Why are many Mile Posts Hand Painted?

[kermit]

Found myself staring at a Mile Post yesterday, and suddenly realised I had no idea why it should be that instead of stencilled numbers, or standardised lettering, many of them look like they've been painted by (drunk?) primary school children with a yellow-and-black painting set.

Why??

 

[sw1ller]

Cheap

 

[snowball]

Could they be spot replacements for lost/damaged ones that were more uniform???

 

[twpsaesneg]

Graduate work placement.

 

[John Webb]

There is an extremely wide range of mileposts, many of which still exist from pre-grouping days. These tend to be cast items with raised numbers. At St Albans South box we have several of these, a more recent cast concrete example (numbers recessed) and BR glass-fibre examples. I can't recall seeing a completely flat example where the numbers have to be painted on - can Kermit tell us where his example was, please? (I would have thought that for speed and uniformity quick-drying spray-paint and stick-on numbers would have been the obvious choice.)

 

[kermit]

There is an extremely wide range of mileposts, many of which still exist from pre-grouping days. These tend to be cast items with raised numbers. At St Albans South box we have several of these, a more recent cast concrete example (numbers recessed) and BR glass-fibre examples. I can't recall seeing a completely flat example where the numbers have to be painted on - can Kermit tell us where his example was, please? (I would have thought that for speed and uniformity quick-drying spray-paint and stick-on numbers would have been the obvious choice.)

The shonky one that prompted my query is MP 98, at Kingsknowe near Edinburgh (sorry, no photos...)

 

[John Webb]

This one, I presume, just to the left of the right-hand lamp post (click on photo to go to the larger original):
Kingsknowe Station

© Copyright kim traynor and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

It is rather untidy, I must admit!

 

[edwin_m]

On the rare occasions a milepost is replaced the new one is probably going to be a bent steel plate on a post, which does indeed use some form of stick-on number. However there has been no wholesale replacement of mileposts for many years - one of those things that would cost a huge amount of money due to working trackside, all for no obvious benefit. With the older cast/moulded mileposts and gradient posts it is relatively easy to get a decent paint job (at least good enough as seen from a passing train) without being a skilled signwriter.

 

[Steptoe]

Interesting thread as on the section of (heritage) line that I patrol is a triangular concrete milepost (so there is a face in both directions) which I've been contemplating repainting for some time. Unfortunately the numbers aren't cast and I haven't got any stencils so it will probably end up looking like the one in the op

However the quarter posts do have the appropriate number of raised discs so should be easier.....

 

[PeterY]

Mileposts are probably a good study on their own. So many different types around. I find it interesting where distances are measured from, on the network.

 

[bearhugger]

Mileposts are probably a good study on their own. So many different types around. I find it interesting where distances are measured from, on the network.

Perhaps the following section in the Rail Signs website might prove useful.
http://www.railsigns.uk/sect28page1/sect28page1.html

 

[pdeaves]

Mileposts are probably a good study on their own. So many different types around. I find it interesting where distances are measured from, on the network.

If I may promote my own work, the sub-pages to http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/elrs/ELR0.shtm (links at the bottom of the page) may be of interest.