Follow the development of rail infrastructure from the wooden railways of the 18th century to 21st century technology, including track, signs and lineside equipment.
Railway Infrastructure
Notice, wooden, Shrub Hill Road Level Crossing - Rules.
Stone rail from the Hay Tor Tramway, Dartmoor, Devon, c. 1826.
1895
Notice, enamel, Dinorwic Quarries Railway, Rules Regulations & Conditions, 1895, in English and Welsh.
1849
Memorial plaque, stone, to commemorate those killed during the construction of the Arthington (Bramhope) Tunnel, Leeds & Thirsk Railway, 1845-1849, erected by James Bray, Contractor, 1849, from Otley churchyard.
Cast iron sign, London & North Eastern Railway, England/Scotland border sign from Deadwater, red letters supported by a white beam, a rose and a thistle, a pike or halberd separates the 2 names at the border, dimensions: 100"H x 179" 15/16 W x 7" 3/8 D, 2450H x4750W x187Dmm.
Weather Vane, Chester & Birkenhead Railway, depicting first locomotive on Chester and Birkenhead Rly 1841, ex Birkenhead.
1850
Railway bridge section, portion of rivetted girder from Britannia Bridge, Menai Straits, with painted inscription LAST RIVET / MARCH 5 1850 / R.STEPHENSON.
Signal box nameboard, Masons Arms Crossing.
Notice, wooden, "Passengers must not cross the line except by road", white on red.
Notice, wooden, "ENGINE ASHES ONLY", black on white.
Notice, Cheshire Lines Committee, white letters on black background. "These closets are intended for the convenience of passengers only, workmen, cabmen, fishporters and idlers are not permitted to use them. By order."
Sign, enamel, London Midland & Scottish Railway, "LMS CAR PARK", yellow arrow with blue lettering.
1835-1984
Wall plaque, Works Managers, Shildon 1835-1984.
Notice, wooden, "None but Company's horses allowed to drink at this trough", ex Camden Goods Depot.
Sign, metal, "Railway Street", ex York City - renamed George Hudson Street in 1971.
1948-1970
Enamel station sign, British Railways (London Midland Region), Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (the longest station name in the world) white letters on maroon, in 3 pieces, each piece 77"x12".
Cast iron notice, Any person who omits to shut and fasten this gate is liable to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings, black letters on white background
Totem, aluminium, British Rail (London Midland Railway), Leeds City, Dimensions: overall: 460 mm x 1217 mm x 15 mm.
1823-1825
Bridge, Stockton & Darlington Railway, cast iron bridge reputed to be the first iron railway bridge, used to span the River Gaunless at West Auckland, designed by George Stephenson, built by John & Isaac Burrell, Newcastle upon Tyne between 1823-1825.
Cast iron notice, Great Southern & Western Railway, Pursuant to section 38 of the Great Southern & Western Railway Act 1903 the public are hereby warned not to Trespass upon this railway.
1828
Two lengths of wrought iron fish-belly rail with projection to fit cavity in chair, with three chairs and two stone sleepers. W Losh's patent, 1828.
Cast iron sign, NER, Electrification Caution, from Shildon-Newport electrification, c. 1922, originally mounted on signal gantry at Bowersfield Junction, Stockton.
Enamel totem, British Rail (London Midland Region), 'Cardington' (maroon). Dimensions: 36" x 10".
Rail, Barlow's rail, 2 short lengths of rail on joint saddle, marked 'Barlow's saddle-back rail wrought iron, weight 125 lbs per yard 1868', 99 lbs, ex Crewe Collection.
Enamel totem, British Railway (London Midland Region), 'Elmesthorpe'.
Ornamental carving, Midland Railway, carved wooden wyvern painted green, red and yellow, from old Divisional Civil Engineer's Building, Derby.
1967
Three Dowty Retarders, exploded to show mechanisms, 5 foot/second retarder, 4 and 12 foot/second booster retarders, in display case, British Railways, c1967, fitted to track in marshalling yard and used to speed or slow wagons during marshalling.
Notice, wooden, Shrub Hill Road Level Crossing.
Footbridge; North Eastern Railway; Cast Iron; ex Percy Main station
Notice - Midland Railway trespass notice, June 1899, white letters on red/brown background.
1838
Station Gates, London & Birmingham Railway. Gates from 'Doric Arch' of Euston Station. Heavy wrought iron with ornamental locks bearing L & BR crest.
1888; 1984
Rivet, Forth Bridge Railway Co. Iron rivet with round head, mounted on wood base, from Forth Bridge, 1888 (removed 1984). Overall: 60 mm x 122 mm x 70 mm; rivet: 83 mm 41 mm.
Boundary post, North Eastern Railway, cast iron cylindrical post, surmounted by ball marked "NER"
Tramway plate rail, Penllwyn Tramway, marked 'Penllwyn Tramway AD 1805', ex Crewe Collection.
Metal sign, North Eastern Railway, 'Trespassers will be prosecuted'. White on black with white border.
Cast iron notice, North Eastern Railway, public warning not to trespass, white letters on black background.
Cast iron notice, Rhymney Railway, Notice regarding trespassing, in both English & Welsh, white letters on black background.
Cast iron sign, Lancashire & Northern Railway and Great Northern Railway, Public notice not to trespass, white letters on black background.
Cast iron sign, LNW & LYR, Notice regarding mechanically driven capstans, white letters on black background
Cast iron notice, Great Northern Railway, 'Public Warning not to trespass', white letters on black background
1875
Notice, cast iron, Midland Railway, Bridge weight limits, signed by James Williams, April 28th 1875, black letters on white background
Boundary marker, London & South Western Railway, cast iron.
Passimeter office, London & North Eastern Railway, ex Winchmore Hill, wooden and glass four-sided structure with ticket desk
1839
Section of bridge, Newcastle & North Shields Railway, laminated timber, designed by John and Benjamin Green, Engineers, from bridge over the Borough Road, North Shields, built 1839, demolished 1937.
Rail, Barlow's saddle-back, marked 'Barlow's saddle-back rail wrt iron 125 lbs per yard AD 1849', 38 lbs, ex Crewe Collection.
Station sign, London & North Western Railway, "Gospel Oak", maroon with white letters.
c.1904-1914
Stained glass window, Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, ex Manchester Victoria Station, by George Wragge, 'The Crafts', London & Manchester, c. 1909, depicting arms of York and white rose, with vignette of Hughes 4-6-0 No. 1510, built Horwich 1906, superheated in 1921 and withdrawn in 1935. 75 x 50 in.
Rail section, marked '70 lbs 6 [catalogue number] 1847', ex Crewe Collection.
Rail section, Birmingham & Derby Junction Railway [Tame Valley branch], marked in chalk '12' [exhibit number], associated objects 1991-7470/48 and /50, ex Crewe Collection.
Rail section, Vignoles flat bottom rail, Birmingham & Gloucester Railway, marked 'Improved Birmingham & Gloucester', ex Crewe Collection.
