Ronan O’Brien shares his thoughts on a slightly unusual project.

You’ll generally find me in one of the paint shops across the Severn Valley Railway, applying fresh liveries to our locomotives, carriages or wagons.

I do all of our painting using traditional coach painting techniques using brushes, with all the lining and traditional sign lettering written using a brush and mahl stick. Then we apply many layers of varnish over the top for protection and that extra bit of shine!

Not long ago, I had the chance to try painting something completely different – a sign for one of the SVR’s pubs!

If you’ve had the chance to drink a pint or two in the Railwayman’s Arms at Bridgnorth station, you’ll know what an institution this place is. In fact, it’s been open continuously since 1861 (although it wasn’t originally called the Railwayman’s Arms) and this year was once again included in the Good Beer Guide, published by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

Around February this year, some of the regulars noticed that the pub board on the platform side was starting to look a bit shabby.  After much discussion and arm-twisting, it was decided that a new one would be made. Just as well, because when regular Phil Bilboe took the old one down it started falling apart in his hands!

The team sourced a suitable piece of hardwood from Kidderminster carriage works, which believe it or not had a previous life as a desk top at the University of Aston! Andy Williams, of Bridgnorth pattern shop, cut and planed it in preparation for painting.

I carried out the painting of the sign, but the design for it originated from Roy Baker, a talented painter and signwriter whose work adorned the SVR for many years, including a former sign for the Railwayman’s Arms, which now hangs in the bar beside the fireplace. Roy passed away in the late 90s, but his legacy lives on in this recreation of his design. I even used some of Roy’s own brushes to paint this new version.