London Brighton and South Coast Railway Luggage Labels
A Round-up of the Oddities

The Sunny South Express was run jontly by the LBSCR and LNWR from the south coast to various destinations on the LNWR system. All surviving LBSCR Sunny South labels are from Brighton and the example shown here, to Rugby, is the best known one. All bear the stock no. (34 N.W.) and the printer's mark W. & S. Ltd. Note, also, the unusual railway title.

A similarly unusual title on this label to Swansea indicates the strong ties the LBSCR evidently had with the GWR. There is some mystery surrounding the expression 'South Coast Express' as there appears to have been no such animal until after the grouping in 1923. However, the Brighton luggage labels racks were replete with standard labels to GWR destinations as far afield as Penzance.

These intriguing labels were used in conjunction with a registered baggage system and one should perhaps question whether or not they are luggage labels in the strictest sense particularly as no mention is made of the railway's name. There are examples from/to other stations on the system.

This type, again, is for registered baggage and the tricoleur colour scheme leaves one in no doubt as to the destinations. Examples known are headed both with the home railway's legend and either Western of France Railways or French State railways. All known examples are to Paris (St. Lazare).

In recent times this type of label has come to light and only two identical examples are known to exist. The LBSCR's full title is emblazoned across the top but no French railway system is named. This example from Brighton to Caen is intriguingly routed via 'THE SHORTEST AND CHEAPEST ROUTE'. One would be forgiven for thinking that Newhaven - Dieppe was the only possibility but it should be borne in mind that The Brighton originally ran French ferry services from Shoreham as well.

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This page was created 23 November 2007