A SERIES of historic posters has been completed at Gourock railway station — and the collection is on track for an award by ScotRail.
It is the culmination of four years of work by former BBC Scotland sports commentator Alastair Alexander, who was born at Parklea Farm, Port Glasgow, and brought up at Margaret Street, Greenock.
Alastair, who is the author of ‘Action Stations! U-boat Warfare in the Clyde in Two World Wars’, initially produced a poster two years ago commemorating the River Clyde’s crucial involvement in the Second World War, entitled The Clyde, Gourock Station and Pier Wartime History.
He followed that up last year with pictures and short histories of steamers, an aerial map of Clyde steamer routes and photographs and details about piers.
Now he has finished his project with steam train, vintage advertising and Clyde coast posters.
It has been dubbed ‘the Great Wall of Gourock’ by ScotRail’s external relations manager, John Yellowlees.
He said: “Alastair’s tremendous display is unique in Scotland.
“It gives dynamism to the station, and we’re so impressed with it that we will nominate it for the British community rail art awards.” Alastair says he’s delighted the posters are being enjoyed by many people.
Commuters regularly stop to look at and read them, and the display is now a popular part of Inverclyde Tourist Group’s tours for cruise ship visitors.
He said: “It was always my intention to complement the steamer and wartime posters with a history of the steam railways and a selection of vintage posters covering the steam era.
“I wanted to do something for Gourock by presenting the station’s history over a hundred-year period until 1966.” Gourock station service staff Lesley Campbell and Margaret McVey say they spot people admiring the posters every day.
Lesley said: “The posters are brilliant.” Margaret added: “They really brighten up the station.”
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