Railway Police

Birmingham and Gloucester Railway An Act of Parliament authorising construction of this railway was passed in 1836 and the first section opened in 1840. By 1846 the line was incorporated into that of the Midland Railway. Fenn Clark illustrates an unusual truncheon 17¾ inches in length with a short cylindrical body and long handle. It is decorated with a small crown over 'V.R.', 'B.G.' and 'R' in gilt lettering with black shading. This piece is of a standard truncheon form 18½ inches in length. The ground is painted black with the exception of the last two inches just above the handle, which is red. Incorporating red into the design is sometime a feature of railway truncheons from the time when railway police also acted as signalmen. It is decorated in yellow with 'V.R.' over 'B.G.' and 'R.' in a similar manner to the Fenn Clark example and therefore can probably be attributed to the same company.