Railwayana
Badge collection
Our collection holds a number of different badges. Some of the badges are illustrated on other pages where they are relevant but others do not fall naturally under any of the other topics and so we thought it would be a good idea to gather them all together on this page.
Railway Service badges
During both world wars many railway companies issued lapel badges to their workers. In the First World War these badges had an Royal Crown on them, but by World War Two the government’s policy had changed and crowns were only to be used on badges for those directly employed on government business. The railway companies therefore agreed on a new pattern of badge to be used by them all. This small oval brass badge had a steam locomotive on the top half, an enamelled blue bar saying ‘Railway Service’ across the centre and the initials of the railway company beneath, being G.W.R. on our examples. They had either a buttonhole
fastening or a brooch pin
, and in our collection we have an example of each of the two fastenings. The badges were produced by Fattorini of Birmingham, with their makers name being marked across the top on the back, and each badge would have been accompanied by a numbered pass for additional identification.
This small badge is shown here about full size, but a larger image can be viewed by clicking or tapping the thumbnail image.
A short article in the February 1940 edition of the Great Western Railway Magazine gives a bit more background.
Identification Badges for Railway Staff
ARRANGEMENTS have been made to issue an identification badge to all members of the railway staff to facilitate their proceeding to duty, when it is reasonably practical to do so, during air raid warning periods. The badge, which is oval in shape, is gilded and enamelled and measures approximately 1¼ inches by 1 inch. Each badge bears on the front, an outline of a locomotive, the words "Railway Service", and the initials of the approriate railway; on the back is a consecutive number, from which its holder can be identified. Women members of the staff are being provided with badges with a special brooch attachment.
In the First World War these enamel badges bore a red Royal Crown with the words "Railway Service" on a white ground below and the name of the relevant railway company in the blue border. On the back they had a button hole fastening, the makers name and a stamped serial number identifying the holder. It would appear that the badges were made by a number of manufacurers (possibly depending on the location of the railway company for whom the badge was made) including J.R.Gaunt & Son Ltd. of London, J.A. Wylie & Co. also in London, and Thos. Fattorini in Bolton.
This modern reproduction is shown here about full size, a larger image can be viewed by clicking or tapping the thumbnail image.
Railway Clerks' Association badge
The National Association of General Railway Clerks was formed at a meeting in Sheffield in May 1897. Two years later it was renamed the Railway Clerks' Association
Advertisement for the Railway Clerks' Association
Great Western Railway Magazine, February 1944 (RCA). Formally registered as a trade union on 1st January 1900, from 1903 onwards RCA braches began to affiliate to their local Trades Councils. In 1951, following the changes that took place in the transport industry during the post-war period, the union changed its name to the
Transport Salaried Staff's AssociationClick or tap to see some of their Rule Books
(TSSA).
The Railway Servants' Orphanage
The Railway Servants' Orphanage in Derby was founded on August 5th, 1874 and grew in size until by 1887 it could accommodate a total of 300 boys and girls. It accepted orphans up to the age of 12 from all over the country but upon reaching the age of 15 they had to leave.These badges were given in return for a donation towards the running of the home, and are amazingly still attached to their original card. Shown here about full size, larger versions can be viewed by clicking or tapping either thumbnail image. The first badge comprises the twin shields of the GWR and the second, thought to date from the 1950s, shows the ex-GWR locomotive King George V with the BR totem in its tender. Numbers at the orphange fell after the Second World War and so the original large old building was demolished and replaced by two smaller houses in 1977. By 1982, only one of these houses was needed and the home evenually closed altogether in 1993.
Railway Convalescent Homes
Founded in 1899, as the Railwaymen's Convalescent Home they started with one specially built home in Herne Bay which opened in 1901. The prime mover behind it, and the establishment in 1899 of the charitable organisation supporting it was John Edward Nichols, a cashier with the London, Chatham & Dover Railway. Other homes were added over time, but as the need diminished during the 1950s they began to close. The last home to remain open, Bridge House in Dawlish, finally closed in late 2020 as falling use and finally the effects of Covid-19 made its continued operation no longer viable. The design of the fund-raising badges changed over time with shields representing each home being either added or removed to reflect the changing number of homes supported.
Railway Convalescent Homes badges in our colection
All badges shown approximately full size
Ian Allan Locospotters Club
In 1944 an incident made headlines in the national press when a group of schoolboy enthusiasts wandered on to the mainline track. Realising that a code of conduct was required, the Ian Allan Locospotters Club was formed, eventually attracting over 300,000 members from all parts of the country. Application forms appeared in the ABC locomotives books and these detailed the club rule which all members undertook to obey - Members of the club will not in any way interfere with railway working or material, nor be a nuisance or hindrance to their staff, nor, above all, trespass on railway property. Tin, and later plastic, pin badges were issued in return for the enrolment fee. Alternativey, deluxe chrome and enamel badges with either a pin, or less commonly a button hole fastening, were also available for a small additional charge. The design of the badge changed over time but they were always produced in colours appropriate to the railway company, or BR region, of interest to the spotter. Brown was obviously indicative of the GWR (or BR Western Region) with others being either green, red, dark blue, tangerine or light blue representing Southern, London Midland, Eastern, North Eastern and Scottish regions or companies respectively. The badges were supplied by several different makers and there were many detail differences.
Ian Allan Locospotters badges in our colection
Eastern tin badge, Western, Midland, Eastern, North Eastern, Scottish and Southern region chrome badges
Midland, Eastern, Scottish and Southern region plastic badges
All badges shown approximately full size
