West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Not a nameplate collector, then I guess?

But the great thing about our hobby is the different interests or approaches that it can accommodate. No doubt the 4110 appeal (or perhaps 7821) will be grateful for your contribution. Whisper it quietly, but locomotives don't 'do it for me' so I will be unlikely to be making a contribution there.

I mentioned the other 'bits of old tat' recently acquired by the Trust - the final years' WSR timetable posters - would you have the same view?

Many years of looking at railwayana make it relatively easy to spot the difference between a new casting artificially weathered, and one in 'ex-box' or 'ex-loco' condition.

Robin

 

No, the paper stuff is fascinating and does give insights into a previous era, but nameplates are odd things. I spent many happy hours polishing a nameplate form Princess Louise, a "Star". Unfortunately is wasn't mine, but GW loco nameplates are lovely things. But a signal box nameplate should if possible be on a signal box, does it really tell us a story on a wall? If it was from some long lost site, perhaps, but Minehead box has a plate, do we need another? I'm not sure about being able to spot fakes, I would defy you to tell the difference between the plates on 6024 (which are repros) and the originals. Would we like the originals? I'm not sure. Too valuable to use.

Rob

 

But to display in a secure location?

 

If you cant tell the difference between original and repo, then why would the original be too valuable to use? Conversely if the original is to valuable, then it must be possible to tell the difference at some level, and therefore (with a big leap) it ultimately follows that the Minehead Box sign is probably a snip at £1400. If it isnt what floats your boat fine, but there isnt really a need to justify your opinion, though I cant see much difference between a loco nameplate on a wall and a signalbox nameplate on the same wall. Neither is attached to the original structure, but both will be to some evocative. In day to day operation what matters is that it "looks right" because the operation is creating a set for peoples imagination. When that "set" and the imagination it provokes links back to the original artifacts the experience is enhanced, because then it is clear to visitors that what they are seeing is no mere creation of someone elses imagination, but a window into the past, and that is to some extent what I think they expect (along with pretty scenery, a pleasant ride, a good cream tea and clean toilets).

 

I like this one - sadly I cant find a better picture of the sign..............

 

I don't know what the signalman did here between trains

 

Is it possible that there is a chance of the visiting HST, D1010 and one of the manors lined up together to make a fantastic picture on 2moros great western day. Thank you

 

" ............ An opportunity to 'bring home' a significant West Somerset Railway relic ..................."

I think this is the most important factor. The original Minehead Signal Box sign is of direct relevance to the WSR.
I suppose anyone could collect, say, Cornish Riviera Express bits & pieces, but, attractive as they are, they have no direct & immediate connection to the WSR.
Surely any collection should have a purpose unless one is collecting just for the sake of owning stuff.
I'd put Watchet & Dunster SB signs in the same 'must have' category.

 

I wouldn't disagree with much of this save that, personally, I would leave anything cast iron alone except if some generous person donated it. It is easy to copy or counterfeit items in this material and in a world where an enamel plate from a destination indicator that happens to read "Ventnor" can get £2,100, the temptations are obvious.

Incidentally, is it true that G.W.R. locomotive nameplates were made up from individual letters applied to a background? If so, this is another pogdntial trap.

PH

 

Yes - each carefully riveted to the steel back plate.

 

Thanks. Sorry for the weird typo for "potential"!

PH

 

From time to time posted to Nat Pres of course

 

Not sure what you mean by a potential trap. Genuine (G)WR plates are very easy to tell from replicas. Apart from the letters being riveted, they invariably had corrosion where they attached to the "fingers", as per the attached, plus the letters and beading will be less than pristine, even if polished. A King plate would have the full round beading as shown on the attached image (which is of a Grange) and one suspects replicas may use half round, as used on later (G)WR plates. Any (G)WR plate that has screwed-on letters (rather than riveted) is likely to be a replica. I suspect the replicas use screws, as with riveting it is easy to damage the face of the letters. Strangely, collectors have been known to remove all the letters from genuine plates to clean up the backplate more easily, and then glued or screwed the letters back on, thus destroying much of the plate's value.

 

Nothing that a competent faker couldn't cope with.

PH

 

As a 'signal box' nut, I am very pleased to see signal boxes getting their share of the limelight.

The Minehead plate is in faded BR(W) paint which would be hard to fake.

A friend has the nameplate from a box I enjoyed working but no longer exists - so very evocative for me.

We are now a whisker under £800 raised for the Minehead plate, which isn't bad in a day but does leave the opportunity for some more contributions. It would be great to have matters settled by the end of the weekend. Do keep your pledges coming in...

Kind regards

Robin

 

I see that the HST from Oxford is working through to Minehead tomorrow (Sat 23rd) have the gauging issues been resolved?

 

An HST has visited the WSR before so the gauging should be OK. Do you seriously think that would have been forgotten by the WSR and the TOC?

 

West Somerset Railway - Then and Now #73

Williton 1952 / 2017

We have started our look at Williton with a couple of views down at the station from the road bridge, and there are some more to come from that location but this shot makes the bridge itself the subject of interest.

The original cast iron span lasted until 1952 when it was replaced with rather unlovely pre-cast concrete carried on the original abutments. I like to think something more elegant might have been arranged had the job been done today.

Copyright NRM / Robin White

1952


2017

 

Cast Iron Spam. Must make it hard to eat

 

Spam is hard to stomach at the best of times!