Letter from Spain to the Traveller
A fine English language brochure issued by RENFE – Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles – the Spanish National Railways and advertising RENFE train services within Spain as well as international services, thus connectivity with other European countries and destinations. Dated 1961 this appears to be especially aimed at the North American market and came at a time with the Francoist government was making serious attempts to market Spain as a holiday destination as part of a determined effort to stimulate the country’s economy after years of post-Civil War austerity and autarky.
The cover takes the form of a letter, complete with Spanish Correos postage stamp and franking, along with a device RENFE seem to have used for various publications – the outline of an electric locomotive hauling a train. As well as information on RENFE service, at stations and on trains, the brochure has several maps and diagrams including ones showing timings, by diesel trains, from Madrid to the various provincial centres with timings that now, in the age of AVE, show how rail journeys in Spain in earlier decades really did emphasis the size of the country.
The title is set in the light weight of Howard A. Trafton’s Cartoon, a handwritten-looking all-caps face, first cast by the Bauer foundry in 1936 and known as Fresko in Germany. The accompanying sans is Metro No. 2 for the most part, sometimes supported by the similar Futura. Printed by Hijos de E. Minuesa S.L., Madrid.
This page spread shows very neatly the distances and times of train journeys from Madrid to various provincial destinations by diesel traction – at the time RENFE was making a determined effort to convert main line trains from steam although this would be a slow process. The chart comparing the price of rail travel across various European countries shows the kilometer per US dollar.
This centre-spread shows the main line railway network in Spain along with distances in Km that allowed, by simple addition, the cost of basic journeys to be calculated on the basis of RENFE’s kilometer charge. In red pen someone has marked out a round trip via El Escorial and Madrid with the destination of Arenys de Mar noted – possibly for a stay?
