1948-era Totems on current network

[WightMark]

Researching where totems can be seen on current operating national network platforms. For this it's OK for there just to be one, not every name board (though hats off to Island Line and Lymington branch). I'm attempting to gauge their visibility to the public on the national rail network (separate study for the wonderful heritage lines).

Talking about these post nationalisation era (1948-1965) totem designs at the moment. Any stations you know of I've missed please? Any there that should not really be this list? (Stretching the elastic a bit for the Staylbridge-Stockport parliamentary line, and 'best kept' stations I realise. Also King's Lynn may be only one with totems on a modern fascia? Maybe should add that wonderful heritage sign outside Lowestoft?). Recall seeing one at York - though doesn't seem to be up any more, also in a waiting room at Oxford, but this has been removed I read somewhere.

Be grateful for any more suggestions. Many thanks Mark

These are the locations I spotted myself so far, and found from reading other posts on the subject of totems on RailUK forums:

 

[Railsigns]

Plymouth station has one, as do some (all?) stations on the Tamar Valley line. I'm sure I've seen some on the West Highland Line.

 

[WightMark]

Ahhh thanks Railsigns, very helpful, I'll check them out.

 

[John Luxton]

Looe Branch Liskeard (P3), Looe and Sandplace confirmed from my recent photos - not just totems but also other replical enamel BR Western signs. I think other halts also have them too. Branch has a real heritage feel to it.

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Looe Branch Liskeard (P3), Looe and Sandplace confirmed from my recent photos - not just totems but also other replical enamel BR Western signs. I think other halts also have them too. Branch has a real heritage feel to it.

Barnstaple has quite a few replica BR SR enamel signs. One above entrance has BR totem on it. At least one earlier Southern Railway totem at Okehampton too.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Moreton-in-Marsh has some modern replicas.

 

[RPI]

I believe Penmere still has one, Bere Ferrers, Bodmin Parkway (on the Bodmin & Wenford side

 

[Sun Chariot]

How many (if any) of those totems are originals, as opposed to re-installed replicas?

 

[NER1621]

Given the price collectors pay for them I suspect that virtually all on the national network (and probably most heritage lines) are replicas, like the nameplates carried by preserved locos.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Llanfairpwll famously has a totem with the full name on it.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanf...edia/File:Llanfairpwll_Station_Wide_Angle.jpg

 

[onlyspaceghost]

I saw this a few weeks back at Blaydon station - not sure if this is what you're after since it's on a flower pot but hope that helps!

 

[Ashley Hill]

as do some (all?) stations on the Tamar Valley line.

Only Bere Ferrers has totems and these are replicas,the originals were second hand from Bingham Road and overpainted.
The last station known to have had genuine BR totems was Goxhill and these lasted until 1988!
I suggest that Dave Brennands book on totems would be a good read.

 

[antharro]

At one point, Brockenhurst had totems on the Lymington platform. But that was back when the slammers were in use; I don't know if they're still there.

 

[175001]

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

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Handforth has some replicas, plus a selection of donated "HANDFORTH' signs in the style of other railway administrations from round the world.

 

[The exile]

Sandbach has an original running-in board (now in the wrong place as it’s mid-platform)

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I wonder if any original 1950s enamel direction signs to stations still survive. As street furniture they will have been subject to different “corporate image whims” (in the way that Edinburgh trams still displayed “Caledonian Station Leith as an destination until the demise of the system in 1956) and were probably more likely to have got forgotten.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I wonder if any original 1950s enamel direction signs to stations still survive.

I don't know if the totem-style street sign for Lincoln's Central station survives?

 

[David57]

Not a totem, but Lowestoft still has its original enamel sign outside.

 

[Haywain]

How many (if any) of those totems are originals, as opposed to re-installed replicas?

The one at Lake is neither original or re-installed as the station didn’t open until 1987. Similarly, Smallbrook Junction did not open until 1991.

 

[Ashley Hill]

There are a couple of threads in the History and Nostalgia section of the forum covering the first and and surviving regional coloured totems and signage on the BR network. I dont know how to link them here im afraid.

 

[RPM]

Princes Risborough has them facing the C&PRR platform, hidden behind the Chiltern nameboards.

 

[norbitonflyer]

 

[WestAnglian]

Not on the platform but there's a totem indicating the way to the station in Ware.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Not on the platform but there's a totem indicating the way to the station in Ware.
View attachment 162239

What a great surviver,possibly unique!

 

[Sun Chariot]

There are a couple of threads in the History and Nostalgia section of the forum covering the first and and surviving regional coloured totems and signage on the BR network. I dont know how to link them here im afraid.

This is one thread I found:

Trivia: Last BR totems in situ?

Last one I saw was in April 1988 on the G&SWR; I cannot recall exactly, but think it was either at Stewarton or Dunlop.

www.railforums.co.uk

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Not on the platform but there's a totem indicating the way to the station in Ware.
View attachment 162239

Fantastic. I drove that street several times in the latter 1990s (I Iived a few miles away, at that time) but I failed to see that sign!

 

[John Luxton]

Not on the platform but there's a totem indicating the way to the station in Ware.
View attachment 162239

The good old days when it was just a STATION not the currently favoured "Train Station".

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jul 2024 ==

Just a general comment on totems I find them a much more pleasant design that the post 1964 "arrows of indecision".

The fact that they are still associated with railways even by generations born long after their demise says something of the design.

It's also interesting to see how the totem has been adopted by other non transport organisations. The Hilton in Liverpool has one on its sign which is for the Pima Bar.

My old school Liverpool College seems to have used it in recent years for their sports centre LC Sports which is also available for community use. It is somewhat modified but with the same basic railway totem design at its heart. Actually in interwar years the school which is beside the Liverpool - Crewe line acquired a former LMS Sports ground to expand their adjacent playing fields so there is a very tenuous rail link.

Home

LC SPORTS HEALTH & FITNESS CLUB LC Sports is home to a fully equipped, fully staffed Gym, offering a full menu of classes and activities, with reasonably priced memberships for the public. We also rent our extensive facilities to community groups, sports clubs, and private individuals.

lcsports.org.uk

 

[WightMark]

WOW! You are all excellent, thank you so much for the feedback. I will incorporate these into the research.

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.

I will post an update to the image when I've located some photographic evidence of them.

Cheers all and do keep any more coming!

Mark

 

[Peter Mugridge]

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

 

[The exile]

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

Shame it’s the wrong colour!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Shame it’s the wrong colour!

Yes.

Have they done these at the two Chessington stations as well?

 

[WightMark]

So now have over 40 locations thanks to your help. Will be happy to add any others.

PS: Causeland now seems to have been removed, checked every station on West Highland line and couldn't see a single one with a platform totem of this type.