green_old17.jpg) One of Dunton Green's BR running-in boards photographed subsequent to Brasted becoming an unstaffed halt in 1955. Compare this with the earlier view showing a running-in board without 'Halt' suffixed to Brasted. One may wonder if the expense of a new board to reflect Brasted's downgraded status was justfified but a name is a name and 'Brasted Halt' appeared on the halt itself, in timetables, on tickets and so forth so it was sensible and avoiding of any possible confusion to update the information at Dunton Green accordingly. Information such as that above was once a common sight across the railway network and in some cases was much more elaborate, but the practice largely died out with the introduction of BR's black and white signage which appeared from the late 1960s. Passengers on the ostensibly privatised rail network of today are to a large degree expected to know where to change trains if necessary although the information is given when buying tickets online. But despite such information on station signage being now all-but history, it has been found necessary to introduce the rather patronising practice of adding 'London' to the name of every terminal in that city. Thankfully, however, we have been spared the insult of 'London London Bridge'. Back at Dunton Green, clear in the above view is the construction of these enamel boards in two sections. This was normal practice for boards displaying anything but the shorter station names.
Photo by Ted Burgess |
Home Page