Interpreting GWR timetables

[Clearwater]

Hi

Probably a dumb question but grateful if someone could either confirm or point me towards somewhere that lists out the notations and acronyms etc.

 

I looking at a table in GWRJ (Table A on p471 of Issue 71) detailing train times for articulated stock. The timetable lists times such as 8.30 and then later ones such as 4/45 or 6/8. I assume the former are 830am or 0830 in modern 24h notation and the latter 1645 and 1808 ie "/" is used to symbolise pm. Is that correct?

 

As I said probably a dumb question but the format is unfamiliar to my modern eyes! Any other advice on such changes in notation gratefully received!

 

Thanks

 

David

[Siberian Snooper]

Hi

Probably a dumb question but grateful if someone could either confirm or point me towards somewhere that lists out the notations and acronyms etc.

 

I looking at a table in GWRJ (Table A on p471 of Issue 71) detailing train times for articulated stock. The timetable lists times such as 8.30 and then later ones such as 4/45 or 6/8. I assume the former are 830am or 0830 in modern 24h notation and the latter 1645 and 1808 ie "/" is used to symbolise pm. Is that correct?

 

As I said probably a dumb question but the format is unfamiliar to my modern eyes! Any other advice on such changes in notation gratefully received!

 

Thanks

 

David

 

You are correct David, a dot for AM and a Slash for PM.

[The Fatadder]

You are correct David, a dot for AM and a Slash for PM.

I’m all the time I’ve spent looking at 1940s GWR documents I had never noticed the . and /. Of course not the only odditie in these documents, just wait till you start seeing references to full breaks!

[The Stationmaster]

David that is correct when reading GWR Service Timetables however in BR days the meaning changed in some documents (basically those which were typed or hand written) and the 'oblique' or 'forward slash' indicated a passing times (which would be shown in a printed timetable in lighter type.

[D854_Tiger]

Another problem with old timetables was the way connecting times were always shown in the same typeface as the actual running times for a given service.

 

I have always assumed that any times shown, not on the core route (as defined in the title of the timetable), were always connecting times.

 

Trains originating or terminating beyond the core route being identified by an appropriate comment in that train's entry.

 

So, for example, when reading the Cheltenham - Kingham - Banbury timetable it should be assumed that all trains were confined to all or part of that route except where it said otherwise.

 

Trains that were not so confined being suitably identified by, for example, 'Thro carriages RC exp Newcastle to Cardiff.'