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Looking at the photos, the centre rail was set rather low so I doubt that it was in contact with the trains. More likely that it was simply bonded to the running rails to reduce the resistance of the traction current return path (as was done on some heavily-used sections of the Southern Electric in Kent). If so, the trains would always have been third rail with running rail return. Keith Alton.

That's an interesting comment about a distant showing clear indicating that automatic token exchanging equipment was in use. I wonder whether that was ever the practice in the UK? Keith Alton.

That’s the one. It was moved to the opposite platform when the present signal box was installed some years ago. Keith Alton.

There are examples of LSWR lamp huts on the Watercress Line at Ropley and Alton (ex-Itchen Abbas). These are corrugated iron structures with arched roofs, not unlike the GWR type. The hut at Ropley is seen in the photo below, which dates from 1922. Note the offset door. Medstead has a rendered lamp hut with a rearward-sloping corrugated iron roof, which dates from the 1920s. This is definitely not a product of Exmouth Junction and I haven't seen another like it. Image © Watercress Line Archives. Keith Alton.

Watch out for those teeth! Keith Alton.

I think "cattle grids" at crossings only really came into use pre-War on third rail electrified lines. There was particular issue with the Southern's 1938 Mid-Sussex scheme because it ran through a rural area and concern was raised in Parliament about the risk of livestock straying onto the line and being electrocuted. At the 1937 SR annual meeting the chairman stated that on electrified lines cattle grids were provided at crossings to prevent cattle leaving the crossing. (The implication being that on non-electrified lines they weren't.) Incidentally the early cattle grids were arranged with the long side of the triangular section longitudinals facing down. (This can be seen in contemporary photographs.) I don't know how effective they were at deterring cattle and sheep but human trespassers could certainly walk over them. The more recent arrangement, with the long side facing up, is much more effective. Keith Alton.

By chance last year I discovered the W H Smith branch in Newtown (Powys). The sales floor downstairs uses old shop fittings and signage and upstairs is a museum illustrating the history of the company. Well worth a look if you get the chance. There was certainly something on station bookstalls, and typography, but I'm not sure about colour schemes. Keith Alton.

I seem to have been pre-empted!

I confess I've never seen a Southern cast iron gents'. There is a copy of the BR(S) station painting scheme from 1949 (updated to 1960) in the wild, which is used by a number of heritage railways and which helpfully gives British Standard (BS) shade equivalents for the former Southern Railway station colours. This shows examples of most structures but not a cast iron urinal. In the circumstances my best guess is that it would be painted in the appropriate shade of green, i.e. SR no. 3 (BS381c/276 Lincoln Green) pre-War and SR no. 3A (BS381c/221 Brilliant Green) post-War and into BR days. But I stand to be corrected... Keith Alton.

Very sorry to hear this. I knew Nigel quite well some years ago when he was a fellow signalman at the Watercress Line. (He looked a bit younger then.) We worked for the same firm at one time although he was later TUPE'd out. We had only met occasionally in recent years but it was always good to catch up. He can't have been that old. Keith Alton.

The frame is of the type found latterly in Bulleid-type 4 Sub and EPB units with Formica decor. Keith Alton.

That's a fair point. With the English dominant in Wales since the Edwardian conquest, naturally English would have become the de facto language of the ruling elite. However the 1535 Act codified this and formally imposed English law on Wales (and was deeply resented by the Welsh in consequence). It did a number of other things as well, including giving the Welsh representation in the English Parliament. Incidentally the term "Acts of Union" is a modern non-Statutory description of the Acts of 1535 and 1542. (The latter wasn't Cromwell's as by that time he was no longer the man he used to be.) Anyway, perhaps we should get back to the subject of the Central Wales line... Keith Alton (and sometimes Tywyn)

Actually, it was stigmatised by policy. This goes back to Thomas Cromwell's Laws in Wales Act of 1535, which imposed English as the administrative and legal language of Wales. Keith Alton.

Shade no. 2 isn't specified in the painting guide (white is white, I guess) but shade no. 3A (the post-War building green) is BS 381c shade 221 ("brilliant green"). Keith Alton.

And K! Keith Alton.