There are fifty full-colour covers to Railway Wonders of the World, some of which were also used as colour plates. This page subdivides the fifty covers into more topical groups, each of which has its own slide-show.
Most of the covers (36 in all) cover British steam locomotives; the remainder cover Non-European countries (7), Europe (4), with three miscellaneous topics (steam engine wheels, a signal gantry and a composite cover for the final issue).
Out of the “Big Four”, 13 covers illustrated LNER locomotives, 10 covers illustrated LMS locomotives, 8 covers illustrated SR locomotives, and only five covers illustrated GWR locomotives. The latter total seems a little odd when it is remembered that Railway Wonders of the Worldappeared in the centenary year of the GWR.
The covers are therefore grouped below. Click on the hyperlink or the cover to view a slide-show of that group of covers.
The Covers of Railway Wonders of the World
The LNER
There are thirteen covers illustrating locomotives of the LNER.
The following link will take you to a slide-show illustrating all thirteen cover designs, or click on the image of the “Flying Scotsman”.
The LMS
There are ten covers illustrating locomotives of the LMS.
The following link will take you to a slide-show illustrating all ten cover designs, or click on the image of “Highland Light Infantry”.
The SR
There are eight covers illustrating locomotives of the SR.
The following link will take you to a slide-show illustrating all eight cover designs, or click on the image of “Howard of Effingham”.
The GWR
There are five covers illustrating locomotives of the GWR.
The following link will take you to a slide-show illustrating all five cover designs, or click on the image of “King George V”.
Non-European Countries
There are seven covers illustrating locomotives of non-European countries, largely North America. The origin of cover 22 is unclear as there are no editorial notes clarifying where the picture comes from.
The following link will take you to a slide-show illustrating all seven cover designs, or click on the image of the Canadian Pacific express locomotive.
European & Miscellaneous
There are four covers illustrating European locomotives, including one of a cable car. In addition there are three covers illustrating miscellaneous themes: locomotive wheels, a SR signal gantry, and a composite design used for the final issue.
The following link will take you to a slide-show illustrating all these cover designs, or click on the image of the German Streamlined locomotive.