An unidentified LNWR 4-4-0 ‘George the Fifth’ Class locomotive stands at the platform with the Sunny South Express service. The Sunny South Express ran from Liverpool and Manchester to Brighton and Eastbourne. The trains were hauled by LNWR and London, Brighton & South Coast Railway locomotives. The service operated from 1904 until after the Second World War and carried holiday passengers from the midlands and the north of England to the south coast. The express passed through Birmingham, Rugby and the west side of London. Other railways also ran their versions of the Sunny South and these trains comprised carriages of several different companies.
Note beneath the platform clock the wooden stand with two clock faces. This is a train indicator (an early form of a train arrival and departure board) which informed passengers of the time of the next two trains and what part of the platform they will arrive at. Rugby’s long platforms were designed to accommodate two trains simultaneously and therefore passengers needed to be advised as to which train was standing at the front of the platform and which was at the rear. Therefore the top clock and indicator arm is pointing to the rear (Nuneaton) end of the long platform indicating that the 2:00 pm train is the Sunny South Express stopping at Willesden, Brighton and Eastbourne, whilst the lower clock and arm is pointing to the London end of the up platform indicating that the next train is a Euston only express service leaving at 1:44 pm. Note the hand bell placed on top of the steps and the spelling of Euston with the ‘E’ looking very like the ‘£’ sign.
In the distance, on the corner beneath the ‘Cloakroom’ sign is a spiral staircase which led up to the footbridge which crossed the up platform and lines which went to the Staff Lodge and possibly the signal box too.
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An unidentified LNWR 4-4-0 ‘George the Fifth’ Class locomotive stands at the platform with the Sunny South Express service. The Sunny South Express ran from Liverpool and Manchester to Brighton and Eastbourne. The trains were hauled by LNWR and London, Brighton & South Coast Railway locomotives. The service operated from 1904 until after the Second World War and carried holiday passengers from the midlands and the north of England to the south coast. The express passed through Birmingham, Rugby and the west side of London. Other railways also ran their versions of the Sunny South and these trains comprised carriages of several different companies.
Note beneath the platform clock the wooden stand with two clock faces. This is a train indicator (an early form of a train arrival and departure board) which informed passengers of the time of the next two trains and what part of the platform they will arrive at. Rugby’s long platforms were designed to accommodate two trains simultaneously and therefore passengers needed to be advised as to which train was standing at the front of the platform and which was at the rear. Therefore the top clock and indicator arm is pointing to the rear (Nuneaton) end of the long platform indicating that the 2:00 pm train is the Sunny South Express stopping at Willesden, Brighton and Eastbourne, whilst the lower clock and arm is pointing to the London end of the up platform indicating that the next train is a Euston only express service leaving at 1:44 pm. Note the hand bell placed on top of the steps and the spelling of Euston with the ‘E’ looking very like the ‘£’ sign.
In the distance, on the corner beneath the ‘Cloakroom’ sign is a spiral staircase which led up to the footbridge which crossed the up platform and lines which went to the Staff Lodge and possibly the signal box too.
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