Tuesday 1 April 2014

Here's the picture I mentioned yesterday:
Can you help describe this?
I was given to me by Bob Stark of the Cheltenham Area Group, and is in the form of a heavily worn print, which I have improved as much as I can. The caption simply says Winchcombe 1907, so is apparently two years after opening. I think it's a great picture of a railmotor, with, I suppose, a proud stationmaster.

This is the sort of picture I would like to put into the 'Cornishman' as part of my 'From the Archives' series. Can anyone help me describe it?

In addition, I have a couple of questions:
Can anyone correctly identify the man (stationmaster?) standing on the platform?
The water filler hatch next to him shows that the vehicle is a later, or subsequently modified example. Does that tie in with 1907?
There should be a number above the large panel, but even on close up this does not seem to be there. Any ideas?
What is the emblem in the large panel? it looks like a tall bird, like a heron. Is it merely decorative?

Looking forward to your comments!

4 comments:

Nick Jones said...

The image on the large panel looks like the wing thingy (sorry, no proper heraldry terminology here!) which sits on top of the "London" part of the full GWR coat of arms.

Neil Shepherd said...

On the 1911 Census, the station master living at The Station Villa, Greet, Winchcome was William Joseph Edwards, then aged 45. His wife was Martha., aged 47 ( You can't beat an older woman ) and his 14 year old daughter, Mabel.

William Jones, 21, was a boarder with them, and he was the booking clerk

Toddington Ted said...

Indeed,it is the "dragon's wing" with the St George's cross on it which forms part of the London part of the GWR Coat of Arms, the other "half" being Bristol and not visible in the photo. The Steam Railmotor appears to be in the all brown livery which was adopted in 1908 until replaced by the much better looking Crimson Lake livery, which the GWR used from 1912 until 1922 (so much for non-stop chocolate and cream livery eh?). I think the livery is brown rather than crimson lake as the latter was lined and there appears no evidence of lining out on the railmotor in the photo. Didcot's wonderful Steam Railmmotor No 93, shows the 1912 livery very well.

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Terry