Train nameplate kept under a bed for 30 years expected to fetch £15,000
An LNER locomotive nameplate from 61670 ‘City of London’ is expected to fetch £15,000 when it goes under the hammer in Newbury on Wednesday (June 28) .
The nameplate, part of the Edward 'Smokey' Crawforth Collection had been kept under a bed for 30 years and was discovered recently.
The lot is part of Ted’s collection of Railwayana to be auctioned in the Glorious Trains auction at Special Auction Services in Newbury and is estimated to fetch up to £30,000.
It comprises 50 lots and includes ephemera ranging in estimate from £30 to £15,000.
Born in 1936, Ted was the son of William (Bill) Crawforth, a railway guard at Wallington, who was involved with the running of the Southern Counties Touring Society in the forties, fifties and sixties. Ted initially started work sweeping the station at 15 years old and after completing his National Service he returned to the railways.
Ted became a fireman at Norwood Junction then Exmouth Junction (which was where he got his nickname Smokey). On the demise of steam, Ted returned to Surrey where he became the leading driver at Effingham Junction Electric Depot and finally at Bognor Regis, retiring in 1995. He was also involved on the footplate of steam locomotives and other activities with the Bluebell Railway and MNLPS.
Ted is described by his family as being a “real transport enthusiast” with a particular love of steam.
He began collecting in the 50s and 60s, pre-marriage and children. A friend accompanied him when he made the inspired purchase of the top-lot in the sale,the LNER locomotive nameplate from 61670 ‘City of London. The nameplate had been propped up against a wall of the front room that the family kept for ‘best’ and when Ted and his wife downsized, the nameplate was stored under the bed and had been forgotten about by family members until it was rediscovered recently.
Ted died in August 2022 and the extent of his collection materialised and included several boxes in the loft and garage which had been carefully packaged and labelled.
The vendor says: “It was exciting finding all these items that we did not previously know about but at the same time it is a little sad that they were all tucked out of the way. Our hope is for the pieces to be sold to collectors or organisations who share Ted’s passion and who can hopefully put them on display for others to enjoy as he did.”
Ted’s interest in railways, bus and aircraft was lifelong and he kept meticulous records of observations and visits. He also provided photographs and details for people writing railway books as his knowledge of the history of the railways was second to none and his office was wall-to-wall with hundreds of transport related books, newsletters and enamel signs.
Other highlights in the auction include an A4 Tri Note Chime Whistle from 60015 Quicksilver – the iconic locomotive which was put into service to celebrate the King’s Silver Jubilee in 1935 that is expected to fetch £3,000-5,000 and a Smokebox Number Plate from the City of London which is estimated at £700-900.
Pic: Special Auction Services
