Passenger Coaches Gallery

Third class corridor carriage, 1935

View down the corridor of a carriage built in 1935. The compartments were accessed off of the corridor with sliding doors. The sign on the window indicates that smoking was allowed. This carriage was built to diagram C67

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

1930s, 1935, Carriage, Coach, Compartments, Corridor

Carriage No. 4329 from US General Dwight D. Eisenhowers Alive train in 1942

One of the most important areas in which the GWR was asked to support both the war effort and the US army was in the provision of what was codenamed the Alive train which was to be used by the US General Dwight D. Eisenhower whilst in Britain making preparations for the invasion of Europe. Much secrecy surrounded both the make up and the operation of this train, although some details have emerged during the years following the war, and we know that carriage No. 4329, featured in this image, was one of the sleeping coaches from the Alive train. It is understood that the order for the train was issued in June 1942 and that many additions and improvements were subsequently made over the following years, so making the train a fully equipped and self-contained vehicle from which General Eisenhower and his team could operate. During the latter years of the war the Alive train travelled extensively around Britain, and in December 1944, fully equipped with bullet proof glass, the train was shipped overseas where it operated throughout France and on many occasions travelled close to the enemy line

GWR First Class Sleeper Car, 1946

A female passenger is having her morning tea delivered to her in one of the GWR's first class sleeping car compartments. The attentant delivering the tea stayed in the carriage and assisted the needs of the passengers

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

1940s, 1946, Bed, Carriage, Sleeper, Sleeping Car, Tea, Waiter