ONE of the most remarkable collections of railway heritage will go under the hammer at Chippenham Auction Rooms next month.

Hundreds of rare railway signs, including many from stations that disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s and a sign from the Dilton Marsh Halt, are to be auctioned following the death of a railway worker, who had amassed the collection over six decades.

“This collection is mind-blowing," principal auctioneer Richard Edmonds said. "It’s the biggest of its kind I’ve ever seen. To put it into perspective, the most classic railway totem signs I’ve sold before at a single auction was two - now I’ve got over 50 of them.

“What’s even more surprising is that the late collectors’ wife had no idea what he was doing. She called us in to review the small part of the collection he kept in their house. It wasn’t until we looked in their garage that we realised what she’d seen before was just the tip of a railway iceberg.

“We’ve already had lots of interest – and it’s still over a month to the auction. We’re expecting some individual signs to go for well into four figures.”

The sale, which will take place at 10am on November 10, includes other items from railways, London Underground and London Transport from the 20th century up until the 1970s and include signs from 14 'lost' railway stations

For more information about the auction or the viewing on November 9, visit www.chippenhamauctionrooms.co.uk.