To the West — Trans-Australian Railway (c.1950)
A Classic Australian Rail Travel Poster
Bold, streamlined, and brimming with post-war confidence, this striking poster celebrates the power and promise of the Trans-Australian Railway at the dawn of the diesel age. With its commanding red locomotive surging across the plains, the artwork proudly promotes travel to the West in air-conditioned comfort—a statement of speed, modernity, and national connection.
Produced around 1950, the poster reflects an era when rail travel symbolised progress itself. Fast diesel-electric trains, smooth interiors, and climate-controlled carriages transformed the vast crossing of Australia into a refined and reliable journey.
⚡ Power, Speed & Modern Comfort
-
A dramatic, head-on view of the iconic GM diesel locomotive
-
Bold mid-century typography announcing confidence and momentum
-
Air-conditioning promoted as a hallmark of modern travel
-
Vast open landscapes reinforcing the epic east-west crossing
-
A visual promise of efficiency, reliability, and national reach
This is Australian rail at its most assertive—engineered for distance and designed for comfort.
📐 Size
-
700 mm (H) × 450 mm (W)
Faithful to the original poster proportions.
🎨 Premium Print & Display Options
-
📄 Heavyweight Paper — Printed on 170 gsm high-quality paper; ideal for framing under glass.
-
🧽 Laminated — True encapsulation using 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate; durable, wipe-clean, and long-lasting.
-
🪵 Laminated + Timber Hang Rails — Natural lacquered timber rails with hanging cord; ready to display.
-
🖼️ Canvas — 395 gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks.
-
🪵 Canvas + Timber Hang Rails — Gallery-style canvas with timber rails top and bottom.
⏳ Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed finishes, as each piece is professionally assembled by our framer.
🎁 Ideal For
-
Railway and industrial-design enthusiasts
-
Lovers of bold mid-century transport art
-
Offices, studies, workshops, and waiting rooms
-
Anyone inspired by Australia’s great east-west journeys
🇦🇺 An Icon of the Diesel Age
The arrival of fast diesel-electric trains marked a turning point in Australian rail history. This poster captures that moment perfectly—when technology, comfort, and ambition converged to shrink the continent and redefine long-distance travel.
🖼️ Display with Impact
Framed, laminated, or presented on canvas, To the West delivers energy, nostalgia, and unmistakable Australian character.
Powerful. Progressive. Unapologetically modern. A tribute to the railway that drove Australia forward.
