Journal 46 — Summer 2011

Table of Contents

  • The Fishers — A Midland Railway Family / By Glynn Waite
  • The Final Years of the SMJ System / By Robin Cullup
  • Items from the Study Centre — 9 : Midland Railway Rugs and Blankets / By Roy Burrows
  • Locomotive Aesthetics / By Jack Braithwaite
  • The Anker Viaduct Near Tamworth / By Ian Howard
  • Foreigners / By Ian Howard
  • Centre Spread: 2–2–2 No. 33
  • Henlow and the Henlow Depôt / By Peter Witts
  • Query Corner
  • Comments on Items in Previous Journals
  • Front cover

    Front cover

    This delightful Edwardian postcard has almost everything that a transport enthusiast might want — a viaduct, train, bridge, river (the River Anker), car and bicycle; and even a donkey. The lady and gentleman in the car were possibly from Bole Hall, just beyond the viaduct and whose grounds were amongst the trees. The cartoon execution is very unusual, but is very effective here. Why it was produced and for whom is, presently, unknown. At least one person bought a copy of this card, the example in the Burrows collection at the Study Centre. The Anker viaduct was one of the two major structures on the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway, and we present a photograph of it on page 10.

    [Roy F. Burrows Midland Collection Trust, No. 23660: MR Study Centre]

  • Rear cover

    Rear cover

    Whilst I was putting the penultimate touches to the copy for this issue of our Journal, I received a message from Ashley Sanders on the Midland Railway Society email discussion group pointing out that the old Midland Grand Hotel was to be re-opened in March as the “St Pancras Renaissance Hotel”. So, since you will get this copy of the Journal at about the same time as the hotel re-opens, the item on the back cover seems especially appropriate. It is from a folded four-sided handbill produced for Midland Hotels. We display the front cover of the handbill, which describes, on the remaining three pages, the facilities available at the Midland’s hotels. Although undated, the dress of the attractive young lady on the cover suggests that the handbill was produced about 1918.

    For anyone contemplating staying at the re-opened hotel, you will have to dig deeply into your pockets, as the prices start at £250 per night, and that is for a room in the extension at the back, not the renovated rooms in the old Midland Grand itself, which are much more expensive.

    [Roy F. Burrows Midland Collection Trust, No. 13821: MR Study Centre.]