Trainroom Signs


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Train Room Signs

Written by Paul D. Race for Family Garden Trains

This section replicates old-fashioned signage that you used to see on and around railroads. These are ORIGINAL art pieces. You are allowed to download them for your own use, or even to make signs for your friends. However, it is expressly forbidden to alter or to load on other people's web sites or to sell signs made with this artwork.

Downloading Times and File Sizes

If you have a dial-up connection, full-sized signage will take a few minutes to download--that's why we will provide small versions you can review before you click. In addition, when you view these files on your system, they will also seem several sizes too large, although most of them are actually the right size for printing on a 600dpi printer. The reason for this discrepancy is that your monitor shows things at 72dpi, eight times larger than the same file will print on a 600dpi printer.

If you have a 300dpi printer, or if you need the graphics for another scale than the 1:22.5 most of them were designed for, you will need to be able to make the graphic print smaller on the page than it would otherwise.

Downloading with Internet Explorer

With most newer versions of Internet Explorer, when you click on the link to the download, you will get a new window with the sign file displayed. After the whole file has downloaded to your system, the file redisplays at the largest size it can and still fit in the window. The best way to deal with it from then on is to "right-click" on it, then choose an option that allows you to download or save a copy to your hard drive. (The option list varies by platform.) When you save the file to your hard drive, try to choose an option that allows you to save it as a .jpg file. That way the file won't lose resolution or color depth when you save it. (Although if you open it in an image processsor then save it again, you may lose detail). If for some reason you can't get a "save to file" option to work, and you have a good image processing program (Publishers's Paintbrush, Corel Photopaint, Adobe Photoshop, even Paint Shop Pro), you can use the "copy" function to copy the image into your computer's "clipboard" (memory buffer), then open the image processing program and "paste" it into the image procesor.

Resizing and Printing Signs

In most cases, you can use Microsoft Word to do this. Open a blank Word ".doc" file, then paste the image into the file. Resize the image to whatever size you need before printing. One alternative would be if you have a good image processing program on your computer - you could use the "copy" function of your browser to copy the image into your computer's "clipboard," then open the image processing program. Then use the "Create New from Clipboard" option to load the image into your program. Although you can save the file onto your hard drive subsequently, the best results will happen if you print the file the first time you have it open. If you get really confused while you're trying to do this, e-mail us with the name of your browser, word processor, and image processing (paint or photo) program, and we'll try to provide more specific information.

Protecting Sign Finishes

If you have an inkjet and want to use a sign outside, you will have to do something to protect the ink. Some folks glue the paper to the board they want to use, then use a clear spray coat such as an acrylic spray, and spray a tiny bit at a time (so the ink doesn't run) in many light passes until enough of the acrylic has soaked into the paper to protect it and a protective layer has formed over the ink. Even if you print on a waterproof medium (such as bumpersticker or label sheets) the ink may run if it gets rained on. Final results depend, frankly, as much on the kind of printer you have as anything else. But most people figure something out.

Legalese

By downloading a sign, you accept the following conditions:

You are allowed to download it for your own use and to make signs for your friends.
You may not alter this sign, load on any web page or sell signs made with this artwork.

Signshop

So far we only have three signs, but we think they're good ones. We plan to add more after we get caught up fixing other things on the site. In the meantime, please contact us if you would like to see a particular sign.

No Spitting Sign - These signs were once critical when there were epidemics of tuberculosis and chewing tobaccco. Today, it's a friendly reminder that people shouldn't be rude in your back yard. Printed full size, this sign will be about 13" long, so you'll need to use legal-sized paper to get the "full" effect. Set your printer for "landscape" mode. The file is about 667kb.
To download the free high-resolution "No Spitting" sign for your personal use, please click on the sign to your right.

Trainmen Only Sign - Today it may seem sexist, but this sign used to be a way of noting that only certain people were allowed certain places on railroad property. Today, it can be used as a "gentle reminder" that certain passageways or rooms are off-limits to visitors. Printed full size, this sign will be about 12.5" long, so you'll need to use legal-sized paper to get the "full" effect. Set your printer for "landscape" mode. The file is about 764kb.
To download the free high-resolution "Trainmen Only" sign for your personal use, please click on the sign to your right.

Trainwomen Only Sign - Okay, it's time to give the women their due. Printed full size, this sign will be about 12.25" long, so you'll need to use legal-sized paper to get the "full" effect. Set your printer for "landscape" mode. The file is about 950kb.
To download the free high-resolution "Trainwomen Only" sign for your personal use, please click on the sign to your right.

"Store-Bought" Signs
Although we will try to add signs here occasionally, you may want to see what other folks have available ready-made. We've put a couple Amazon links to signs you might like on this page. If you want to see nearly three hundred of the best "vintage-style" signs that are commercially available, check out the Ande Rooney's Porcelain Signs on Amazon.
Or you could check for:
Ande Rooney Railroad Signs on Amazon
Ande Rooney Toy Train Signs on Amazon

Please stop by every once in a while - we DO have some other signs planned. Again, please contact us if you would like to see a particular sign.

Return to the Family Garden Trains Free Large Scale Signs and Graphics page.

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Note: Family Garden Trains(tm), Garden Train Store(tm), and Big Christmas Trains(tm) are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications(tm) (www.btcomm.com). All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by Paul D. Race. Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically forbidden.

For more information, please contact me

		*No Spitting Sign* - These signs were once critical when there were epidemics of tuberculosis and chewing tobaccco. Today, it's a friendly reminder that people shouldn't be rude in your back yard. Printed full size, this sign will be about 13" long, so you'll need to use legal-sized paper to get the "full" effect. Set your printer for "landscape" mode. The file is about 667kb. To download the free high-resolution "No Spitting" sign for your personal use, please click on the sign to your right.
		*Trainmen Only Sign* - Today it may seem sexist, but this sign used to be a way of noting that only certain people were allowed certain places on railroad property. Today, it can be used as a "gentle reminder" that certain passageways or rooms are off-limits to visitors. Printed full size, this sign will be about 12.5" long, so you'll need to use legal-sized paper to get the "full" effect. Set your printer for "landscape" mode. The file is about 764kb. To download the free high-resolution "Trainmen Only" sign for your personal use, please click on the sign to your right.
		*Trainwomen Only Sign* - Okay, it's time to give the women their due. Printed full size, this sign will be about 12.25" long, so you'll need to use legal-sized paper to get the "full" effect. Set your printer for "landscape" mode. The file is about 950kb. To download the free high-resolution "Trainwomen Only" sign for your personal use, please click on the sign to your right.