TRAIN journeys through the Scottish Borders take centre stage in a new exhibition of 40 vintage railway posters celebrating some of the most iconic stops on the London & North Eastern Railway line.

Original railway posters of Kelso, Selkirk and Berwick-upon-Tweed, from the ‘Golden Age of Travel’ – dating from the 1920’s to the 1950’s - feature in From Edinburgh to London & Beyond; showing now in County Durham.

All sourced from private collections, these vibrant art-deco and modernist posters turned railway platforms into inspirational art displays, tempting people to take a holiday or day-trip by train.

Andrew Heard, exhibition curator and visitor programmes manager at Ushaw, said: “We are thrilled to display a series of beautiful Scottish railway posters from the ‘Golden Age of Travel.’ These artworks encouraged people to escape to the Scottish Borders and enjoy towns like Kelso, Selkirk, Berwick Upon Tweed and Peebles.

Edinburgh to London is a truly iconic train journey, taking in magnificent coastal landscapes but also giving access via branch lines to the beauty of Scotland’s border towns, tourist attractions and countryside.”

Passenger rail travel opened up the possibility of long distance travel, adventure and excitement for the British public and railway posters were early examples of aspirational travel marketing.

Britain’s rail companies hired some of Britain’s finest artists to produce beautiful images of holiday and leisure destinations in order to capitalise on a new-found wanderlust among the working and middle classes.

The exhibition transports visitors back in time and follows the journey from Edinburgh to London along the LNER line and its adjoining branch lines.

It features posters from Scotland, Northumberland, Newcastle, Durham, Teesside and Yorkshire, as well as branch line stops in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

“In the true spirit of this exhibition, Durham is only a short train ride South on the LNER line from the Borders and it’s a perfect opportunity to combine it with a day spent discovering Ushaw’s historic house, Chapels, Park and Gardens,” added Heard.

Ushaw is also hosting rail-inspired activities throughout Spring and Summer, including an outdoor miniature steam locomotive and a large-scale installation of a model railway.

From Edinburgh to London & Beyond is open now and runs until June 26 in the William Allen Gallery, Ushaw, daily from 11am to 4pm. Exhibition access is included in the price of admission.