What other icon would you suggest that didn't look like a bus?Taken July 2020 next to Penryn station (Cornwall). How long since this line had a steam loco on it?View attachment 81158
The brown sign indicates a tourist attraction, so perhaps for those a steam engine is the default icon.
Yes I think the question here is why has the Falmouth branch, an active part of the National Rail network, gained a tourist attraction sign rather than the more usual BR double arrow that would be used to point out railway stations?
by the same logic though, why are the Gunnislake and Looe branches both advertised the same way? In some respects the branch lines themselves ARE a tourist attraction.
Being on the train (except for vibrationaholics) is not very exciting. But if you take your (e- recommended) bike you can enjoy the Carnon viaduct at SW 785 405 from beneath. I was also impressed with the scale of the embankment at SW 785 405. Those railway builders must have been mad! As I've discovered, having just moved to Totnes from Essex, all of Devon and Cornwall is up,up, uppety-up then immediately down,down, downity down and then UUUU,DDDD, and repeat. (Hence my trip to Penryn to the specialist e-bike shop.)Oh interesting, I didn't know that they were! They're interesting enough and perhaps Looe does warrant the moniker but I'm not sure I'd considering rattling up to Gunnislake in a 150 to be particularly "attractive" to anyone other than enthusiasts and the Falmouth branch even less so
Oh interesting, I didn't know that they were! They're interesting enough and perhaps Looe does warrant the moniker but I'm not sure I'd considering rattling up to Gunnislake in a 150 to be particularly "attractive" to anyone other than enthusiasts and the Falmouth branch even less so
Why a steam train? The same argument for why it's a steam train on the 'level crossing wthout gates or barrier' signs: it was always an anachronism, but a steam train has a more distinctive 'train' outline than a boxier diesel or electric train/bus/tram.
The picture shows the 'more usual BR double arrow' as well.Yes I think the question here is why has the Falmouth branch, an active part of the National Rail network, gained a tourist attraction sign rather than the more usual BR double arrow that would be used to point out railway stations?
I`ve been from Fort William to Mallaig on a 150 and probably the most scenic journey I`ve ever had in the UK. Cheaper than the Jacobite rip off.Oh interesting, I didn't know that they were! They're interesting enough and perhaps Looe does warrant the moniker but I'm not sure I'd considering rattling up to Gunnislake in a 150 to be particularly "attractive" to anyone other than enthusiasts and the Falmouth branch even less so
I`m happy to be corrected as you're probably right but the idea remains the same. However, I would still have had the same experience on a 150. It was the experience itself rather than the class of carriage. Even a 143 would have been adequate. All relative to preference of course.
Yes I think the question here is why has the Falmouth branch, an active part of the National Rail network, gained a tourist attraction sign rather than the more usual BR double arrow that would be used to point out railway stations?
There are a few rail groups that promote lines as tourist attractions in the South West. The St Ives, Tarka lines etc.Railways in touristy areas often do- some of the S&C stations in the Dales have them too.
Not really ... our current signage designs result from a comprehensive review done by the Warboys Committee in the early and mid 1960s, when steam, while still around, was very definitely on the way out.I imagine the sign was designed back in the day when steam engines were still commonplace, and simply hasn't been updated. Same as the level crossing without barriers sign.
An elephant even if the zoo has no pachyderms. A steam engine even if the railway does not run steam.I'll be corrected happily, this is cribbed from memory.
Any tourist attraction which earns a brown sign gets designated one based on what they are: a tree and picnic table for a public park, an elephant for zoo, and a steam train for heritage rail, that sort of thing.
That's a matter of opinion. Yes of course it's expensive compared with a service train, but you are not comparing like for like. It's reasonably priced compared with shorter preserved railways, or a full length tour, offers an all summer round service, and as you say offers stunning scenery. It brings in a lot of tourist revenue to the Fort William area, and I suspect Mallaig retailers enjoy the benefit it brings too. No doubt without it there would be a small employment hit too, both directly and indirectly.Cheaper than the Jacobite rip off.
Only on a rail forum could there be so much debate about a standard road sign. I'm waiting for somebody to say that the colour is correct for a line on Cornwall, but the engine is totally the wrong class for a GWR branch line.It’s just a standard national road sign, the symbols are all the same. You can have a look at them all here: http://www.followthebrownsigns.com/brown-signs/
I went on a school trip once to Bristol Zoo, apparently they get a lot of complaints/questions about where the elephants are, because all the road signs across the city taking you to the zoo have an elephant symbol. There are no elephants at Bristol Zoo! ...
Quite good if it was redesigned, similar to the symbol used on sites like Google. Would be cleaner without the fence and gate so just has track and trainIf you want an updated train for a rail-related road sign, consider this attempt for a level crossing warning triangle.
Not really ... our current signage designs result from a comprehensive review done by the Warboys Committee in the early and mid 1960s, when steam, while still around, was very definitely on the way out.
Their remit was to improve the readability and recognition of signs, enabling drivers to read them better in fast moving traffic, and the outline of a steam loco is far more recognisable than a diesel or electric outline would be. Even now young drivers are likely to have encountered Thomas the Tank Engine during their early years!