railway history
 

"I am Sandy and I collect things."

If there was a society called Collectors' Anonymous, I'd have to join it. Some of the things I collect are railway-related, and the latest one is puzzling me.

I've looked at lists of railway companies in Britain around the 1840s, but I can't find one with the initials E.V. & M. (or is it E. U. & M.?) These initials appear on a grubby "railway mug" I have just acquired (picture attached).

I'm hoping that one of you railway experts will be able to help me find the answer!

It's not listed in my copy of Butt which is pretty comprehensive, so it may be one of the many proposed railways that never came to fruition. An extension of the Eastern Union perhaps?

My, that was quick! Thank you :).

I had thought that perhaps it was "V" for Valley, but "U" for Union makes much more sense. Though in either case, the "&M" is a puzzle.

These mugs are quite common and it's usually easy to see which company they belong to, but this one defeated me. I'll try a bit more research based on your Eastern Union suggestion - many thanks.

I've been through "Encyclopaedia of British railway companies" and there is no exact match.:(

E.V could be Ebbw Vale, but I could not find anything in that area either.

The plot thickens!

Unfortunately all these mugs are pretty similar, and there's nothing to identify this one except the initials. Perhaps I'll just have to admit defeat.

I've been through "Encyclopaedia of British railway companies" and there is no exact match.:(

E.V could be Ebbw Vale, but I could not find anything in that area either.

Welcome to the Forum Sandy,

I have done some research but haven't found anything as yet.

Interesting collection of mugs.

Best wishes,

John H-T

Hello Sandy! Nice to see a fellow Stockfodian on board! I live in St. Annes now though!

Welcome to the forum, Sandy!

You might get help at the National Railway Museum in identifying these.

However, looking carefully at them I suspect they are not British. The building is certainly suspect from that point of view as is the mountain range on Sandy's post.

These mugs were mostly, if not all, made in Staffordshire, but I agree that the scenery looks suspect. Perhaps the Staffordshire versions of the design were based on an original picture nicked from overseas?

Although they all look suspiciously similar, some of these mugs have very specific labels like "Liverpool and Manchester Railway". Some name locomotives like "Comet" and "Albion", but I don't know whether these were genuine locomotives or just names to put on the mugs!

The British pottery industry was a major exporter then.

These could be comissioned by an overseas railway company. With some examples retained here by the factory.

If that is the case I suspect they may be quite valuable. I suggest check the NRM website and contact them.

Thanks for such an interesting posting.

You put an idea in my head, Belmont Road. Maybe E.U.&M. was not a railway but a pottery? There were hundreds of potteries around the Stoke area in those days, mostly unknown today, so I've had a look and found a company called Ellis, Unwin & Mountford, who then teamed up briefly with somebody called Taylor, according to their entry in the London Gazette.

I think that's solved my problem - thank you - but you've raised a new hare: whether these mugs were principally made for an overseas market. I have no idea about that, but I can promise you that mostly they sell for next to nothing!

Looks like you've solved it well done!

Jack

Thanks to everyone for the trouble you've all taken - sorry it's turned out to be a damp squib!

No need to apologise, it was an interesting topic.:)

Sandy. I do railway historical research for a living now.

Nothing from the railway's past is a damp squib to researchers. I would still recommend that you contact the NRM. Someone may find these very interesting and helpful in their research.

Hi Sandy welcome to the forum (belated) glad to see you found what you were looking for. Hope you enjoy our company and look forward to your posts
Best wishes
Phil