A SIGN rolling back the years to post-war holidays by rail to Largs and Millport is the latest addition to the collection at the town’s museum.
The enamelled Largs railway station sign from the days of British Railways has made its journey back to town all the way from Yorkshire, more than half a century after greeting hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers to the town.
The sign dates from before 1965, the year when British Railways became British Rail and the state-owned company’s famous ‘double arrow’ logo began to be rolled out across the UK rail network, though it's not known exactly when the original sign was removed.
A spokesperson for Largs Musuem explained: "The latest addition to our museum collection is this fantastic original enamelled British Railways Scottish Region Largs Station sign ('totem' to give its proper name).
"This sign would have been a fixture on Largs railway station in the 1960s or 70s.
"These signs are highly collectable by railway enthusiasts and this one was generously donated to the museum by Graham Hoult.
"Although a Yorkshire man through and through, Graham has many happy memories of childhood holidays in Largs and district, which is why he was keen to add the sign to his collection."
Graham visited Largs Museum to present the sign to volunteer Tricia Martin.
Largs railway station opened in 1885 when the extension of the Glasgow-Ardrossan line via West Kilbride and Fairlie was completed.
In its heyday the station welcomed trains from as far away as Manchester, bringing day trippers to the town.
Jamie Black from Largs Community Council is currently trying to encourage national rail tour companies to return to Largs, while local student Michael McKinley launched a petition earlier this year to bring a half hour train service to the town.
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