GWR carriage destination roof boards.

[robd]

Hi All and GWR aficionados in particular.

Does any one know if GWR carriages that carried destination/named train roof boards had these boards mounted on both sides or just one side of the carriage.

I believe that destination boards were mounted on one side and named train boards were mounted on both sides, can someone confirm this or correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks in advance,

Rob.

 

[johnwhelan]

That would make sense if you assume that the destination boards where changed from the platform but when did making sense have anything to do with life.

Cheerio John

 

[robd]

Maybe, definitely a two (or three) man job if changed at the platform!

Rob.

 

[johnwhelan]

Maybe, definitely a two (or three) man job if changed at the platform!

Rob.

Where else or how else would you change them?

Cheerio John

 

[robd]

Where else or how else would you change them?

Cheerio John

I suspect they were very rarely changed/taken down whilst a carriage worked on a particular route, which leads me to think that destination boards might have been paired up on a carriage, one having the destinations/stops in reverse order to the other.

Can anyone confirm or dismiss this theory?

Rob.

 

[sterrett]

In the late 60's, early 70's BR Western Region used yellow metal rectangular destination boards at waist height for "named" trains - the "Golden Hind", the "Mayflower", the "Cornish Riviera", the "Devonian" etc. These were changed at the destination by the guard and the set not being used stored away in the guard's compartment.

The coaches used on the "Motorail" service between Paddington and Totnes and St Austell had white metal plates, also at waist height, which didn't need changing. (Remember Motorail?)

 

[robd]

Thanks for the info sterret.

The boards I am inquiring about are the older 17ft by 8in approx. wooden boards fixed to the carriage roof above the gutter. I suspect they weren't very portable - basically a long and heavy hardwood plank.

Rob.

 

[stovepipe]

I've turned up three pre-1948 colour photos of GWR coaches carrying roof boards taken from the non-platform side, at Exeter, Oxford and Reading. None of the engines are carrying headboards, so from this it seems they are destination boards and they were carried on both sides.

The photos are colour-rail slides, GW3, GW45, and SR7 if you are interested.

http://www.colourrail.com/Default.aspx

 

[robd]

Thanks stovepipe, that's just the sort of info I am seeking and it confirms my earlier train of thought regarding destination boards being carried on both sides of the coach.

Thanks,

Rob.