Passenger Coaches Gallery

Bomb damage to Foxs Wood Tunnel, Bristol, 1941

A rather forlorn looking carriage can be seen here at the entrance to No.2 Tunnel at Fox's Wood near Bristol in 1941. A bomb had hit the tunnel mouth and ricocheted into the carriage, completely destroying it. The initial damage to the tunnel can be seen at the top of the entrance portal, but the coach took the brunt of the explosion. The whole side of the coach has fallen away revealing the vulnerability of such vehicles in these extreme circumstances

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 Third Class sleeping car, 1946

A male passenger is having his morning tea delivered to him in one of the GWR's third 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, Man, Sleeper, Sleeping Car, Waiter