Signboard for Great Central Railwayana Auctions with logos and directional signs for stations and railways, celebrating 40 years from 1986 to 2026.

Specialist Auctioneers of Railwayana and Transport Memorabilia
for Over 40 Years

Great Central Railwayana Auctions is one of the UK’s longest-established specialist auctioneers and valuers of railwayana, transport and advertising memorabilia, with a reputation built over more than 35 years.

Our team brings together an exceptional 150 years of combined experience and expertise in railwayana and collecting.

Connecting Collectors with Railway History

This wealth of specialist knowledge enables us to provide professional, informed and personal advice to buyers and sellers, whether dealing with a single treasured item or an extensive collection.

A collage of vintage-style signs including a red sign that says 'BUDE,' a shield-shaped sign with a crest, a round red sign with a flag and the words 'BLOF STARS,' a rectangular sign that says 'IRON DUKE,' and other street and city signs with names like 'Shanklin,' 'Sir John Betjeman,' and 'City of Chelmsford.'
SEE OUR LATEST AUCTION PREVIEW
Golden anniversary emblem with green background, celebrating 40 years from 1986 to 2026.

Upcoming Auctions

  • Street sign reading "Western Empire" and a smaller sign below with "D 1059".

    Online Specialist Railwayana Auction

    Saturday 5th December 2026

    10:00 AM

    Our flagship quarterly online auction, featuring an exceptional selection of quality railwayana.

    500 lots

    Catalogue available two weeks before the auction.

    Auction Preview
  • A blue and white street sign with the word 'Glenfinnan' written on it.

    Online General Railwayana Auction

    Sunday 6th December 2026

    10:00 AM

    A diverse auction of general railwayana and model railways, offering a wide selection with something for every collector.

    500 lots

    Catalogue available two weeks before the auction.

    Catalogue Available Soon
  • Model black steam locomotive train with red and gold accents on red display box.

    Online General Railwayana Auction

    Monday 7th December 2026

    10:00 AM

    A diverse auction of general railwayana and model railways, offering a wide selection with something for every collector.

    500 lots

    Catalogue available two weeks before the auction.

    Catalogue Available Soon
  • Vintage train ticket for travel from Southampton to Southtown West, priced at 4d, issued by London & South Western Ry.

    Paddington Ticket Auction

    12th February 2027

    9:00 AM

    1000 lots

    Postal auction of Railway Travel and Platform and Bus and Tram Tickets. Catalogue available early August.

    Catalogue Available Soon

Buying Railwayana

Successful bidders can benefit from a range of services following each auction. Our team is always available to discuss individual requirements and help arrange the most convenient collection or delivery of purchased lots.

See our next auctions

Valuations & Probate

Our extensive knowledge and experience allow us to provide complimentary valuations for railwayana, transport and associated memorabilia.

We can also assist with valuations required for probate and estate purposes, including Confirmation in Scotland. Please contact David at our Woodford Halse office to discuss your requirements in confidence.

Contact us for a valuation

Selling with Great Central Railwayana

What are your railway items worth? We can help!

Whether you have a single item, a specialist collection or a lifetime of railway memorabilia to sell, our experienced team is here to guide you through the process.

We offer a complimentary collection service for sellers, with arrangements tailored to suit you and your collection. Contact our Woodford Halse office to discuss how we can help.

Auction your items here
Collection of vintage-style metal signs related to maritime, military, and local history, including signs for BUDE, Blue Star Merchant Navy Class, Iron Duke, and others from Chelmsford and Sir John Betjeman.

Auction Highlights

£44,000

GWR Castle Nameplate Great Western fetched: £44,000

Two military medals, each with a blue ribbon and metal cross-shaped award, one with an emblem in the center and the other inscribed with 'Wallace Arnold Oakes 1935-2015'.

George Cross, awarded posthumously to Driver Wallace Oakes fetched: £60,000

Exceptional Railwayana. Remarkable Stories.

Over the years, Great Central Railwayana has been privileged to bring some truly exceptional and historically significant pieces of railwayana to auction.

Among them are nameplates from the GWR Castle Class locomotives, Great Western which fetched £44,000, and the smokebox numberplate from 60022 Mallard, which achieved a record £20,200.

We also had the honour of bringing to market the George Cross awarded to locomotive driver Wallace Oakes, which sold for £60,000 and is now cared for as part of the collection at the National Railway Museum.

Every piece of railwayana has a story. With decades of specialist knowledge and experience, we are proud to help preserve those stories while connecting important pieces of railway history with collectors and institutions for future generations.

GWR Castle Nameplate Reading Abbey fetched: £20,000

Metal license plate with the number 60022 in large black digits on a white background.

The Original BR smokebox numberplate from A4 Pacific No. 60022 ‘Mallard’ fetched: £20,200

A collection of SR Bulleid Nameplates fetched: £120,000

BR(M) totem sign, Broad Street fetched: £11,200

Supporting Railway Children

We are incredibly proud to have supported the Railway Children charity through a special fundraising auction, which raised an outstanding £71,000.

Our sincere thanks go to everyone who supported the auction, whether by donating items, bidding or helping to make the event possible.

We would also like to thank Porterbrook and Easy Live Auction for their invaluable support in helping us deliver such a successful fundraiser for this important charity.

£71,000 raised – thank you to everyone who made it possible.

Children Railway logo with the slogan 'Fighting for street children'
A vintage sign with a gold and red crown on top, reading 'CORONATION'. The sign commemorates the 5000th engine built at the locomotive works crew in June 1911.
Sign with a maroon background and white text indicating directions for British Railways, pointing to Appleby, East and West stations, with a white arrow at the bottom.
Sign indicating Barnard Castle.
A vintage-style black sign with gold raised lettering that reads 'DOLLDOWN HALL'.
A collection of vintage train tickets from the 1870s for various railways and destinations, including Bruce Grove, Bethnal Green, Stoke Newington, Paddington to Swindon, Elgin, Broad Street, Liverpool Street, and Dunluce Castle.
Collection of vintage style signs including names and labels such as BUDE, Blue Star Navy Class, Iron Duke, Shanklin, Chelsford, and Sir John Betjeman.
Vintage round metal badge with a flag in the center, surrounded by inscriptions for Gunard White Star, Merchant Navy Class, and a red outer ring.
Three vintage street sign plates with place names: WITHYHAM in green, WHITBY TOWN in orange, and CHESTERFIELD MIDLAND in dark blue.
Close-up of an old black stove with a metal number 5 on top, orange border around the surface, and rust on the edges.
Street sign that reads "Western Empire" with a smaller sign below that reads "D 1059".
Blue street sign with white lettering reading 'Glenfinnan'.
Oval red and cream metal sign reading 'Beyer, Peacock & Co. Gorton Foundry, 1872, Manchester'.
A black plastic license plate with embossed numbers "2062" and a red border, showing signs of wear and dirt.