Staff Gallery

George Jackson Churchward (1857 - 1933)

George Jackson Churchward, pictured here in 1918, was the GWR's Chief Mechanical Engineer between 1902 and 1921. He oversaw the Swindon Works modernisation and introduced the 4-6-0 locomotives, the blueprint for some the GWR's most iconic express engines. He died in Swindon in 1933 after being struck by a train as he was crossing the railway tracks between his home and the Works

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

GWR Wartime Emergency Headquarters in Berkshire, 1940

A busy office scene pictured here in 1940. This office was part of the GWR's Emergency Headquarters located at Aldermaston, Berkshire. 12 departments were evacuated from the head office at Paddington at the start of the war and relocated to this purpose built site, comprising of 6 separate buildings. Special trains conveyed clerical staff from their homes to the station at Aldermaston each day. Other country houses on the outskirts of London were also used to accommodate head office workers

Women porters working in the left luggage office at Paddington station, during WWII

The Left Luggage Department at Paddington Station was, during the war, manned by female staff as can be seen in this image taken in 1943. Such roles were regarded by the GWR as ideal for women, allowing male workers to transfer to heavier manual roles within the company. Restrictions were placed on passenger luggage from the early days of the war in an attempt to discourage travel for pleasure, but as the quantity of luggage in this photograph shows, this campaign was not completely successful. Note that the lady on the right is in the process of storing a soldier's tin helmet on the shelves behind her

© STEAM Museum of the GWR