1948-era Totems on current network

[Ashley Hill]

Another station with “new” totems is Bodmin Parkway on the steam railway side. Bodmin Road as it was never had BR totems.
Platform 9 (Moretonhampstead bay) at Newton Abbot also has two repro totems.

 

[FGW_DID]

Hanborough on the Cotswolds Line.

’Recently’ Reading had large “Reading General” totem stickers applied to mark one of its Anniversaries.

 

[Spandau]

The entrance to Romiley station is marked by a replica British Railways totem.

 

[Revilo]

There’s a totem in Roy’s Cafe in Coronation Street, saying Weatherfield!

 

[vic-rijrode]

There’s a totem in Roy’s Cafe in Coronation Street, saying Weatherfield!

Where was that station then? I can't find it in my Bradshaws...

 

[D7666]

I suspect that virtually all on the national network ....... are replicas

Errr surely once they are in place at an actual station they are named after they are in fact the real thing ?

That is what MAKES them real - used at that station.

 

[vic-rijrode]

Only in

Where was that station then? I can't find it in my Bradshaws...

directly relevant to this thread, the mere mention of totems causes my a degree of pain. In 1968 at a tender age, I was enjoying a 2 week Freedom of Scotland ticket. One of my longer journeys was from Glasgow down to Stranraer. Stranraer station had only just been closed - all passenger traffic being diverted to the Harbour station. I strolled over to look at the Town station, only to find it being demolished. As I stood there comtemplating the destruction, one of the workmen called over asking me if I wanted a totem from the station, holding it up to show me.

Like the bloody fool I was, I told him no thanks as I couldn't carry it in my duffle bag (yes I had one).

I have regretted that decision ever since.

I wonder what the value of a pristine Stranraer Town totem would be now...

 

[D7666]

I was enjoying a 2 week Freedom of Scotland ticket. One of my longer journeys was from Glasgow down to Stranraer. Stranraer station had only just been closed - all passenger traffic being diverted to the Harbour station. I strolled over to look at the Town station, only to find it being demolished. As I stood there comtemplating the destruction, one of the workmen called over asking me if I wanted a totem from the station, holding it up to show me.

Parallel anecodote.

In 1973 (?) I was on a local runabout Area X (but I forget which X) from Salisbury to Exeter / Torbay when they were re-signing Newton Abbot. The signs were divided into two piles - the pristine ones in one BRUTE heading (so they said) for Collectors Corner or whatever the equivalent was then, the rest for scrap. I asked if I could take a scrap one, they said yes, I picked one that has a small bit of enamel missing no larger than a coin, and it is still the only totem I have. Parental units not impressed.

 

[Tester]

I have one, Angmering, which I bought from BR for 10/- in the late 1960s, brand new with maker's tape still on - allegedly over-ordered.

 

[GordonT]

Reston station which is managed by ScotRail but served by trains operated by TPE and LNER had a totem in BR ScR blue as a station opening photoshoot prop and it may well have subsequently been installed as part of the station signage but I can't find an image of it on the internet other than for pre-opening pics.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Parallel anecodote.

In 1973 (?) I was on a local runabout Area X (but I forget which X) from Salisbury to Exeter / Torbay when they were re-signing Newton Abbot. The signs were divided into two piles - the pristine ones in one BRUTE heading (so they said) for Collectors Corner or whatever the equivalent was then, the rest for scrap. I asked if I could take a scrap one, they said yes, I picked one that has a small bit of enamel missing no larger than a coin, and it is still the only totem I have. Parental units not impressed.

Newton Abbot had a sort of relic shop back in those days. I knew a booking clerk who had worked in it in the 70s. However,I also know someone who claims to have purchased all the brown enamel signs from Newton Abbot as a job lot. He didn’t get the cross the line by the footbridge sign from platform 9 though,that was there until the late 80s,I wonder who did .

 

[infobleep]

Although not Totems, some stations still have the backing for the larger enamel sign, with the original signs no longer place. Worpolesdon is one such station and there is another I've come across but I can't remember off hand where.

I wonder how many poles for totems still exist without the totems themsleves.

 

[Ashley Hill]

wonder how many poles for totems still exist without the totems themsleves.

Hardly any I would have thought. Totems generally had a H shaped bracket they were attached to. These were then either fitted to a lamp post or a pole,or hung from a canopy.

 

[The exile]

Errr surely once they are in place at an actual station they are named after they are in fact the real thing ?

That is what MAKES them real - used at that station.

Several that I’ve seen are not to the correct spec. I think also you could argue (from the purist point of view) that the “genuine articles” were manufactured for (by?) and installed by British Railways in the 1950s and early 1960s as standard station signage. Anything manufactured significantly after that period is a replica.

 

[GordonT]

Several that I’ve seen are not to the correct spec. I think also you could argue (from the purist point of view) that the “genuine articles” were manufactured for (by?) and installed by British Railways in the 1950s and early 1960s as standard station signage. Anything manufactured significantly after that period is a replica.

The author of the original post subsequently posted (see post no.25):
"At this point it was not so much about accuracy (shape and size or replica's vs originals or even if the station never had totems originally/wasn't even built) it is more about the visibility of the totem shape on the current national rail network. Which the good people of RailUK Forums have already demonstrated is perhaps rather more than first thought."
So for this discussion it matters not whether any identified totem in situ at a station is to the correct spec or ex-BR.

 

[The exile]

The author of the original post subsequently posted (see post no.25):
"At this point it was not so much about accuracy (shape and size or replica's vs originals or even if the station never had totems originally/wasn't even built) it is more about the visibility of the totem shape on the current national rail network. Which the good people of RailUK Forums have already demonstrated is perhaps rather more than first thought."
So for this discussion it matters not whether any identified totem in situ at a station is to the correct spec or ex-BR.

Fair enough - I was responding to a specific comment about the nature of a replica.

 

[D7666]

Newton Abbot had a sort of relic shop back in those days. I knew a booking clerk who had worked in it in the 70s. However,I also know someone who claims to have purchased all the brown enamel signs from Newton Abbot as a job lot. He didn’t get the cross the line by the footbridge sign from platform 9 though,that was there until the late 80s,I wonder who did .

Interesting

Long time ago but iirc the BRUTE was totems I never heard of nor remember relic shop there but I suppose that could have been the destination.

But nope to the job lot claim the proof is in my home even now.

 

[Ashley Hill]

But nope to the job lot claim the proof is in my home even now.

The person concerned claims to have bought many "job lots" from many stations and also took them down. Presumably he then sold them on. I hav`nt seen him for some time but will quiz him further when I do. I also have some evidence he didnt keep them all too!

 

[ScottGallagher]

I'm sure there's a random replica one at Silverdale

 

[12LDA28C]

Not a totem of course but this original GWR station sign survives at High Wycombe

 

[Ashley Hill]

Not a totem of course but this original GWR station sign survives at High Wycombe

View attachment 162394

That’s a BR(W) sign I’m afraid.

 

[12LDA28C]

That’s a BR(W) sign I’m afraid.

Ah fair enough!

 

[The exile]

That’s a BR(W) sign I’m afraid.

And as such probably rarer….

 

[Sun Chariot]

Do the GWR era platform signs at Hanwell and Kingham still survive?

 

[Rescars]

Do the GWR era platform signs at Hanwell and Kingham still survive?

I can't comment about Kingham, but at the next station down the line, the GWR running-in board for Adlestrop was moved to a shelter in the middle of the village after the station closed. I assume it is still there.

 

[Tester]

I can't comment about Kingham, but at the next station down the line, the GWR running-in board for Adlestrop was moved to a shelter in the middle of the village after the station closed. I assume it is still there.

Seen in August 2017.....

 

[SteveyBee131]

New Mills Central and Newtown have had some modern replicas installed recently

I remember seeing some modern totem style signs at Edale fairly recently. Possibly others along the Hope Valley too, but it's been a while so I couldn't say for sure

 

[Trackman]

That's a freshly painted one that's been done very recently; there's one at Tolworth as well.

There's one at Hither Green, Nunhead and Lee under the railway bridges - there's loads more in south London. Not seen them for a while, don't know what condition they are in.

What a great surviver,possibly unique!

Built to last! Enamel still looks good.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The Helston Rly in Cornwall has the original BR(W) running in board from Gwinear Road on the main line. It is unusual because of all the long list of places to change for - The Lizard, Porthleven etc. - only Helston was actually served by rail. It was rescued by a local when the station closed and recently kindly donated.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Do the GWR era platform signs at Hanwell and Kingham still survive?

There is still a sign at Hanwell. Here’s a photo of it with a Liz Line service in the background. It appears to have been refurbished.