| While walking in the countryside I noticed lots of discarded 3rd rail insulators or "pots" in railway jargon, lying at the bottom of an embankment alongside the Portsmouth direct railway line. I was surprised at the variety of manufacturers that had put their names on these mundane but essential items over the years. All these insulators were discarded down embankments and ended up on the "public" side of the fence. At no point was it neccessary to trespass on railway property to take these pictures. |
A pot manufactured by Doulton in Dec 1962, photographed through the fence. 800x600 |
An Allied Insulator pot showing a manufacturing date of 1980 and "TYPE 140 BR" which indicates that this pot was intended to be used with rail weighing up to 140lb/yd. 800x640 |
The same pot as in the previous picture, clearly showing the markings. 800x600 |
A further picture of the 1980 Allied Insulator Type 140, with some of the cast markings on the 3rd rail chair. Visible are the manufacturing date with BR after it. 563x600 |
While the "Bullers" markings are clear on here, although the type shown is different, this pot appears to be otherwise identical to its Allied Insulators "1980" cousin. 800x1107 |
A damaged pot marked "DOULTON 1953" 800x626 |
Other side of the "DOULTON 1953" pot, showing a stamping "BR (S) 100" - for 100lb/yd rail 800x600 |
The "DOULTON 1953" pot showing surface corrosion on the rail chair. Just visible are the two raised areas the 3rd rail would rest on. The wings of the chair also appear to be shorter than those on the more recent pots. 800x800 |
A top view of another "Allied Insulators" 1980 pot, showing quite a lot of detail, including conflicting information! at the top "BULLERS LTD" can be clearly seen. Perhaps Bullers were taken over by Allied Insulators who then didn't update the metal casting? Also visible is "37059" which appears in the castings of many of the discarded pots, so is probably the BR part number. 800x800 |
This yellowing relic has "TAYLOR TUNNICLIFF & Co ltd" & 1955 on the chair casting, which also has short wings similar to the 1953 Doulton. 800x800 |
The same pot as in the previous picture, after a quick rub with the thumb revealed the rather elegant Taylor Tunnicliff company insignia, year of manufacture and designation of "100 LB/YD. B.R. (S)". 800x971 |
Another Taylor Tunnicliff "100" of 1956. The crack from top to bottom is the most likely reason this one was replaced. 800x800 |
The cracked 1956 Taylor Tunnicliff with a 1960 Bullers "BR (S) 100" pot. 800x600 |
Underside of the Bullers & Taylor Tunnicliff pots. 800x600 |
A real piece of ancient railway history, sadly not much more than a fragment. "S.R" with a line and "100" for 100lb/yd stamped into the shoulder of this pot, a clear indication of a pre-nationalisation era pot. The other side of which had a very vague Taylor Tunnicliff insignia. Unfortunately my attempt to get a picture of it blurred. 800x800 |
