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Carriage Works Collection

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 7 Shop, Carriage Finishing Shop, 1924

No 7 Shop, Carriage Finishing Shop, 1924
Dozens of men can be seen here in the carriage finishing shop. It was here that parts of the carriages were finished off. Doors

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1946

No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1946
These men are working hard helping to construct a Hawksworth coach body. Each piece of timber and frame had its own place and slotted in with exact precision

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1913

No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1913
The large expanse that is the carriage body shop can be seen here. Several carriage bodies can be seen lined up as they are assembed

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 5 Shop, Train Lighting Shop, 1950

No 5 Shop, Train Lighting Shop, 1950
These men are working on the components used in the assembly of carriage lights. In the centre of the image, on the floor, is a domed light fitting either awaiting repair or construction

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 21 Shop, Wagon Repairs and Building Shop, c1930s

No 21 Shop, Wagon Repairs and Building Shop, c1930s
Several men can be seen here in one of the wagon repair bays. The platform gave workers easier access to the inside of the wagons

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 12 Shop, Carpenters Shop, 1953

No 12 Shop, Carpenters Shop, 1953
Carpentry was a skilled craft. Here three men are making various bits of furniture, including chairs, desk and cabinets. A stack of timber can be seen piled on the mezzanine floor behind them

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 21 Shop, Wagon Repair Shop, c. 1950s

No 21 Shop, Wagon Repair Shop, c. 1950s
Here a wagon frame is being removed from its wheels in preparation for some repairs. Temporary trolley wheels were added to move the frame into the workshop

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 1 Shop, Sawmill, c1950s

No 1 Shop, Sawmill, c1950s
A view looking down the length of No.1 Shop, the sawmill. A crane is carrying a large log ready to be cut into timber. To the right newly cut timber lengths have been processed

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 1 Shop, Sawmill, 1909

No 1 Shop, Sawmill, 1909
Huge logs are waiting to be cut up here in the Swindon Works sawmill. A crane, spanning the width of the mill, is used to maneuver the logs onto the cutting machines

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, c1930s

No 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, c1930s
Two ladies are sat weaving luggage racks for the carriages built at Swindon Works. The majority of women were employed at the Works in roles that required good dexterity and skill

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 19 (C / D) Shops, c1930

No 19 (C / D) Shops, c1930
No 19 C and D shops covered both carriage lifting and bogie repairs. 3 men can be seen in this image lift a frame onto a set of wheels with the help of an overhead crane

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 8 Shop, Paint Shop, 1953

No 8 Shop, Paint Shop, 1953
Two men can be seen here painting a carriage. The carriages, like locomotives, had their own special livery that had to be painted with precision

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 17 Shop, Road Vehicle Shop, 1907

No 17 Shop, Road Vehicle Shop, 1907
This image show both horse drawn vehicles and motor vehicles being built or repaired. The motor vehicles were omnibuses and were part of the GWR road passenger service that started in 1903

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 7 Carriage Finishing Shop, 1907

No 7 Carriage Finishing Shop, 1907
This photo looks to have been taken at the end of a working day. Tools have been left and sawdust can be seen on the floor after a day preparing doors

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, c1920s

No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, c1920s
Several men can be seen here working on building coaches in No 4 Shop. The carriages are in varying stages from early frameworks to near completion

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 3 Shop, Carriage fitting and machine shop, 1953

No 3 Shop, Carriage fitting and machine shop, 1953
Two men operate a 90 ton press in the carriage fitting shop. The press enabled sheet metal to be bent into shapes. It was cut and then assembled on carriages and wagons

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 21 Shop, timber stores, 1935

No 21 Shop, timber stores, 1935
This image shows the building of the timber store in June 1935. The stores were part of 21 shop, where wagon repairs and building took place

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 15 Shop, Fitting and Machine Shop, 1931

No 15 Shop, Fitting and Machine Shop, 1931
An overall view of No.15 shop showing a bogie assembly line. A man to the right is operating a belt driven machine, whilst other men are busy assembling pieces for the bogie frames

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 15 Shop, Fitting and Machine Shop, 1951

No 15 Shop, Fitting and Machine Shop, 1951
This image shows a Wilkins and Mitchell drilling and facing machine in No.15 shop. This was one of hundreds of machines in the fitting and machine shops of Swindon Works

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, c1910

No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, c1910
A photograph taken by Swindon photographer, William Hooper of the smiths shop in the Carriage and Wagon Works. A large steam hammer can be seen in the foreground attached to a stationary steam engine

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 13 Shop, Wagon Frame Shop, late 1940s

No 13 Shop, Wagon Frame Shop, late 1940s
In the centre of the image two men can be seen using rivet guns to rivet a wagon frame. To the left two younger men are heating the rivets in a furnace using tongs

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 12 shop, Carpenters Shop, 1934

No 12 shop, Carpenters Shop, 1934
An exterior view of the Carpenters Shop. This workshop was situated adjacent to Station Road, next to one of the Works underpasses

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 9 shop, Carriage Trimming Shop, 1953

No 9 shop, Carriage Trimming Shop, 1953
Here a group of men are making seats for train carriages. They are attaching fabric to ready made frames, complete with springs

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: Making artificial limbs, No 9 Shop, 1953

Making artificial limbs, No 9 Shop, 1953
The skilled craftsmen of the Carriage and Wagon Works didn t just make rolling stock, they also made artificial limbs made from wood

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, August 1914

No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, August 1914
The date of this photograph is 7th August 1914. Just three days after Britain entered the war. By this date there were already women employed at Swindon Works

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1949

No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1949
This image shows an experimental aluminium frame attached to a wooden carriage body. The GWR experimented all the time in order to improve their rolling stock, in terms of speed and efficiency

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: Making tenon joints at the sawmill, 1953

Making tenon joints at the sawmill, 1953
A man operates a double ended tenoning machine at one of the Works sawmills. He is cutting tenon joints out of pieces of timber

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 1 Shop, Sawmill, 1954

No 1 Shop, Sawmill, 1954
A large elm log sits in No 1 Sawmill awaiting cutting into timber. The GWR used all types of woods from around the World

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 24 Shop, Paint Stores, 1938

No 24 Shop, Paint Stores, 1938
The paint stores, also known as the paint mill, was where paint was mixed. This man is drawing off and straining paint from one of the heavy duty mixing machines

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No. 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, October 1937

No. 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, October 1937
A rather busy scene here. Hundreds of men are working on carriage seat upholstery and padding cushions with horse hair. Racks of carriage seats

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, 1966

No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, 1966
This view of the sewing room was taken in 1966. It shows several women sewing large pieces of fabric, possibly sheeting for wagons

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1937

No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1937
This image shows a cramp and hydraulic jig used in the construction of carriage doors. Stack of door parts are lined up ready for assembly

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1953

No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1953
Construction of British Railways standard coaches. The main frame is held to shape by a jig whilst two men use blow torches to fix metal pieces in place

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 21 Shop, Wagon Repair and Building Shop, 1930

No 21 Shop, Wagon Repair and Building Shop, 1930
This image shows the construction of a 120T Crocodile wagon. These were long wagons that would have taken up a lot of workshop space

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 17 Shop, Road Vehicle Shop, c1920s

No 17 Shop, Road Vehicle Shop, c1920s
This view of the Road Vehicle shops shows the construction and repair of mainly horse drawn vehicles. The GWR relied heavily on horse power, especially in good yards and for parcel deliveries

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 12c Shop, Carriage Paint Shop, 1950s

No 12c Shop, Carriage Paint Shop, 1950s
Stacks of carriage destination boards can be seen here as they wait to be painted. The boards were all painted by hand, and repainted when the destinations changed

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: Carriage Body Shop, c1880

Carriage Body Shop, c1880
This carriage body shop stood in what was to become the No 2 Shop Sawmill. The carriage body shop eventually moved next door. The wooden aspect of the coaches were assembled here

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 2 Shop, Sawmill, 1907

No 2 Shop, Sawmill, 1907
Lengths of cut timber can be seen awaiting processing in No.2 Shop, Sawmill. This sawmill was situated adjacent to Bristol Street in the Railway Village

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 9 Shop, Carriage Trimming Shop, c. 1900

No 9 Shop, Carriage Trimming Shop, c. 1900
An early view of the trimming shop showing all manner of trims including rope, leather and fabrics. These trims were used on the edging of carriage seats and other furniture

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 9 Shop, Carriage Trimming Shop, c1906

No 9 Shop, Carriage Trimming Shop, c1906
An overall view of the carriage trimming shop showing an array of fabrics and furniture. The decorative seats in the foreground were being assembled for Royal waiting rooms

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, 1930

No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, 1930
This busy scene from 1930 shows about 30 women in the female sewing room. On the left a row of women work on sewing machines

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, February 1913

No 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, February 1913
A sea of ties and aprons in this view of the Carriage Trimming Shop. Men and boys are working alongside each other making upholstery for carriage furniture

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: Wartime ambulance carriage in No 19 (C) Shop, 1915

Wartime ambulance carriage in No 19 (C) Shop, 1915
This image shows carriage No. 9024, an ex-invalid coach, suspended in the Carriage Lifting Shop at Swindon Works. The date is March 1915

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 19 (C) Shop, Carriage Lifting Shop, 1967

No 19 (C) Shop, Carriage Lifting Shop, 1967
A Diesel Multiple Unit in undergoing repairs in this image from 1967. Two large lifting machines have seperated the DMU body from its wheels to allow the repairs to take place

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: Bogie repairs in No 19 (C / D) Shop, c1965

Bogie repairs in No 19 (C / D) Shop, c1965
No 19 C and D shops covered both carriage lifting and bogie repairs. In this image 3 men can be seen attaching a frame to a set of wheels. An overhead crane helps ift the frame into position

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 21 Shop, Wagon Repair and Building Shop, c1930

No 21 Shop, Wagon Repair and Building Shop, c1930
Here a line of wagons can be seen ready to undergo repairs. Each bay consisted of a different task, such as lifting or painting. As one task was completed the wagons would move on

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, 1938

No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, 1938
This worker is coupling links using a 5 cwt pneumatic hammer. The hammer was made by B&S Massey Ltd who were based in Lancashire and specialised in forging equipment

Background imageCarriage Works Collection: No 16 |Shop, Wheel Shop, 1907

No 16 |Shop, Wheel Shop, 1907
This image shows a large number of belt driven lathes used in the making and shaping of carriages and wagons. Some of the wheels shown here look quite small and probably were for GWR road vehicles



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