Blackburn train-mad couple say home has become ‘selfie spot’

A train-mad couple who have adorned the whole front of their home in railway memorabilia have told how they are being inundated with visitors wanting to “come and take selfies”.

Eric and Wendy Coupe, of Blackburn, Lancashire, said the quirky decor at their terraced house in Wellington Road “started with a bench and a clock” about 10 years ago.

They now have a range of colourful rail station signs both past and present from across the country.

“We’ve no idea how many there are,” Mr Coupe said. “We’ve never had time to count, and there’s more to come.”

The rail enthusiasts run the East Lancashire Model Railway Organisation and were also inspired by the influence of Mr Coupe’s father, who was an engineer for British Rail.

They said what began with a handful of signs 10 years ago has now become a full-time hobby, with the collection featuring both originals and replicas.

The signs come “from all different parts of the country” and are making the property “a landmark in Blackburn”, the 66-year-old said.

He added that the oldest is a version of the British Railways sign which hangs above the Flying Scotsman.

“A lot of people have signs in the back of sheds and you don’t realise you have them,” he said.

“And some of them are worth money and some aren’t and some stations you realise don’t exist anymore if you look carefully, like Blackpool Central.”

“We’ve even got Weatherfield from Coronation Street,” his wife said.

Mr Coupe said their neighbours “aren’t bothered” by all the attention, and told them “you’re doing a good job”.