GWSR Broadway Developments

I think a little more generosity of spirit from the likes of @paulhitch to those who are trying to recreate an experience of the past would go a long way.

Heritage railways are, inevitably, always going to fall a little short of what they try to recreate. Even his beloved (and apparently perfect) IoWSR falls short. It can’t take me to Newport and the wonderful signal cabin at Snallbrook Junction with the different summer and winter working arrangements to Ryde isn’t there for me to see, except in my mind’s eye.

Those of us with some small knowledge of the past need to be generous and helpful with that knowledge, especially to those new to our pastime, rather than using it to knock, knock, knock...

 

It being quite impossible to recreate the original Wootton, which was in an archway of the now buried road bridge, this building is based on the pre- S.R. Havenstreet structure and no secret is made of this. The signal box is genuine F.Y.N. though.

There are things, such as modern lavatories, which are anachronistic but one thing it is never likely to have is a clock painted to imply it comes from the I.W.C.R.

 

The answer to use the knowledge not to over restore things and to acknowledge inevitable mistakes.

 

How about that poster board, is that original IWCR?

 

Whatever the rights and wrongs are with this noticeboard, judging by the photo, it does have the appearance of something from the past. i.e. what many visitors to preserved lines come to expect. It is all a question of perception; something new will look new - as does the new G&WSR (GWR) leaflet holder.
The furniture trade has a way of making new look old: it is known as 'distressing'.

 

Replica leaflet holder installed (in the replica station, with replica track outside)

I have a tentative 'OK' from the same guy to make one of the single leaflet holders that Alex showed us. He still has a few scraps of that wood left.

I would also be interested in more detail about the 'chalky' timetable boards. I never liked the big plastified brown ones that we hang up everywhere. However, we need to be persuasive to the station staff, who sail their own, more practical course.

 

It’s quite easy to sign write a board to look like it has been chalked.

One for each standard service and ‘hey presto!’

And it only needs re-doing each winter.

Robin

 

Is there a special paint you use or is it all in the style?

 

A Matt signwriting White, from a fairly dry brush.

Robin

 

Thanks, I'll have to give it a go some time. Hopefully we can get something more aesthetically pleasing up at Broadway for me to have a go on.

 

"Granville! Fetch a cloth! (sorry, couldn't find a pic)

 

Lovely work. It is a good illustration of what has been achieved in a relatively short time regarding attention to detail. (Visiting the same spot in August 2015 would show only the foundations of the new Broadway Station newly completed.) There was much pressure to open the new station in March 2018 and so some signage would, of necessity, be "modern plastic" and can always be replaced later, which is what is happening. Reading a number of the recent posts on this thread almost convinces me that there are some very lucky people out there who have very little to worry about in their lives so they become fixated on minutiae (as opposed to attention to detail) and are clearly unaware or show no trepidation of such issues as climate change (which clearly appears to be happening at least here in monsoon Yorkshire) and Brexit etc!

 

The original Broadway station was demolished and almost all of the present one is a new construction, with only a little original material retrieved and re-used. If the clock is regarded as part of the station, then it has as much right as any other part to be labelled GWR, without needing to be of genuine GWR origin any more than the sleepers, rails, point rodding, etc. Perhaps Paul is regarding the clock not in that way but as a separate entity which merely resides in the station and therefore ought to be identified in its own right, like an object in a museum.

 

I think we are drilling down too deep here. I'm quite happy to put my hand in my pocket for a nice piece of genuine kit - and many have supported us - but I am not willing to have it nicked. These are public places, so things like clocks, door plates, works plates, expensive cast iron signs that hang outdoors, those are replicas. I have the originals at home in many cases. It's just a practical issue. We've even had heavy cast iron benches stolen (at CRC).

 

Have a wander around HMS Victory and see how many welded or fibreglass items you can find. I don't see any signs acknowledging these things and no one seems concerned that they exist.

 

This comparison is completely O.T.T.

 

I don’t follow. If I read @Steve right, a monument significantly more important than a heritage railway station uses these techniques unacknowledged. If so, why not at the recently rebuilt (from scratch) Broadway station?


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Evidently you are unfamiliar with the shenanegans in the railwayana market and whilst the G.W.S.R. has absolutely no bad intentions at all, making "Chinese copies" is not, IMHO particularly desirable. Go to E Bay and you will find your share of "authentic" Chinese copies.

 

I am well aware that fakes exist and are sold in good and bad faith. I also support marking replicas discreetly so that they cannot be misrepresented.

I am just puzzled as to why that comparison to Victory is so unreasonable, as seen from the perspective of a visitor.


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There does seem to be a wee identity problem. They are the G&WSR not the GWR - the GWR does run in that part of the country. However, I guess the travelling public are not that conscious of the name change and as I have mentioned before it is all part of the historical fudge to be seen in many heritage areas, not just the Cotswolds.