Aside from its virtually pristine condition it is the association with a favourite railway line that should make this a record-breaker.
According to auctioneer Tony Hoskins only three of the chocolate and cream-coloured totems used by British Railways on stations within the Western Region ever graced the Somerset & Dorset Line – Bath Green Park, Evercreech Junction and Highbridge for Burnham-on-Sea. The line (often affectionately called the Slow and Dirty) was formed by the amalgamation of the Somerset Central Railway and the Dorset Central Railway in August 1862, running until March 7, 1966, when it was closed under the infamous cuts of Dr Beeching.
Shortly after, the vendor of this lot was given this totem by the stationmaster’s wife, a memento of the station he had travelled through as a schoolboy.
Mr Hoskins believes Evercreech is certainly set to break the existing record for a totem – £8100 paid for a Scottish Region example, Kyle Of Lochalsh.
A visit to www.gwra.co.uk will show that it is currently at £7500 with fireworks expected by June 30, the final closing date for bids accepted by post, telephone or email.
The next stop is a record
To you and me it’s just a 1950s enamel station sign but to railwayana enthusiasts – and to Gloucestershire Worcestershire Railwayana Auctions who are currently selling it at their first private treaty auction – this is quite simply the most desirable ‘totem’ ever to come on the market. So what’s all the fuss about?
