiff. It must make people who don't use the trains that railways are old fashioned and decrepit. Surprised NR or TfW don't paint over them.
Do other parts of the country have painted on adverts on rail bridges, or is it just a South Wales thing?

Yeah, you still see a few of those around the country – I’ve spotted old painted adverts on bridges and old buildings in the North West and Midlands too. They’re often called “ghost signs” and lots of people actually like them as a bit of local history rather than seeing them as scruffy. Cardiff and South Wales definitely have a fair share though, probably because of the breweries and industry back in the day.

 

[ejstubbs]

To me they’re a bit like how end terrace houses would sometimes have a painted advert on its side. Once a common practice but now not so much.

There's one just about surviving on South End Road, near Hampstead Heath station:



And a more contemporary one has recently appeared in Leeds:



Although the article about it in Rail Business Daily seems to suggest that it's not going to be there for long (but it could just be poor editing):

CrossCountry unveils new mural in Leeds

Cross Country has teamed up with Global Street Art, Europe’s leading producer of hand-painted murals, to create a giant mural in Leeds.

CrossCountry said the 14-metre high artwork “visually encapsulated the story of what has – and continues to – make Leeds such a vibrant cultural hub.”

Artist Elle Koziupa has brought together elements connecting the past, present and future of Leeds. Drawing on the city’s proud industrial history, its renowned cultural vitality, sporting prowess, notable landmarks and inclusive communities, the mural (titled The Embrace) “reinforces the importance of celebrating the city’s strong roots and heritage.”

CrossCountry added that the mural design combines photorealism with integrated painterly and graphical elements to create a “vivid and visually eye-catching summation of what the people of Leeds and the city itself stands for.”

Elle Koziupa said: “I wanted to ensure that the artwork has an emotional and visual impact on those that see it. The central idea features a truly aspirational moment with train travel at its heart. The scene of the train platform with two people greeting each other as they are about to embark on an amazing journey or sharing a joyful reunited moment, is the foundation for many possibilities as people meet and connect.”

Leeds railway station, positioned in the heart of the city, plays an important role as a destination hub for 34 million passengers per year. CrossCountry added that the mural’s location, on Aire Street near the station, “reinforced the influence of journey connectivity”.

David Mullins, CrossCountry’s Head of Brand, Communications & Digital Strategy, said: “As such an important and popular transport hub, Leeds station and the city itself is the backdrop for many people’s life experiences, memory making and connectivity. We believe the stunning artwork devised and created by Elle tells the story of Leeds, its residents, and visitors, in an engaging way, touching on a range of historical, cultural, sporting, and commercial references that make Leeds what it is. CrossCountry is proud to help bring people together as they make their own personal journeys and this is perfectly encapsulated in The Embrace.”

Dr Lee Bofkin, CEO and Janitor, at Global Street Art, says: “It has been a pleasure to work with CrossCountry, celebrating the great city of Leeds with this gorgeous mural on our Aire Street wall. I hope it brings joy to the people that see it and encourages all the more hugs.”

The mural will be in place on Aire Street, behind Leeds train station, from Thursday 28 August and Sunday 21 September.

 

[mpthomson]

To me they’re a bit like how end terrace houses would sometimes have a painted advert on its side. Once a common practice but now not so much. When I do see one, or what remains of one, I tend not to conclude that said house must be untidy, dirty, poorly maintained etc.

There's a few in York, the best known one being the Brain's Beans advert on the end of a terrace near Monk Bar. They're maintained and repainted periodically, as they should be, they're part of social history.

 

[contrex]

a familiar one somewhere in London was for Ferodo ( a supplier of brake equipment ).

The one at Herne Hill was part of my childhood.

 

[StoneRoad]

These bridge & building adverts are known as "Ghost Signs" ---

Many of them could be considered industrial and/or social heritage !
I think that quite a few of them are worth preserving, although quite how you do that is another matter.

 

[Deepgreen]

There's one just about surviving on South End Road, near Hampstead Heath station:

View attachment 187575

And a more contemporary one has recently appeared in Leeds:

View attachment 187581

Although the article about it in Rail Business Daily seems to suggest that it's not going to be there for long (but it could just be poor editing):

That King's Cross one is a gem, and, by quirk, still just about a relevant company name to advertise!

 

[Haywain]

There's a few in York, the best known one being the Brain's Beans advert on the end of a terrace near Monk Bar. They're maintained and repainted periodically, as they should be, they're part of social history.

Bile Beans, not Brain's.

 

[JKF]

Looking a bit faded now, but the bridge over the New Cut at the west end of Temple Meads is painted in Intercity swallow livery, and used to look very nice! Picture below from streetview:

 

[norbitonflyer]

Looking a bit faded now, but the bridge over the New Cut at the west end of Temple Meads is painted in Intercity swallow livery, and used to look very nice! Picture below from streetview:

View attachment 187585

There is, or at least used to be, a footbridge over the road at Shepherds Bush that was painted to look like a train, even the the nearest railway (the West London Line) ran under the road, not over it.

 

[mpthomson]

Bile Beans, not Brain's.

Good point well presented! it is indeed Bile Beans.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Sep 2025 ==

These bridge & building adverts are known as "Ghost Signs" ---

Many of them could be considered industrial and/or social heritage !
I think that quite a few of them are worth preserving, although quite how you do that is another matter.

Just repaint them

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Around here there is a local landmark in the Hanson's Ale bridge in Tipton. The bridge was recently replaced as part of West Midland Metro works and incredibly, they recreated the graphic on the new bridge ...

Before:

And after :

 

[ls2270]

There is, or at least used to be, a footbridge over the road at Shepherds Bush that was painted to look like a train, even the the nearest railway (the West London Line) ran under the road, not over it.

Yes it was an HST in InterCity livery but has been gone for many years now.

 

[sh24]

The new Hanson's Mild Ale bridge is a lovely thing to see. Great to see simple pieces of everyday heritage treated with respect.

 

[skyhigh]

Although the article about it in Rail Business Daily seems to suggest that it's not going to be there for long (but it could just be poor editing):

They paint a lot of adverts there. It's not unusual for them to only remain for a month or so.

 

[StoneRoad]

Although not adverts, the rail bridges over parts of the 1990 Gateshead Garden Festival site and some nearby roads were painted with geometric designs, most of which still seem to be there.
Even if only for nostalgic reasons, I might go and photograph them.

 

[Mr. SW]

Childhood memory of several bridges in West London bearing adverts for "Pratt's Motor Insurance". How we larffed.

 

[OVS Flatbottom]

Dublin has a few

Although I can't think of any in Dublin (or elsewhere in Ireland) that are actual painted ads like the ones the OP was discussing, rather than hoardings. There is, however, at least one example in Dublin of a bridge with a nickname derived from the former advertiser - the one at Drumcondra station is the "Independent Bridge" because it used to advertise the Irish Independent newspaper. (There's still an "Independent Pizza Company" near the bridge.)

 

[weepingwillowb]

There's a Ferodo advert in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, but it's a board, not a painted ad (photo below). I've seen an old postcard, circa the 1920s, when the advert on the railway bridge was Worthington beer, again on a board.

 

[Mr. SW]

Southall, West London

AEC Mandator at Iron Bridge, Southall - West London Photo Galleries

AEC Mandator (No date but D Reg 1970?)
I just about remember this, but I think it was changed to the British Leyland Flying L in later years

 

[High Dyke]

The former High Dyke branch bridge, where it crossed the A1 at Colsterworth, had Gouranga daubed on it. The bridge was demolished and replaced by a new structure, carrying a new road in about 2008.

 

[Gloster]

Southall, West London

AEC Mandator at Iron Bridge, Southall - West London Photo Galleries

AEC Mandator (No date but D Reg 1970?)
I just about remember this, but I think it was changed to the British Leyland Flying L in later years

The D-suffix was 1966, which was when this model, the TG4, was introduced.

 

[Dstock7080]

Ferodo still near the famous arches of Stonebridge Park:

Street View · Google Maps

Explore a place in a more immersive way in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[simonw]

Who's paying for "Give peas a chance."?

No one, as it's long gone

 

[hatifhafi3]

West Midlands has especially around Wolverhampton, there's a Hanson Mild Ale on the bridge along A449 leaving Wolverhampton, there's even an old design painted new on a bridge in Tipton https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceqqj0qv7npo

Oh wow, thanks for sharing that link! Really interesting to see how many of these old painted adverts are still around the West Midlands. The Hanson Mild Ale one near Wolverhampton is a classic, and I had no idea some have even been repainted like the one in Tipton. Feels like a little slice of history hidden in plain sight when you spot them.

 

[Siemens Trains]

The former High Dyke branch bridge, where it crossed the A1 at Colsterworth, had Gouranga daubed on it. The bridge was demolished and replaced by a new structure, carrying a new road in about 2008.

Perhaps a matter of opinion but Gouranga may fall into the Helch tag category.
Such tags seem intended to lift the spirits of passers-by or allow the artist to let off steam rather than advertising a product.

 

[DelW]

Who's paying for "Give peas a chance."?

No one, as it's long gone

Assuming this is referring to the Chiltern line M25 viaduct, Streetview shows it having gone from "Give peas a chance" to "Give Helch a break" then "Thank you NHS" (post Covid) and finally "Helth Skelth". What any of those (apart from the obvious NHS one) actually mean, if anything, is anyone's guess.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

I'm pretty certain there was a Ferodo advert on a rail overbridge in Caernarfon, which was appropriate as the firm had a factory there.
CL

 

[Undiscovered]

Narborough Rd in Leicester has a bridge with West End and pairs of socks painted on it.

 

[Amos]

Perhaps a matter of opinion but Gouranga may fall into the Helch tag category.
Such tags seem intended to lift the spirits of passers-by or allow the artist to let off steam rather than advertising a product.

I seem to recall that in the 80s or 90s Gouranga was associated with some form of religious movement.They would have membera in town centres encouraging people to “call out Gouranga,be happy”.