GWSR Broadway Developments

Somewhat disrespectful of some to suggest something someone has so kindly sponsored and paid for from their own hard earned simply be auctioned off because they don't like it IMHO.

I do hope the generous person concerned doesn't follow this thread certainly. A request for it to be displayed somewhere else would have been quite enough.

 

Agreed. I think some of the comments, although I fully understand the sentiment, have been a little off colour.
At least the nameplate is an easily moveable item, as it will need to be, when picture rail is fitted.
Its not a big deal. I'm just so glad that Broadway actually has its refreshment room, a venue which from now on will slowly refine itself and aquire patina as detail is added bit by bit.

 

Perhaps he'd seen those in the cafe at the Engine House at Highley. However, those are real nameplates off real engines and the cafe there makes no pretensions at being a recreation of an authentic GWR Refreshment Room.

 

Sometimes authentic things can be displayed with little thought to authenticity. I’ve seen several stations where it seems that people have collected random artifacts - adverts from different periods, objects and other items. Often the result is a jarring mishmash.

 

This also happens when people bring in random stuff with 'this is for you' and then they feel obliged to use it.
In my view it is better to sit back and think: Now what do I need for this room, and then go and find it.

For example, the Broadway cafe has been given a miniature framed GWR poster, which is currently resting on the mantlepiece.

On the other hand, I have suggested they buy genuine, full sized period GWR posters which you can get through a website that I gave them. Which one it will be remains to be seen.

The kitchen now sports one of those 'melted' Dali - type battery clocks. Also a gift. For a moment I thought it was going in the main room :-( but, Phew, it went up in the kitchen.

 

Direct them to the nearest Charity Shop

 

Planted today at the north end of the platform:



GWR lamp hut - check
GWR 'BEWARE of TRAINS' - check
Modern 'STOP No passenger trains beyond this point' - erm......

 

WTF!

 

It just gets worse. I feel sorry for all the volunteers who have put the hours in building a superb station.

 

Microcosm of the Nation at Large....sadly so.

 

Looks like you guys need to get on with that extension to Honeybourne, then you have an excuse to remove it

 

It is very difficult because on the one hand you cannot reject things because you need the goodwill. As my boss always told me, be nice to people on your way up because you’ll need them on your way down. It would be nice if the donations were better directed.

On the other there is a vision of how something should look.

I think my question would be - is there a legal reason for the sign to be a modern sign? I could well understand if ORR or whoever, when inspecting the line said safety critical notices must meet modern standards.

 

ORR no longer inspects or approves new work, so someone on the railway has thought this up all by themselves.

Presumably (one hopes) this sign will be removed when the signalling is commissioned.

 

You're pretty much on the ball with that, as I understand it. And I was indeed told the sign was temporary. But so many things people want to push through against opposition say it is temporary, so pardon me if I take that promise with a pinch of salt.

 

The planning process protects us from the poor taste and judgment of neighbours. Unfortunately this railway seems unable or unwilling to control the spread of inappropriate artifacts by well meaning but misguided individuals. Surely some sort of quality control committee could be set up to review any proposals based on an agreed outlook. The SVR have produced a remarkably authentic building at Bridgnorth according to the current issue of one of the railway magazines - presumably no loose canons allowed there! I have friends who do valuable work for museums and galleries but accept that they would not be allowed to select or rearrange the exhibits!

 

Oh dear! Curious that it wasn't necessary last year... Whilst I take @Breva 's point about "temporary" promises I think we can be reasonably hopeful that this will disappear again once the signalling is commissioned, latest date is November now I understand.

I agree that what happens in terms of authenticity at stations relies too much on individuals and not enough on policy, which leads to nice carefully painted GWR poster boards next to a pastiche "Broadway" loco nameplate. Unfortunately the attempt there has been at improving on this general situation hasn't done much to impress anyone on the railway.

 

To all those getting upset at the 'Stop' board....

LOOK AT THE SIGNALS behind it! - They have crosses over them meaning they are NOT TO BE OBEYED by train drivers. Given the presence of pointwork and track not passed for passenger trains the OOR will DEMAND the provision of some form of 'Stop' signal*

Not for the first time I find myself reminding folks that a Heritage railway is still a proper railway and must meet ALL the current requirements of the ORR with regard to signalling / train operations and twee wordy signs don't cut it anymore for situations where signalling is not yet commissioned.

When the signals seen in the picture are commissioned (note that doesn't mean they have to be able to be moved to the proceed position - but there does need to be a signalman available to give permission for them to be passed at danger) then the Stop board can go.

So if you don't like the Stop board, rather than moaning about it on here donate some cash or get involved with the S&T department so as to help the proper signalling behind commissioned quickly.

* a retro-reflective 'Stop' board is the same as a semaphore signal fixed at red or a fixed red colour light.

 

A fact the ORR would not be impressed with and which would result in a requirement for something to be done for this season.

The GWSR is a railway, not a train set and has to act like the former however much it may annoy the purists.

 

If a sign is required then is there anything to prevent this being produced in GWR style. An illuminated STOP sign on a heritage post (as seen elsewhere on the railway) with a GWR style cast or painted notice underneath saying “No passenger trains past this point”. Job done then me thinks.

Regards PaulK

 

Good call. A job for that talented young man at Winchcombe C&W then.