Railway Bridge Adverts.

[J663738]

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?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Do other parts of the country have painted on adverts on rail bridges, or is it just a South Wales thing?

They have historically been used anywhere; a familiar one somewhere in London was for Ferodo ( a supplier of brake equipment ).

I'd disagree about them making the railway look old fashioned; traditional style painted adverts like this are far easier on the eye than current advertising methods and they do add a bit of visual interest; they don't usually clash violently with their surroundings.

 

[Western 52]

There was a Ferodo advert on a bridge over the A48 in Bridgend too, not sure if it's still there.

Back in 1984 during the miners' strike I remember seeing "Stop. NUM official piket" painted on a bridge. Yes that was the spelling.

 

[Gloster]

They appeared in plenty of different places. The most common subjects were the railway’s own offerings (this was particularly in the early part of the century), products or services that might be of interest to the motorists passing below (Ferodo, Castrol, etc. or local garages) and local products that visitors might be encouraged to try out, such as Brains or other beers. I have a vague recollection that there used to be one with the motto ‘You are now entering the Strong country’ (the much missed Strong’s brewery of Romsey).

 

[djox]

Do other parts of the country have painted on adverts on rail bridges, or is it just a South Wales thing?

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

 

[Siemens Trains]

There's a railway bridge in Glasgow that's widely known as the Cutty Sark Bridge because of a link to an advert for Cutty Sark whisky.

At the risk of sounding like a killjoy, I'm a little uneasy about adverts such as a couple of those shown in the original post.

Firstly, potentially distracting and unnecessary text is carried on bridges which have a height restriction.

Secondly, many people under 18 have an interest in things relating to trains therefore this type of 'permanent' advertising might be rather questionable. The product name is intentionally built into the infrastructure and makes a strong association between age-restricted items and the environment.

I know there are loads of examples from history, like the OXO building next to the Thames in London, but I feel it's best avoided if possible. As stated, chances are that nobody even pays Network Rail for it.

 

[Undiscovered]

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

 

[weepingwillowb]

In the early 1960s there was an ESSO advertisement on the south side of the North Road bridge, Wetherby, between the East Junction and the Goods Station on the Church Fenton line.

 

[PeterC]

The Pontyool and Blaenavon Railway have an advert for the nearby Rhymney Brewery* on one of their bridges. It does give an old school feel to what looks like a replacement bridge.

* Not to be confused with Rhymney Breweries which traded under various names from 1839 to 1978 and was actually in Rhymney.

 

[Wychwood93]

They appeared in plenty of different places. The most common subjects were the railway’s own offerings (this was particularly in the early part of the century), products or services that might be of interest to the motorists passing below (Ferodo, Castrol, etc. or local garages) and local products that visitors might be encouraged to try out, such as Brains or other beers. I have a vague recollection that there used to be one with the motto ‘You are now entering the Strong country’ (the much missed Strong’s brewery of Romsey).

There were, I think, up to three of the Strong's ones on the down side after Winchester and before Eastleigh. Wooden structure with sign facing the railway. The structure of one of them was visible until moderately recently - it might be still there but the undergrowth has, as in too many places, become the overgrowth.

 

[John R]

I recall the Ferodo one in Bridgend in the 1960s when heading for our annual holiday in Carmarthen. We stopped in 1968 so I can be sure of the period.

Indeed, as soon as I saw the title of the post, that’s immediately what I thought of, as it had memories of going on holiday!

 

[Acfb]

There's a Ferodo advert at the railway bridge south of the site of the former Chapel-en-le-Frith Central in addition to the Ferodo adverts at Chapel-en-le-Frith Station. I didn't know Ferodo was advertised on railway architecture etc elsewhere.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I didn't know Ferodo was advertised on railway architecture etc elsewhere.

Think there were several "Ferodo bridges" in various locations, up and down the GB network, in years gone by. Not sure how many there'll still be, as it's quite likely that if a particular bridge is still there, it'll have long since been repainted/overpainted by now.

 

[Amos]

There used to be a bridge in Oldham proclaiming the town as the home of the tubular bandage.Goodness knows how many accidents it caused.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

There used to be a bridge in Oldham proclaiming the town as the home of the tubular bandage.Goodness knows how many accidents it caused.

Think that was the iconic bridge at Oldham Mumps which was emblazoned with the message "Seton welcome you to Oldham: home of the tubular bandage". Demolished in or around August 2010, or shortly thereafter, ahead of the arrival of the Metrolink.

 

[RyanOPlasty]

There is one in Coventry Here

 

[MCR247]

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.

 

[JKF]

I think there was a bridge over the A58 (Whitehall Rd) west of Leeds for the Farnley iron works branch that had a company name on it, possibly the name of the business the line served in later days. My memory is only from seeing old photos of it, it was a bit before my time.

 

[Buzby]

There's a railway bridge in Glasgow that's widely known as the Cutty Sark Bridge because of a link to an advert for Cutty Sark whisky.

Well, it passed me by. What street was it on? Many of the overbridges were supporting non-used lines, so provided BR with revenue until their removal. Glasgow didn’t have all that many - where Central Station crossed Argyle Street (the ‘Hielanman’s Umbrella’) two adverts - east and west facing were well established, usually for tobacco products. More recently, at the old Cumberland Street station where the line crossed Eglinton Street, Glasgow TOA (taxi) was a fixture for many years, it was lost after repainting.

On Great Western Road at Anniesland, both sides of the bridge featured a large yellow sign spanning both carriageways proclaiming ‘Anniesland Station’, topped with the double-V logo of the Glasgow Electtics but all this has gone. I don’t believe there are any remaining these days.

 

[jamiearmley]

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.

Indeed.
This has recently appeared on the end of a terrace in Leeds.
I think it's rather good, and improves the area, rather than indicating decay.

 

[adc82140]

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

Helch?

 

[styles]

Helch must be the biggest current sponsor across the UK.

 

[EyeKay]

There was a Ferodo bridge in Blackpool but it was demolished years ago when the old direct line was converted into a road.

 

[Siemens Trains]

Well, it passed me by. What street was it on? Many of the overbridges were supporting non-used lines, so provided BR with revenue until their removal. Glasgow didn’t have all that many - where Central Station crossed Argyle Street (the ‘Hielanman’s Umbrella’) two adverts - east and west facing were well established, usually for tobacco products. More recently, at the old Cumberland Street station where the line crossed Eglinton Street, Glasgow TOA (taxi) was a fixture for many years, it was lost after repainting.

The Cutty Sark Bridge isn't in proper Glasgow like your examples. It carries the Rutherglen & Coatbridge line over the A8 just south of Bargeddie.

I don't believe anything is advertised on the bridge nowadays and arguably it might be viewed as bad form on a trunk road. But this structure is widely known as the Cutty Sark Bridge, as the map screenshot below attests.

 

[Flange Squeal]

The Paper Mill Lane bridge in Alton, Hampshire, has above it the buffer stops of Alton platform 1, the link line between Network Rail platform 2 and the preserved Mid-Hants Railway (Watercress Line), and the heritage railway itself. This is now a dark green colour with light green metalwork and logos adverting the Watercress Line. Sadly Google Street View hasn't captured it yet but an image of the bridge can be found at the following link:

#railindustry #projectdevelopment #teamwork #production #networkrail #nationwiderail | Nationwide Engineering Group

As part of our contract to refurbish 12 underbridges in the Wessex region, we have recently completed Paper Mill Lane, Alton in partnership with Network Rail. The package included grit blasting, painting, steelwork and masonry repairs which will preserve the bridge and provide a 25 year...

www.linkedin.com

 

[Buzby]

I don't believe anything is advertised on the bridge nowadays

You’re right - is was located on the east side of the bridge facing Glasgow-bound vehicles on the A8. It was removed when the ‘missing’ section of the M8 was created, necessitating a much longer span, which then connected to the existing bridge.

I’m sure Glasgow had one with a Ferodo advert too, possibly Dumbarton Road, Partick which had 3 rail bridges. 2 of which were removed leaving only the Partick Hill Station bridge extant.

 

[norbitonflyer]

The bridges carrying the Lincoln Avoiding Line over the High Street and Canwick Road (now removed) carried varuis adverts, but shortly after the line closed they carried adverts for a local estate agent, suggesting the bridges might be for sale!

Several in London carried adverts for the Southern Electric, often with a big arrow pointing to the nearest statìon.

 

[RailWonderer]

Dublin has a few, in fact IE partnered with a firm called Creative Technology back in 2021.

With CIÉ looking to modernise their static advertising billboards, Creative Technology Systems Integration (CT SI) was contracted to deliver the design, supply, installation, commission and maintenance of 4 outdoor LED screens across four railway bridges in Dublin city and 1 indoor LED display inside Dublin’s Pearse railway station.

https://x.com/globalire/status/1403307912655691777

Transforming Dublin's DOOH Railway Displays - Ireland

ct-group.com

Images attached in case anybody reads this if the links expire.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The best known one must surely be the Camden Lock one in London?

I was going to post a Google Streetview link to it but decided not to because it's unfortunately been vandalised; instead I've done a screenshot with the vandalism covered over.

 

[Clydeflyer]

One from Paisley/Elderslie area...

The other side says "Talbot Linwood Plant" and dates back to when there was the car factory there. Always thought it would be best cleaned up and restored as a nod to the industrial heritage of the area.