The National Railway Museum and licensed partner Robert Frederick have launched a new collection of jigsaws and paint by numbers sets inspired by some of Britain’s most iconic vintage railway posters.
Drawing on the National Railway Museum’s internationally significant collection in York, the range transforms celebrated railway travel posters from the golden age of British rail advertising into beautifully crafted products for puzzle enthusiasts, hobbyists and gift buyers.
Originally commissioned by railway companies in the first half of the 20th century, these artworks helped define an era when rail travel was synonymous with style, aspiration and adventure. Featuring dramatic coastlines, picturesque countryside, bustling cities and renowned holiday destinations, the posters were created by some of the period’s most talented commercial artists, including Frank Mason and Jack Merriott.
Today, the original posters are carefully preserved within the collections of the National Railway Museum, part of the Science Museum Group.
The newly launched collection includes 500-piece and 1,000-piece jigsaws featuring poster designs including London Pride, Speed to the West, West Highland Line, Yorkshire, Devon, London and St Andrews. Once completed, the puzzles can be framed and displayed as pieces of artwork.
The range also includes two paint by numbers formats. The A3 envelope edition contains a 30 x 40cm canvas, 16 paints and two brushes, while the premium tube edition includes a larger 40 x 50cm canvas wall hanging, 18 paints and gift-ready packaging.
“The National Railway Museum’s railway poster collection is one of the finest collections of travel advertising artwork in the world,” commented Amy Harbour, head of licensing and commercial partnerships at the Science Museum Group. “These designs continue to captivate audiences decades after they were created, combining incredible artistry with the stories of Britain’s railway heritage. Working with Robert Frederick has allowed us to bring these iconic images to life in a new way, creating products that offer creativity, nostalgia and a genuine connection to our collections.”
Andrew Kersey, key account brand manager at Robert Frederick, continued: “Consumers are increasingly looking for products with authenticity, heritage and lasting value. The National Railway Museum railway posters offer all three. Their striking artwork translates beautifully into puzzles and paint by numbers, creating products that appeal to a wide range of consumers while delivering strong gifting opportunities for retailers. We are delighted to bring this unique collection to market.”
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