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
1835-1984
Wall plaque, Works Managers, Shildon 1835-1984.
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.
Stone rail from the Hay Tor Tramway, Dartmoor, Devon, c. 1826.
Notice, wooden, "Passengers must not cross the line except by road", white on red.
Notice, wooden, Shrub Hill Road Level Crossing - Rules.
1930 - 1960
A City of York Council sign for 'Railway Street', removed when it was renamed 'George Hudson Street' in 1971.
Sign, enamel, London Midland & Scottish Railway, "LMS CAR PARK", yellow arrow with blue lettering.
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."
1895
Notice, enamel, Dinorwic Quarries Railway, Rules Regulations & Conditions, 1895, in English and Welsh.
Notice, wooden, "ENGINE ASHES ONLY", black on white.
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.
Notice, wooden, "None but Company's horses allowed to drink at this trough", ex Camden Goods Depot.
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.
Signal box nameboard, Masons Arms Crossing.
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, Any person who omits to shut and fasten this gate is liable to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings, black letters on white background
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".
Footbridge; North Eastern Railway; Cast Iron; ex Percy Main station
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.
Totem, aluminium, British Rail (London Midland Railway), Leeds City, Dimensions: overall: 460 mm x 1217 mm x 15 mm.
1838
Station Gates, London & Birmingham Railway. Gates from 'Doric Arch' of Euston Station. Heavy wrought iron with ornamental locks bearing L & BR crest.
Enamel sign, "Wills Capstan Navy Cut Tobacco & Cigarettes" Red & black letters on white, Dimensions: 72"x15"
Cast iron notice, Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, 'Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. No unauthorised person is allowed in this signal box. By Order', painted red, ex Elland No.1 Signal Box.
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.
Signal box nameboard, Camden No.1
Milepost, Great Northern Railway, cast iron right-angled sign on wood post, 196 miles to London, lettered " GNR 196L" in black letters on white, ex Queensbury (Bradford).
Bridge spanner, London & North Western Railway, large open-ended spanner for tightening bolts on Britannia Tubular Bridge, with nut. Nut: 85 mm x 160 mm; spanner: 1590 mm x 243 mm x 23 mm.
Rail section, double-headed rail, incorrectly described as Seaton's patent in the Crewe listing, reputedly Cromford & High Peak, marked '301' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
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.
1909
Notice, enamel, Public warning not to trespass, black on white, Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland, 1909, from Linfoot Collection.
1842
Keystone from a decorative arch at South Stockton station on the Stockton & Darlington Railway, about 1842. The face of the stone depicts the head of an old, bearded man surrounded by vines and ivy, probably a Green Man or perhaps the Greek and Roman god Dionysus/Bacchus. On the reverse of the stone are bunches of grapes and vine leaves.
Milepost, NER, 1/2 mile
Rail chair, for parallel rail, Birmingham & Derby Junction Railway [Tame Valley branch], marked 'Tame Valley improved chair 26 lbs AD 1856', associated objects 1991-7470/49 and /50, ex Crewe Collection.
Bridge plate, London & North Western Railway & Great Western Railway Joint Lines, L&NWR & GW Joint Lines 1, cast iron, oval.
1900
Trackside sign, cast iron, Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, Public Notice, 'All persons are warned not to trespass', white on black, c1900.
Cast iron sign, Hull & Barnsley Railway, Public Warning not to trespass sec. George Scaum.
Cast iron notice, Rhymney Railway, Notice regarding trespassing, in both English & Welsh, white letters on black background.
1901
Cast iron sign, South Eastern & Chatham Railway, Warning. Trespassing. 1901. C. Sheath.
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
1894
Cast iron notice, Furness Railway, 'Caution to Trespassers', white letters on black background
Boundary post, North Eastern Railway, cast iron cylindrical post, surmounted by ball marked "NER"
Rail chair, for flat-bottom rail, Birmingham & Gloucester Railway, marked '3' [catalogue number] and in chalk '14' [exhibit number], associated object 1991-7470/19, ex Crewe Collection.
Boundary marker, London & South Western Railway, cast iron.
Milepost, North Eastern Railway, "1/4", cast iron post with circle, with one point above.
Enamel sign, British Rail (North Eastern Region), Platform 5, double-sided, white on orange, ex York Station.
Signal box nameboard, Bakers Bank Head, Dimensions: 71"x8 3/4"
Insulator, porcelain cut-in insulator, 6.25Kv, BR CE overhead line conversion from 1500v DC to 6.25/ 25Kv ac, 1960, on presentation mahogany plinth, as presented to C.R. Jones, BR electric overhead line engineer, on his retirement, 5th May 1989.
Rail chair, single-sided for points and crossings, reputedly from St. Helens, marked '388' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
