London+Edinburgh train signpost on Canal at Calverley

LS13 · Post by **LS13** » Sat 01 Sep, 2012 1:37 pm

I read that there was a sign in the field by the canal half way between Rodley and Apperley Bridge which denoted the midway point between London and Edinburgh- 200 miles to each apparentlt. The sign was positioned in the farmers field on the far side of the canal, closest to where the London to Edinburgh trains past. I was told the structure is still visible and when I past today, I saw what I asumed were the support poles for the sign. Does anyone have a photo of it?Also, when London to Scotland trains used the line, I'm assuming they didnt stop at any of the branch stations such as Calverley?

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Sat 01 Sep, 2012 2:32 pm

There's one near York:http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_chri ... 209607/and at Kirkstall Forge:http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1766212

trophy · Post by **trophy** » Sat 01 Sep, 2012 4:14 pm

i seem to vaguely remember this sign .no the thames clyde and waverley didnt stop at the small stations.

headingleylad · Post by **headingleylad** » Sat 01 Sep, 2012 9:32 pm

I worked on the railways for forty years and have never seen the sign and I do not remember anybody mentioning it. It would not be a halfway sign for Edinburgh as the route is to Glasgow.The Thames Clyde Express called at Leeds and the first stop was Keighley then Skipton, Settle, Appleby, and Carlisle, I believe some of the expresses also called at Hellifield as it was a junction station.

jim · Post by **jim** » Sat 01 Sep, 2012 10:18 pm

The Kirkstall plaque must be a roadside item. There were no railways in that vicinity for another ten years after the 1829 date displayed on it.

yorkiesknob · Post by **yorkiesknob** » Sun 02 Sep, 2012 12:25 am

I remember the halfway plaque at the Forge , as a young fellow on my push bike pass it many a times. Would be interesting to know whihk routes made up up the 200miles each way. Not that it would be the same today by a long shot.

Post by **mhoulden** » Sun 02 Sep, 2012 2:37 am

A quick check on Google Maps suggests that it's 198 miles from Abbey Road to Charing Cross Road in London via the M1, or 209 miles via the A1 avoiding motorways, and 205 miles from there to Princes St in Edinburgh via the A1(M) and A68. The A1 has been around as the Great North Road since the 12th century according to Wikipedia so it's probably safe to say that's what the main route was. Allowing for changes in the route, less accurate measuring techniques back then, and a bit of artistic licence from the people paid for the sign, I can see why it says 200 miles exactly rather than a little +/-. The A1/Great North Road is to the east of Leeds itself so I'm guessing they'd have joined it heading north at Wetherby and south somewhere near Pontefract..

yorkiesknob · Post by **yorkiesknob** » Sun 02 Sep, 2012 2:01 pm

mhoulden wrote: A quick check on Google Maps suggests that it's 198 miles from Abbey Road to Charing Cross Road in London via the M1, or 209 miles via the A1 avoiding motorways, and 205 miles from there to Princes St in Edinburgh via the A1(M) and A68. The A1 has been around as the Great North Road since the 12th century according to Wikipedia so it's probably safe to say that's what the main route was. Allowing for changes in the route, less accurate measuring techniques back then, and a bit of artistic licence from the people paid for the sign, I can see why it says 200 miles exactly rather than a little +/-. The A1/Great North Road is to the east of Leeds itself so I'm guessing they'd have joined it heading north at Wetherby and south somewhere near Pontefract.. That sounds close enough to me,well done.

trophy · Post by **trophy** » Sun 02 Sep, 2012 2:29 pm

after discussing this with afriend we think this was an advertising hoarding possibly for paint i think part of the sign was a cutout figure of a man with a paint brush???. this would be late50s.

liits · Post by **liits** » Sun 02 Sep, 2012 4:10 pm

trophy wrote: after discussing this with afriend we think this was an advertising hoarding possibly for paint i think part of the sign was a cutout figure of a man with a paint brush???. this would be late50s. Wasn’t the paint advert was two men carrying a ladder? As a kid it was always known as the “Two men walking to Brid”