Rugby to Leamington (Lias Line) - could authentic mileposts be obtained?

[31126]

I am part of a group which meets weekly to keep part of the old Rugby - Leamington line looking presentable. It's known as the Cawston Greenway and is well-used by walkers, dog-walkers and cyclists. We keep the vegetation in check and have put in a few benches and picnic tables.

We thought it would be nice to put (quarter-)mileposts back in, ideally to an authentic design and in their original locations, but I am having great difficulty finding out about either. Does anyone on here have any information, photos or suggestions of places I could look please?

This section of line was not closed by Beeching - it was open for freight until 1985, and the track was only lifted in 1987.

Further down the line (SW from Marton) it is now a really good cycle route put in by Sustrans, but our end remains in sylvan slumber for now.

Thanks - Martin T

 

[edwin_m]

Milepost positions are marked on old maps such as the ones on the NLS website. Here is one on your route ("M.P.") viewed alongside a modern map: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sid...at=52.34226&lon=-1.33101&layers=168&right=osm

I've never tried it but this site appears to have a location facility if used on a suitable device, so you could navigate to the exact spot on one of the old maps and you might even find the remains of the original milepost in the undergrowth! Sometimes the maps miss one, but they are normally 440 yards apart (with a few anomalies), and all on the same side of the tracks. So it's possible to take a pretty good guess of where they were.

I suggest not using anything that could be mistaken for a real milepost, as there are people who will steal them as "railwayana". Something representative but clearly modern and robust would probably be best. Types of milepost varied even within the same railway company, but you may be able to spot some on old photos such as those on https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/rugbyleamington.htm.

 

[31126]

Thank you @edwin_m - that is fantastic information. What an excellent website the NLS provide. It seems strange that the Scots have information on an English branch line. Anyway, I've had a look at it and found that the large scale 1962 maps showed the precise location of all the (quarter-) mileposts. I have extracted these into a GPX file and imported it into the OS app on my phone. The next job, tomorrow morning, is to visit each location and see if there are any remains of the original posts there, as you suggest.

Thanks also for the hints about design. We do get a bit of vandalism along the route, but surprisingly little. I think it is most likely we'll go for a straight, yellow or white painted square wooden post with angled top, with the numerals attached (possibly 3d-printed) or just painted on. We'll post-crete them in so that they can't just be lifted out. First things first though - site visit tomorrow.

Big thanks for your help - really appreciated.

Martin

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you @edwin_m - that is fantastic information. What an excellent website the NLS provide. It seems strange that the Scots have information on an English branch line. Anyway, I've had a look at it and found that the large scale 1962 maps showed the precise location of all the (quarter-) mileposts. I have extracted these into a GPX file and imported it into the OS app on my phone. The next job, tomorrow morning, is to visit each location and see if there are any remains of the original posts there, as you suggest.

Thanks also for the hints about design. We do get a bit of vandalism along the route, but surprisingly little. I think it is most likely we'll go for a straight, yellow or white painted square wooden post with angled top, with the numerals attached (possibly 3d-printed) or just painted on. We'll post-crete them in so that they can't just be lifted out. First things first though - site visit tomorrow.

Big thanks for your help - really appreciated.

Martin

It would be interesting to read how this project progresses in due course

Keep us posted. If you’ll forgive the pun.

Well done for your volunteering!

 

[Kite159]

Is that the path which runs close to the A4071 skirting the edge of Cawston and seemingly is a dead end near the A45?

 

[31126]

Is that the path which runs close to the A4071 skirting the edge of Cawston and seemingly is a dead end near the A45?

Correct. It is sometimes possible to fight one's way through near the A45 as well, but the section we look after starts a bit north of that. Using the information which Edwin pointed me to, we did some investigation on Wednesday and found one of the old posts lying down in the ivy! This means we now know the design which we can try to imitate. The originals are solid reinforced concrete posts with an angled top, painted yellow on the front with black numerals. We'll try and replicate that (but with a wooden post) and put them as close as possible to their original positions.

Only remaining question is, would the whole mileposts have been the same design, or something fancy. We haven't found one of those yet, but will keep looking!

 

[Gloster]

The mileposts would originally have been the same design, probably the standard L&NWR ones, but over the years some may have been damaged and replaced by later designs. There might be slight differences in the design for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full mileposts. I have to say that it might be best to check that that is a quarter-milepost, rather than one of the assorted other fixed markers that the railway used.

I am afraid that you are rather more optimistic than me about the likelihood of damage or theft. It is not just pure vandals or railwayana collectors, but people who think it would make a nice garden ornament.

 

[31126]

The mileposts would originally have been the same design, probably the standard L&NWR ones, but over the years some may have been damaged and replaced by later designs. There might be slight differences in the design for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full mileposts. I have to say that it might be best to check that that is a quarter-milepost, rather than one of the assorted other fixed markers that the railway used.

I am afraid that you are rather more optimistic than me about the likelihood of damage or theft. It is not just pure vandals or railwayana collectors, but people who think it would make a nice garden ornament.

Thanks - yes, that is definitely a quarter milepost as you can see the numerals, and it was in precisely the expected location (going off the 1962 large scale OS map).
As for vandalism etc., optimism is de rigeur for anyone involved in this sort of project! But we don't get all that much trouble down there, and we will be concreting them into the ground.

 

[Gloster]

Thanks - yes, that is definitely a quarter milepost as you can see the numerals, and it was in precisely the expected location (going off the 1962 large scale OS map).
As for vandalism etc., optimism is de rigeur for anyone involved in this sort of project! But we don't get all that much trouble down there, and we will be concreting them into the ground.

It was just that I was thinking the mileposts mostly have the distance marked on a triangular piece at the top. This allows it to face both ways along the line and keeps it above tall grass or odd lineside objects. Perhaps this is a replacement that dates from later days when something simple sufficed.

 

[WesternLancer]

Correct. It is sometimes possible to fight one's way through near the A45 as well, but the section we look after starts a bit north of that. Using the information which Edwin pointed me to, we did some investigation on Wednesday and found one of the old posts lying down in the ivy! This means we now know the design which we can try to imitate. The originals are solid reinforced concrete posts with an angled top, painted yellow on the front with black numerals. We'll try and replicate that (but with a wooden post) and put them as close as possible to their original positions.

Only remaining question is, would the whole mileposts have been the same design, or something fancy. We haven't found one of those yet, but will keep looking!

Great to see that pic, brilliant discovery - if I was you I would now take that post away, after marking where it was, for safe keeping, / restoration / copying etc - not least for reasons @Gloster says - even if after renovating it you are concreting it back into the ground in future - which would I'm sure be a nice thing to do when the project is underway.

In terms of creating copies or if other mileposts in the sequence would be different I felt sure I once had a website or a book which showed the designs of a wide variety of different railway company such posts and styles, but I can't find it

ref LNWR designs it might be worth concreting the LNWR Society or studying their website which is here

https://lnwrs.org.uk/

I note the one you have found was / is yellow with black lettering - but I suspect that is the colour BR used in more recent times and that historically / originally it might have been while with black numerals - sort of question the LNWR society would know the answer to, or people here on this forum as well probably.

I found a couple of pictures of old LNWR mileposts etc on line so links here in case of any use to you here are the links for you to compare etc

LNWR Milepost

A concrete London & North Western Railway full-mile milepost in Sewell cutting on the former Leighton Buzzard to Dunstable line. The numerals are missing but someone has chalked on the company initials. 28th April 2006.

www.flickr.com

LNWR Milepost​

A concrete London & North Western Railway full-mile milepost in Sewell cutting on the former Leighton Buzzard to Dunstable line. The numerals are missing but someone has chalked on the company initials. 28th April 2006.​

and

File:Milepost - LNWR - Stafford - Newport Line (Closed) - geograph.org.uk - 1075873.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

English: Milepost - LNWR - Stafford - Newport Line (Closed) Hiding in the undergrowth, standing undisturbed for decades, is this old milepost of, I think, London and North Western Railway origin (it could be an LMS replacement I suppose). Such was the efficiency of the demolition contractors and so complete the growth of plant life since the mid 1960's when this line was taken out of use, there is very little of a railway origin still to be found on this pleasant former railway line. Good hunting!
Date	28 November 2008
Source	From geograph.org.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2025 ==

It was just that I was thinking the mileposts mostly have the distance marked on a triangular piece at the top. This allows it to face both ways along the line and keeps it above tall grass or odd lineside objects. Perhaps this is a replacement that dates from later days when something simple sufficed.

I see the triangular bit you mention in one of the pictures I linked to.

But this page showing a suggested LNWR or LMS 3/4 post does not have that - giving credence to your theory - "LNWR / LMS Milepost, Argoed"

The Central Sirhowy Valley Industrial Archaeology and History

The Industrial Archaeology and History of the Central Sirhowy Valley

www.industrialgwent.co.uk

all links from very quick google searches

 

[edwin_m]

But this page showing a suggested LNWR or LMS 3/4 post does not have that - giving credence to your theory - "LNWR / LMS Milepost, Argoed"

The Central Sirhowy Valley Industrial Archaeology and History

The Industrial Archaeology and History of the Central Sirhowy Valley

www.industrialgwent.co.uk

I think the triangular ones were used for whole miles, giving the mileage from wherever the zero was, and the half and quarters just had the fraction on the straight post pas per this picture and the find in the undergrowth.

 

[WesternLancer]

I think the triangular ones were used for whole miles, giving the mileage from wherever the zero was, and the half and quarters just had the fraction on the straight post pas per this picture and the find in the undergrowth.

Thanks - I wondered that too - it does seem likely to me.

 

[Gloster]

Thanks - I wondered that too - it does seem likely to me.

Different companies had different practices. Some had the section with the distance on a flat section, others used triangular ones and there were other possibilities. Just Google ‘ railway milepost ‘ and have a look at Images: you will see plenty of variety.

 

[WesternLancer]

Different companies had different practices. Some had the section with the distance on a flat section, others used triangular ones and there were other possibilities. Just Google ‘ railway milepost ‘ and have a look at Images: you will see plenty of variety.

Indeed - I was trying to get good images of LNWR ones when I searched.

 

[31126]

Great to see that pic, brilliant discovery - if I was you I would now take that post away, after marking where it was, for safe keeping, / restoration / copying etc - not least for reasons @Gloster says - even if after renovating it you are concreting it back into the ground in future - which would I'm sure be a nice thing to do when the project is underway.

In terms of creating copies or if other mileposts in the sequence would be different I felt sure I once had a website or a book which showed the designs of a wide variety of different railway company such posts and styles, but I can't find it

ref LNWR designs it might be worth concreting the LNWR Society or studying their website which is here

https://lnwrs.org.uk/

I note the one you have found was / is yellow with black lettering - but I suspect that is the colour BR used in more recent times and that historically / originally it might have been while with black numerals - sort of question the LNWR society would know the answer to, or people here on this forum as well probably.

I found a couple of pictures of old LNWR mileposts etc on line so links here in case of any use to you here are the links for you to compare etc

LNWR Milepost

A concrete London & North Western Railway full-mile milepost in Sewell cutting on the former Leighton Buzzard to Dunstable line. The numerals are missing but someone has chalked on the company initials. 28th April 2006.

www.flickr.com

and

File:Milepost - LNWR - Stafford - Newport Line (Closed) - geograph.org.uk - 1075873.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2025 ==


I see the triangular bit you mention in one of the pictures I linked to.

But this page showing a suggested LNWR or LMS 3/4 post does not have that - giving credence to your theory - "LNWR / LMS Milepost, Argoed"

The Central Sirhowy Valley Industrial Archaeology and History

The Industrial Archaeology and History of the Central Sirhowy Valley

www.industrialgwent.co.uk

all links from very quick google searches

Thank you! There are some very interesting things there for me to follow up.
The one we found still seems to be attached to the ground - although the concrete has broken at the base, the rebars are still in place and bent through 90 deg. So if anyone wants to nick it they will have to work pretty hard at it.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you! There are some very interesting things there for me to follow up.
The one we found still seems to be attached to the ground - although the concrete has broken at the base, the rebars are still in place and bent through 90 deg. So if anyone wants to nick it they will have to work pretty hard at it.

Sounds like someone has broken it over at some point - vandals or maybe the railway demolition contractors perhaps. So a restoration challenge for you there!

I wonder if you will find any more or have you perhaps now searched all the likely locations?

 

[zwk500]

Only remaining question is, would the whole mileposts have been the same design, or something fancy. We haven't found one of those yet, but will keep looking!

Also worth mentioning that while the original mileposts would have likely been the same design (Full mile/quarters differences notwithstanding) all along the line, it is always possible that over the years mileposts needed replacement for one reason or another and would likely have been replaced with whatever the then-company (LNWR, LMS, BR, Railtrack, or NR) had in stock at that time, which would likely have been whatever their standard design was at the time.