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
Horse trough, Newcastle & Carlisle Rly. Cast iron trough and back plate marked "N & CR 1860" with stone arch surround. From Blaydon
Enamel sign, "Wills Capstan Navy Cut Tobacco & Cigarettes" Red & black letters on white, Dimensions: 72"x15"
1825
Boundary marker, Stockton & Darlington Railway, marked S&DR, stone, c1825.
1908
London & North Western Railway chair for BS95 rail, 1905. Chair dated 1908, mounted on sleeper end with brass plate giving details of rails, chairs and fastenings.
1910
Worksplate, cast iron, ci rectangular, John Butler & Co. Ltd., Stanningley Iron Works, Leeds, 1910.
Station oil lamp, British Rail (Midland Region), converted to electric, no provenance.
1875
Bridge notice, Midland Railway, signed James Williams, 1875, white letters on red
Sign, cast iron, Great Central Railway, Trespassers on this property will be prosecuted.
Bridge plate, Midland Railway, M.R. 176, cast iron, rectangular with concave corners, white on black.
Signal box nameboard, Widenhaugh East, Dimensions: 79"x12"
1867
Notice, wooden, Newhaven Harbour Co., Byelaws relating to the new bridge at Newhaven, 1867.
Notice, enamel, Kent & East Sussex Railway, 'Public Notice not to trespass', black letters on white background
Notice, metal, British Railways, "Notice. The Removal and Fixing of Driving belts .....".
Casting, cast iron, Midland Railway, Wyvern from spandrel from overbridge at Forster Square Station, Bradford.
Cast iron sign, Hull, Barnsley & West Riding Junction Railway & Dock Co., Public warning regarding trespass signed G. Scaum, Secretary, white letters on black background.
Enamel sign, British Rail (North Eastern Region), Platform 5, double-sided, white on orange, ex York Station.
Bridge plate,Cheshire Lines Committee, CLRy 27, cast iron, oval, black on white.
1925
Level crossing sign, British Transport Commission, unmarked, blue and white enamel, c. 1955.
1900
Trackside sign, cast iron, Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, Public Notice, 'All persons are warned not to trespass', white on black, c1900.
Metal sign, North Eastern Railway, 'Trespassers will be prosecuted'. White on black with white border.
Notice, metal and wood, Dundalk Newry & Greenore Railway, "Any person committing a nuisance will be prosecuted", white letters on black background with white border.
1909
Enamel sign, Midland Railway, These buckets must be kept full of clean water and used only in case of fire, Jan 1909. White blue and red.
Notice, Southern Railway, Great Western Railway, (SR Private Road): GWR Trespass.
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.
Station sign, enamel totem, British Rail (Scottish Region), 'Sanquhar'.
Sign, enamel, North Eastern Railway, 'GENERAL OFFICE', cream on brown.
Enamel totem, British Railways (London MIdland Region), 'Hatch End'. Dimensions: 36" x 10".
Station name sign, London Midland Scottish Railway, Hallaton (totem-shape, black on yellow). Measurements overall: 460 mm x 1217 mm x 12 mm.
Trackside sign, Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, cast iron, conductor rail warning and trespass, from a level crossing north of Tottingham Viaduct (grid ref SD778 138) on the Bury-Holcombe Brook branch.
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.
Signal box nameboard, Locomotive Junction, Dimensions: 93 1/2"x10"
Signal box nameboard from Holtby station, North Yorkshire.
Notice, enamel, Railway Executive, 'Passengers must not cross the line here'.
Notice - North British Railway trespass notice, cream letters on green background
1838
Section of rail, London & Birmingham Railway, fish-bellied rail, 1838, ex Crewe Collection No 39.
Cast iron notice, Great Western Railway, relating to safety and propping doors open, signed Ames C Inclis General Manager, white letters on black background.
Notice in wooden frame, Great Western Railway, Locomotive Carriage and Wagon Dept. Notice regarding wearing Eye Protectors.
Cast iron notice, Great Western Railway, Trespass notice in English & Welsh.
Enamel sign, Hull & Barnsley Railway, re "Bill pasting is Prohibited" Edward Watkin.
Cast iron sign, NER, Electrification Caution, from Shildon-Newport electrification, c. 1922, originally mounted on signal gantry at Bowersfield Junction, Stockton.
Weather vane, North Eastern Railway, depicting locomotive whistle, ex Wear Head Station water tank, c 1900.
Cast iron notice, South Eastern & Chatham Railway, 'Farmers and their servants etc'. re crossing the line with traction engines.
1901
Cast iron sign, South Eastern & Chatham Railway, Warning. Trespassing. 1901. C. Sheath.
Bridge plate, London & North Western Railway & Great Western Railway Joint Lines, L&NWR & GW Joint Lines 1, cast iron, oval.
Notice, enamel, Public warning not to trespass, black on white, Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland, 1909, from Linfoot Collection.
Two specimens of Thermit welding.
Cast iron sign, Somerset & Dorset Joint Line, 'Trespassing on the railway' (white on green).
Notice, enamel, Weston Clevedon & Portishead Railway, Trespass, H F Stephens.
1829
Short and long piece of fish-belly rail, with 4 chairs; Liverpool & Manchester Railway, 1829.
Enamel totem, British Railways (Scottish Region), 'Allanfearn'.