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You are in: Displays : The Shakespeare Line updated 13/04/08
This page shows a display of images of totems following the route of the Shakespeare Express. This is a popular regular Summer Sundays Steam Train Service run by Vintage Trains - starting at Birmingham Snow Hill and ending at Stratford-upon-Avon.

The images are taken from photographs of actual totem signs that were used on the stations on the Shakespeare Line (formerly known as the North Warwickshire Line) that have been preserved by collectors & museums etc.

The totems are organised in columns following the order of the route of the Shakespeare Express - starting at Birmingham Snow Hill and ending at Stratford-upon-Avon.

The second part of the display shows the totems on the 'alternative route' back from Stratford-upon-Avon. Due to weight restrictions on the 'up' line on a bridge just South of Shirley, the return journey takes the alternative route along 'the branch line' between Bearley Junction and Hatton Junction. There are two stations along here - Bearley & Claverdon - and neither of these were actually fitted with totems (digitally produced GWR style nameboards are shown). The route back then takes the former GWR Paddington to Birmingham mainline passing a number of commurer stations including Acocks Green, which is of particulalr interest. This was formerly known as 'Acocks Green & South Yardley' and had two patterns of totem. One with the name spread over two lines and the other with the name on a single line. Both examples are shown.
Click for enlarged route map of Shakespeare Express


Birmingham Snow Hill had special platform signs called 'roundels' fixed to the walls on the main platform buildings. Conventional totem signs were also used at the ends of platforms (an image is additionally shown at the foot of the display). It was regarded by the British Railways Western Region as being at an important location. (The only other station so treated on the whole network was Bristol Temple Meads).

If you roll your mouse pointer over the various images below then notes may appear against several totems, including the current names for some of the stations - a 1970s change.

It is themed displays like this that the Totem Experience can organise for presentation at your event or show with the actual totems themselves.

Shakespeare Line Station Totem Sign Display
     
     
Alternative Route - Station Totem Sign Display
     
Bearley - no totems ever fitted Stratford-upon-Avon Wilmcote Claverdon - no totems ever fitted
Current station name "Acocks Green" - two line totem Olton Widney Manor Lapworth Current station name "Dorridge" Solihull Current station name "Wythall" Current station name "Wythall"
Current station name "Small Heath" Birmingham Snow Hill  important station 'roundel' with totem in centre Birmingham Moor Street Tyseley Bordesley
     
     
Birmingham Snow Hill Standard Totem used at ends of platforms
 
Acocks Green & South Yardley - alternative one line totem
     
Current station name "Earlswood" Current station name "Wythall" Current station name "Whitlocks End" Yardley Wood Spring Road Hall Green Shirley Current station name "Small Heath" Birmingham Snow Hill  important station 'roundel' with totem in centre Birmingham Moor Street Tyseley Bordesley Current station name "The Lakes" Current station name "Danzey" Current station name "Wootton Wawen" Stratford-upon-Avon Wood End Henley-in-Arden Wilmcote
 
 

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