Locomotive items certainly head the league table of railwayana collectables. One can safely assume that more than 90% of railwayana collectors remember the days of steam and were most likely to have been 'train spotters'. Locomotives were what railways were all about and although other fields of collecting railwayana are important, to obtain items that were fitted to locomotives, particularly those remembered with affection, really is the icing on the cake for collectors.

Nameplates are the most identifiable and most expensive, of all Railwayana.

The Great Western Railway fitted perhaps the most aesthetic of all nameplates with gentle curves to follow the graceful lines of the locomotive wheel splashers. They also fitted identification numberplates to the sides of their locomotives, like the nameplate, one each side to be precise. The nameplate was made from hollow cast brass letters, rivetted to a steel backplate. The numberplates were either brass or cast iron.

From the mid 50's to the end of steam in the mid 60's, just about all of these plates survived the cutters torch and ended up in various collections and museums. Many find their way to market and depending on the class of locomotive, the actual name and of course many other factors, sell for anything between £6,000 to as much as £60,000. Fortunately, Hall Class Nameplates such as Acton Hall are at the very affordable end of the scale and yet these are extremely aesthetic to have on ones wall as a momento of the days of steam.

Cabside numberplates sell for several hundreds of pounds for common Pannier Tank Locomotives (the exception being below) to £30,000 for a King Class Locomotive.

Smokebox Numberplates were affixed to the front of the locomotive so only one of these per loco. Mainly from the British Railways era with some exceptions, notably the 4 digit LMS plates. Named locos naturally command the highest prices but even the Tank locos see surprises.

Of all the items available to the railwayana collector, the humble station totems used on most British stations during the 1950's and 1960's, epitomises train journey memories. The enamel totem, measuring 36" long and 10" deep, bore not only the name of the station where they were displayed along the platforms, but also the regional colour that was familiar to us all.

The totem shape was the 'corporate image' adopted by British Railways shortly after nationalisation in 1948. It was displayed on literature, posters and even vehicles. The totem was true British Railways and although the image has gone forever, thousands of these enamel totems survive to this day. Collectors of these have many themes ranging from a single, well loved station of perhaps birthplace or favourite spotting place, to an entire line from one large station to another. Some like to have a favourite in each colour, others those with what is called 'lower panel' ie an appendage to the name which appears, usually in smaller lettering, beneath the main name

Prices generally range from £250 to £10,000+ depending very much on location, scarcity and condition. Background colours available are:- maroon (Midland Region), light blue (Scottish Region), dark blue (Eastern Region), light green & dark green (Southern Region), tangerine (North Eastern Region), brown (Western Region), black (Western Region experimental)

Obviously, not all totems are as valuable as Evercreech Junction and it was certainly the exception rather than the rule to command such a high price. The average price of a totem is around £600 but the huge variation in individual ones, make the average price somewhat cloudy.

A 'one-off' in terms of peculiarity, is Besses o' th' Barn. It is the only totem to have lower case lettering and apostrophies, in such a configuration. For this very reason, it is highly sought after by the discerning totem collector

With the exception of a handful of totems, like Evercreech junction, sea-side locations are perhaps the most desirable of all. It is no wonder that this is the case because for those fortunate enought, most of us remember our childhood trips to the sea-side.

Recently, DAWLISH shown below, sold for a healthy £5,800 at GWRA

Not only are station totems highly collectable but general enamel signs with station names, such as the example below. These invariably carried the British Railways totem logo along the top and pointed the way to the station. Of course, they weren't actually situated on the railway, indeed in a lot of cases, they were several miles from stations.

Recently, Severn Tunnel Junction Station and Car Service to Pilning shown below, sold for a healthy £2,800 at GWRA.

The vendor bought this on an internet auction site for £230 so was well pleased at the result at GWRA

Signalling is a very strong area and many wonderful items come to market quite frequently. Signal Box Instruments are keenly sought after and when one admires the build quality of mahogany and oak cased devices, it is no wonder. Location is all important and whether it is a brass plate or a painted indication, if an instrument has the station or signal box name, or the particular junction or siding name, it can enhance the value considerably. This is also true of Single Line Tokens, Tablets and Staffs.

Recently, a brass Single Line Tablet from the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, Pilton Bridge - Barnstaple, sold for £4200 at GWRA, exceeding the world record by far