BRITISH RAILWAYS LION AND WHEEL SIGN

PLEASE HELP, WHAT IS IT FOR,JUST FOUND IN LOFT WEEK AGO AND DONT KNOW AGE OR USE BUT IT IS A REALLY NICE INTERESTING SIGN,IT IS MADED OF WOOD AND LOOKS TO BE HAND PAINTED .WHAT DOES STAND OUT IS IT HAS VERY VIBRANT GOLD ALMOST LIKE REAL GOLD,WE DO KNOW IT WAS PUT IN THE LOFT ON THE 19 70 S AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IT WAQS USED ACTUALLY ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAINS I THINK. ANY INFOMATIONB FROM ANY ONE WOULD BED EXTREMELLY WELCOME THANK YOU FOR READING MY POST.NICK FROM LINCOLN UK