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Swindon Works Collection

The GWR's Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Works at Swindon

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64 items

Swindon Works Collection: Locomotive Works

Locomotive Works Collection
98 items

Swindon Works Collection: Carriage and Wagon Works

Carriage and Wagon Works Collection
87 items

Swindon Works Collection: Offices and Stores

Offices and Stores Collection
11 items

Swindon Works Collection: British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) Workshops

British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) Workshops Collection
11 items

Swindon Works Collection: Apprentice Training School

Apprentice Training School Collection
12 items

Swindon Works Collection: Maps, Plans & Views

Maps, Plans & Views Collection
26 items

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2, 1942

A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2, 1942
A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2 in the GWR Swindon Works, 1942. The man is wearing a blacksmiths apron

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: 7 King Class Locomotives at Swindon Shed, 1930

7 King Class Locomotives at Swindon Shed, 1930
From l-r: No 6005 King George II, No 6008 King James II, No 6017 King Edward IV, No 6020 King Henry IV, No 6022 King Edward III, No 6023 King Edward II, No 6024 King Edward I

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Broad Gauge Wagon Dump, 1892

Swindon Works Broad Gauge Wagon Dump, 1892
Dozens of wagons can be seen here lined up at Swindon Works waiting to be scrapped. The GWRs broad gauge came to a final end in May 1892

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works, 1908

Swindon Works, 1908
View of Swindon Works looking towards the turntable and Erecting Shop

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: 16 inch naval gun loaded on a set of four POLLEN E wagons, 1944

16 inch naval gun loaded on a set of four POLLEN E wagons, 1944
This image shows a 16 inch naval gun being carried on a set of four POLLEN E wagons in March 1944. Built in the early 1900s

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Australian Navy on locomotive No. 6021 King Richard II, 1945

Australian Navy on locomotive No. 6021 King Richard II, 1945
A group of visitors from the Australian Navy pose for this photograph on top of locomotive No.6021 King Richard II. The officers

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Female employees at Swindon Works making lamps, c. 1940

Female employees at Swindon Works making lamps, c. 1940
A larger group of female employees have been photographed here engaged in the making of lamps at Swindon Works. The tin lamp bodies

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: USA S160 2-8-0 locomotive No. 1606 coupled to an ambulance train, 1942

USA S160 2-8-0 locomotive No. 1606 coupled to an ambulance train, 1942
Once the USA joined the war following the bombing of Pearl Harbour in December 1941 the GWR became involved in the provision of rolling stock for use by the American Army

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Fire Brigade Dennis Fire Engine, 1942

Swindon Works Fire Brigade Dennis Fire Engine, 1942
This Dennis fire engine was purchased by the Swindon Works Fire Brigade in December 1942. It was used to strengthen their wartime capabilities

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Fire Brigade, 1916

Swindon Works Fire Brigade, 1916
This is a really impressive image of the Swindon Works Fire Brigade, taken in 1916. The smartly uniformed firemen are sat upon the Dennis Fire Engine which was purchased by the GWR in 1912

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Princess Elizabeth at Swindon Works, November 1950

Princess Elizabeth at Swindon Works, November 1950
Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, is stood on the footplate of Star Class locomotive, No 4057, Princess Elizabeth

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Canteen Staff, 1986

Swindon Works Canteen Staff, 1986
Six members of Canteen Staff at Swindon Works are in this photograph taken in March 1986. By this date the closure of the Works was underway and many staff had left

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Women protesting against the closure of Swindon Works, 1985

Women protesting against the closure of Swindon Works, 1985
This group of female protestors were photographed in 1985 campaigning against the planned closure of Swindon Works, which happened the following year

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Locomotive Workshops Scene

Swindon Works Locomotive Workshops Scene
A drawing of a locomotive in the Swindon Works used on the front cover of a booklet describing the works

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Book Cover

Swindon Works Book Cover
This image comes from the front cover of a book detailing aspects of the Swindon Works and its production

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Leatherwork for howitzers and 8 pdr guns, made at Swindon Works, c. 1915

Leatherwork for howitzers and 8 pdr guns, made at Swindon Works, c. 1915
This array of items shows the type of leatherwork that was undertaken at Swindon Works for both howitzers and 8 pdr guns, as requested by the Royal Arsenal

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Australian officers and sailors on a visit to Swindon Works, 1945

Australian officers and sailors on a visit to Swindon Works, 1945
Officers and sailors from H.M.A.S Australia on a visit to Swindon Works on July 13th 1945 whilst their ship was docked at Plymouth awaiting repairs

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Presentation of a War Savings League Cup to members at Swindon Works, 1944

Presentation of a War Savings League Cup to members at Swindon Works, 1944
This photograph was taken on 20th April 1944 and shows Chief Mechanical Engineer, F.W. Hawksworth, presenting a War Savings League Cup to members at Swindon Works

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Brake Third coach No. 3307 converted into a mobile cleansing unit, 1941

Brake Third coach No. 3307 converted into a mobile cleansing unit, 1941
The fear of gas attack was of paramount concern during World War II, as demonstrated by the mass issuing of gas masks prior to the outbreak of war in 1939

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: A corridor brake composite carriage converted into a rail mobile emergency canteen, 1941

A corridor brake composite carriage converted into a rail mobile emergency canteen, 1941
In November 1941 this 56 feet corridor brake composite carriage was converted at Swindon Works into a rail mobile emergency canteen

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: A paper recycling cart outside the General Stores at Swindon Works, 1941

A paper recycling cart outside the General Stores at Swindon Works, 1941
A paper recycling cart outside the General Stores at Swindon Works in 1941. Bound bundles of paperwork and ledgers can be seen piled on the cart ready to be taken away to be pulped

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Home Guard manning an anti-aircraft gun platform, c. 1940

Swindon Home Guard manning an anti-aircraft gun platform, c. 1940
Swindon Works was considered a prime target for aircraft strikes during World War II. Here, two members of the Home Guard are manning an anti-aircraft gun platform situated on the roof of uniform

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Standing down parade of 13th Battalion Home Guard, Swindon Works, 1944

Standing down parade of 13th Battalion Home Guard, Swindon Works, 1944
By the end of 1944 the threat of invasion from Germany became unlikely and it was decided that the Home Guard could be stood down

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Presentation of the Wiltshire Home Guard in 1944

Presentation of the Wiltshire Home Guard in 1944
This photograph shows the presentation of an award to Home Guard member Mr C Wheeler in April 1944. He was a member of the 13th Battalion of the Wiltshire Home Guard which was formed in 1943 to

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Air raid damage to the gas holder at Swindon Works, 1942

Air raid damage to the gas holder at Swindon Works, 1942
Swindon Works following the air raid on 27th July 1942. The gas holder at the gas works is pock-marked by machine gun fire from a lone aircraft that had swooped over the town early in the morning

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Wartime shells being packed up in 24F shop, ready for transportation in 1942

Wartime shells being packed up in 24F shop, ready for transportation in 1942
By 1943 the majority of Allied munitions production was undertaken by America and Canada. This eased the pressure on British workshops as there had become a serious shortage of materials

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: War time work in Q Shop at Swindon Works, 1942

War time work in Q Shop at Swindon Works, 1942
This image was taken in March 1942 and shows four women operating a large pressing machine in Q Shop. The women are making 4.5inch copper bands for ammunition shells

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: The Old Running Shed, Swindon Works, c1910

The Old Running Shed, Swindon Works, c1910
Seen here before its demolition to make way for the B Shed extension in the 1930s. It was built in 1941 and formed part of Brunels original Works

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Women working in the Swindon Works laundry, c1930

Women working in the Swindon Works laundry, c1930

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: 7 King Class Locomotives at Swindon Shed, 1930

7 King Class Locomotives at Swindon Shed, 1930
From l-r: No 6005 King George II, No 6008 King James II, No 6017 King Edward IV, No 6020 King Henry IV, No 6022 King Edward III, No 6023 King Edward II, No 6024 King Edward I

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Locomotive No. 6014, King Henry VII, at Swindon Works

Locomotive No. 6014, King Henry VII, at Swindon Works
Seen here in A Shop in 1936 as streamlined. Broad gauge locomotive North Star can be seen in the background

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Tunnel Entrance, 1935

Swindon Works Tunnel Entrance, 1935
A sea of men can be seen leaving the Works, probably at lunchtime. This was the main entrance tunnel for the Works. The doors were promptly closed after each call for work

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works War Work, 22nd January 1942

Swindon Works War Work, 22nd January 1942
Female worker machining a 25 PDR shell on 22 January 1942. Munitions work issued by Ministry of Supply

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Men leaving Swindon Works, Rodbourne Road entrance, 1928

Men leaving Swindon Works, Rodbourne Road entrance, 1928
Hoards of men leaving Swindon Works, Rodbourne Road entrance, 1928. The pattern shop is in the background and an omnibus with Arkells advertising on it

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Trip, 1931

Swindon Works Trip, 1931
GWR families from Swindon wait in line to board the trains for Trip week. Destinations included Weymouth, Weston Super Mare and Cornwall

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works staff boarding Trip trains in 1934

Swindon Works staff boarding Trip trains in 1934
Swindon Works staff and families making their way to board Trip Trains in 1934

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Queen Mary on the footplate of No 4082 Windsor Castle, 1924

Queen Mary on the footplate of No 4082 Windsor Castle, 1924
King George V and Queen Mary visited Swindon Works in April 1924. They arrived and departed on Windsor Castle. Charles Collett (Chief Mechanical Engineer) can be seen leaning out of the cab

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Dean Goods locomotive No. 2533 in War Department livery, 1939

Dean Goods locomotive No. 2533 in War Department livery, 1939
This official photograph of a Dean Goods locomotive No. 2533 was taken at Swindon Works in October 1939 prior to its shipment overseas

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: View of Swindon Works, 1982

View of Swindon Works, 1982
A view of Swindon Works in 1982 with an Intercity 125 speeding past on the main London to Bristol line. The building it is passing is now STEAM - Museum of the GWR

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Crowds at the Evening Star naming ceremony, 18th March 1960

Crowds at the Evening Star naming ceremony, 18th March 1960
Crowds at the naming ceremony for Evening Star at Swindon Works in 1960. Evening Star was the last mainline British Railways steam locomotive to be built in Britain at Swindon Works

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Hooter Operator 1936

Swindon Works Hooter Operator 1936
The hooter was a set of steam whistles that called employees into work, and signalled the end of the working day. The operator sounded the hooter by turning a wheel that released steam at high

Background imageSwindon Works Collection: Swindon Works War Work, 23rd January 1942

Swindon Works War Work, 23rd January 1942
Female workers sorting 25 PDR shells. Work issued by the Ministry of Supply



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