Please be aware of our copyright notice. If you have a good reaon for using a photo from this site ask permission from first - it is frequently given.
Running In Boards
Running In Boards may not be the most glamorous of railway artefacts, but they are most certainly important! As a train pulls into the station, probably still moving at some speed, the targets or totems can be difficult to read, but a large running in board proclaiming the name of the station is hard to miss. They have taken on different styles down the years, and at times have been removed for reasons of national security, but still perform the same task today as always, though some modern ones seem to have become joint running in board and advertising hoarding!
Here is a selection:
An all concrete board that was used at Baynards. Concrete was a favourite material of the Southern Railway and, as can be seen on these pages, one they used in numerous designs.
photograph by Keith Harwood
Double vision? Just to be certain here is a running in board adjacent to a target.
photograph by Ray Soper
Southern Railway concrete and wrought iron brackets with BR(S) enamel signing. Here we can see a small totem alongside!
photograph by Keith Harwood
A fine example at Eridge of how concrete architecture can look good, even when "chunky".
photograph by Keith Harwood
Forest Row's board is similar to that at Bramber, but with thinner concrete posts.
photograph by Keith Harwood
At one end of the station Grange Road's was the same style as that at Forest Row, though the deterioration of the sign with two rust marks and subsequent rain-staining highlights one of the problems that the enamel signs suffered.
photograph by Keith Harwood
At the other end of Grange Road station was a totally different board. A large Southern Railway wooden back-board with the far smaller BR(S) enamelled nameplate attached.
photograph by Keith Harwood
Groombridge had the same style board as seen at Forest Row and the first Grange Road, but what a difference a little sunshine makes to it!
photograph by Keith Harwood
A very similar style at Hartfield, this time with some moulding around the enamel nameplate. In this view it is clear to see how the sign was actually made of two parts.
photograph by Keith Harwood
Another good use for the Running In Board was for giving passengers information about changing trains, or alighting for local attractions. Here, in the early days of the Bluebell Railway, passengers arriving at Horsted Keynes are invited to "alight here for the Bluebell line". The 2-Bil for Haywards Heath and Seaford is in what was then platform 1.
photograph by Keith Harwood
That at Hove was a good example of a more modern BR(S) enamel running in board.
cine capture by Keith Harwood
Many stations had a target and a Running In Board adjacent to each other as was the case at Isfield.
photograph by Keith Harwood
A real Southern Railway gem! Concrete posts and wrought iron brackets as before, but this time the letters are individually screwed to the board. Another example like this was until recently to be found at the present-day Horsted Keynes, though this was a Bluebell re-construction.
photograph by Keith Harwood
Not quite so flamboyant! The running-in board at Parkstone, which advised passengers that this was the station to alight for Sandbanks.
photograph by Michael Blackbourn
Steyning was the next station south from Bramber, so it is hardly surprising it had the same style of running in board.
photograph by Keith Harwood
Another BR(S) enamel sign. The length of the station name places the posts far apart!
Nice collection of Shell/BP tankers in the background.
photograph by Keith Harwood
A variation on a theme! The running in board at Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight.
photograph by Keith Harwood
Another concrete style running in board at West Hoathly, date unknowm but possibly after closure.
photograph: Mike Morant collection
No, it is not Wisthyham with a slipped 'S'! The additional letter is on the platform stop board.
photograph by Keith Harwood
This page was last updated 17 November 2008
