RFB25824

The Midland Railway Study Centre catalogue contains an entry under Item No. 28524 which reads:-

“A book of permanent way and other miscellaneous Engineering Department drawings covering a wide range of topics including some dzrawings of special track for the Settle and Carlisle line from the 1870s. There are also some drawings from the Signal Department included. Most drawings are very fragile and therefore the item is WITHDRAWN FROM USE UNTIL REPAIRED. Bears the original MR label in gilt on maroon panel ‘ LITHOS, TRACINGS, &C No 1 ’ ”

That this item was withdrawn was a source of frustration as it was evident that it contained a lot of very exciting documents. Permission was sought from the Society's Collection Committee to take the plunge and sacrifice the binding of the ledger which was evidently beyond repair, in order that the content could be separated and conserved. The process of carefully removing each page, opening out the creases — in many cases for the first time in a hundred years or so — then scanning the content and placing the sheets into modern archival sleeves, is ongoing. However, this page is being created to showcase some of the gems which are appearing. Many are in a pretty poor state and have chunks torn off them. However, as this sample should amply demonstrate, the information contained within is still invaluable.

• MR standard structure gauge (loading gauge) of 1876 alongside the GWR Broad Gauge loading gauge of 1883.

  

  RFB28524-052 - 8mb.

• Architect's drawing of MR cottages dated 15DEC1887.

  

  RFB28524-064 - 5.4mb.

• Workmen's corrugated iron privies manufactured by B.Taylor & Co. of Birmingham, dated 05MAY1885.

  

  RFB28524-066 - 2.7mb.

• MR standard sleeper construction buffer stop.

  

  RFB28524-075 - 9mb.

• Standard drawing for continuous wrought iron fencing signed by Alfred Langley and dated 12AUG1884.

  

  RFB28524-076 - 8.5mb.

• MR system map dated 1904 (badly torn).

  

  RFB28524-078 - 12.9mb.

• MR system map dated 06MAY1885 (badly torn).

  

  RFB28524-079 - 12.9mb.

• MR standard footbridge 28ft span, dated 20NOV1884.

  

  RFB28524-102 - 7.2mb.

• MR standard footbridge 40ft span, dated 20NOV1884.

  

  RFB28524-103 - 7.5mb.

This remains a "work in progress" and as such more examples will be added to this page in due course. However, it is hoped that the sample provided here are of interest.

Please note that, as with all resources on this website (unless otherwise stated), the images linked-to above are provided on the basis of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Licence. In the event your intended use is outside the scope of this licence, please contact the Study Centre Co-ordinator. There is no charge for individual private researchers to use the Study Centre, whether visiting in person or making email enquiries. Our volunteers receive no reimbursement, not even for travelling, as they are happy to help. However, there are overheads in operating the Study Centre and we have a responsibility to properly conserve the material we hold and use. To that end, if you have received assistance from us and wish to show your appreciation, there is a PayPal button on several pages of this site (e.g. here) for your convenience. Donations made in this way go to the Midland Railway Society are are 'ring fenced' for use in the Study Centre. Thank you