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
1921
Rail and fishplate section, Midland Railway, marked 'M.R. Co 100 lb per yard Conduction Rail 110v 1921', ex Crewe Collection.
1839
Rail section, T-rail with one side of web grooved for key, Birmingham & Derby Junction Railway, marked 'Derby & Birmingham Railway AD 1839', ex Crewe Collection.
Rail section, bridge rail, reputedly expansion rail from Runcorn Bridge, marked '714' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
1846
Rail section, double-headed rail, Leeds & Bradford Railway, marked 'Leeds & Bradford Rly. 1846 5, 79 lb per yard 20 ft long', ex Crewe Collection.
Rail chair, for double-headed rail, reputedly Cromford & High Peak, marked '331' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
1868
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.
Rail section, bull-head with two bolt holes, reputedly London & North Western Railway, 1898, marked '935' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
Rail and fishplate section, Midland Railway, marked 'Midland Rly Co continous angle fishplates 108 lb', ex Crewe Collection.
Rail chair, Midland Counties Railway, marked 'M.C.R. ord[inary] chair for sleepers 1839', ex Crewe Collection.
Rail chair, for double-headed rail, reputedly Cromford & High Peak, marked '303' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
1888
Rail and fishplate section, Midland Railway, marked 'M.R. 85 lb rail and clip fishplates & bolts', 1888, ex Crewe Collection.
Rail chair, joint, for T-rail, reputedly found at Bootle, marked '85' [catalogue number], embossed 'Foundry' on one side and indecipherable word on the other side, ex Crewe Collection.
1870
Rail chair, double-headed rail and key, Midland Railway, marked on rail 'Barlow's rail 80 lbs per yard', marked on chair 'chair key inside chair 40 lbs AD 1870', ex Crewe Collection.
1832
Rail chair, for T-rail, possibly Liverpool & Manchester Railway, marked 'AD 1832', ex Crewe Collection.
Rail chair, joint, for double-headed rail, reputedly North Union Railway, marked '51' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
Rail chair, for bull-head rail, London & North Western Railway, experimental, bridge, B1 pattern, marked '637' [catalogue number] and embossed 'L&NW H B1', ex Crewe Collection.
Rail section, Birmingham & Derby Junction Railway [Tame Valley branch], marked in chalk '12' [exhibit number], associated objects 1991-7470/48 and /49, ex Crewe Collection.
1849
Rail, Barlow's saddle-back, marked 'Barlow's saddle-back rail wrt iron 125 lbs per yard AD 1849', 38 lbs, ex Crewe Collection.
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.
Saddle chair, for rail, no markings, ex Crewe Collection.
1837
Rail chair, joint, North Midland Railway, marked 'North Midland Jt chair W[rough]T iron 24 Ibs 1837 5 [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
Rail and angled fishplate assembly, with section of flat-bottom rail, reputedly 'Cammell's', marked '897' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
Rail section, bridge rail, reputedly London & North Western Railway, marked '672' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
Rail, Barlow's saddle-back rail, with four fastening holes, marked 'Barlow's saddle-back rail wrought iron 125 lbs per yard AD 1849', 80 lbs, ex Crewe Collection.
Rail section, Adam's patent girder rail, experimental, marked '289' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
Rail chair, crossing, for double-headed rail, reputedly used by contractors at Ingleton, marked '407' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
Rail section, Birmingham & Derby Junction Railway [Tame Valley branch], marked in chalk '12' [exhibit number], associated objects 1991-7470/43 and 45, ex Crewe Collection.
One railway chair, Liverpool & Manchester Railway.
Milepost, Midland Railway, cast iron , '227 1/4'.
Boundary marker, London & South Western Railway, cast iron.
Signal box nameboard, Belah, Dimensions: 26"x9"
1897
Stained glass panel, Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway, ex Gorton Works boardroom, Manchester, 1895, illustrating the coats-of-arms of Altrincham.
Cast iron notice, Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, 'Trespassers on this property will be prosecuted', white letters on black background.
Enamel station sign, British Railways (London Midland Region), totem, 'Shefford'.
Enamel totem, British Rail (London Midland Region), 'Cardington' (maroon). Dimensions: 36" x 10".
Station sign, enamel running-in board, white lettering on dark blue, Devynock and Sennybridge, Neath & Brecon Railway, c. 1900, with station name change addition of 1913.
1852
Rail chair for key and ball, key present, reputedly Tamworth Midland Railway and laid in Cromford & High Peak in 1852, marked '240' [catalogue number] and 'B' in chalk, ex Crewe Collection.
Rail chair, for double-headed rail, reputedly Cromford & High Peak by Butterley Company, marked '304' [catalogue number], ex Crewe Collection.
Bridge plate. "13". No railway marked. Cast iron, ornate shape. Dimensions 9"x8 1/2"
Signalbox nameboard, Normanton Station North. 115"x9"
Enamel sign on bracket, North Eastern Railway (NER), Parcels & Left Luggage Room
Wooden Sign, General Room ex Neston Station, Dimensions: 326mmx750mm
Cast iron notice, SIGNAL FITTERS, White letters on black ground. 14 1/2"x4 3/4"
Sign, enamel, white on green, 'Gentlemen. Down steps & turn right'.
Signalbox nameboard, Bellingham (North British Railway/LNER)
1900
Permanent Way Elevation Diagrams, Midland Railway, Brisol - Gloucester, Gloucester - Saltley, Trent - Lincoln, Syston - Peterborough, painted steel in oak frame, painted February 1900 at Saltley.
1985-1988
11 plaques, cast aluminium, duplicates of examples mounted on ECML overhead electrification masts, each commemorating milestones in the ECML electrification project, 1985-1988, on wooden panel, 1625mm x 810mm.
Spandrel, cast iron, Midland Railway
Finger notice, Retford, Grantham, Peterborough, Kings Cross, (wood, black with white letters), Dimensions: 61"x8"
