The new Cafeteria-Restaurant Car : British Transport Catering Services, London : nd [c1954]

            A highly ephemeral leaflet, printed on almost tissue like paper, but displaying the careful layout and typography that marks it as a product of the Curwen Press in Plaistow, London. Much of the British Transport Commission's publicity originated at the Curwen and the use of Monotype decorated borders and printer's flowers on the cover is typical of the 'house style' employed at the time.

The leaflet itself is undated but likely refers to the experimental introduction in 1954 of a number of railway coaches reconstructed by British Railways that year to trial a more "economical and comfortable train catering" experience. This involved not just a traditional 'at seat' railway restaurant services this car offered a 'self-service' cafeteria counter that included a range of 'plats du jour' - these consist, as can be seen, of standard fare that does not sound quite so 'a la mode' as the use of 'plat du jour' might suggest! This move towards self-service was being echoed at the time in railway station buffets and cafeterias as British Railways attempted to modernise its services. British Transport Catering Services, part of the Hotels Executive of the BTC, provided such services to Britiah Railways.

Taken on: August 29, 2022

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Mike Ashworth Collection

British Railways

railway catering

buffet car

restaurant car

British Transport Catering services

London

ephemera

leaflet

c1954

railway publicity

transport ephemera

The New Cafeteria-Restaurant Car

Monotype

typeface

typography

Curwen Press

plats du jour

restaurant menu

beverages

miniatures

self service

innovation

British Transport Commission

travel

railway travel

railways « less

Sets appears in: • The New Cafeteria-Restaurant Car : leaflet issued by British Transport Catering Services - British Railways : c1954 • Menus and wine lists more » • British Transport Commission • British Transport Commission Hotels & Catering Sevices • A Curwen Press miscellany « less

Groups appears in: • Typography and Lettering • That Old Timey Feeling more » • Typophile // typography, lettering and design • FOOD NOSTALGIA • Vintage Typography • found images of food (and beverages) • Text and Typography • Curwen Press - British printing house, 1863 - 1983 • Classic Transport • PLANET EARTH TRANSPORTATION • PLANET EARTH BACK IN THE DAY • British Rail • Vintage Railway Publicity, pre-1980 • UK Railway Memorabilia • Travellers' Tails « less

Camera: Brother MFC-J6930DW (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Brother MFC-J6930DW
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 18.0 (Macintosh)
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