Women Gallery

Women workers in the Permanent Way Dept at Reading, 1943

Three ladies from the Permanent Way Department are pictured here at Reading in April 1943 off-loading wooden blocks from a wagon. This photograph is an official Company image, with GWR Chief Engineers Office, Aldermaston. Photographic Department' stamped on the reverse. The photo may have been taken to show the work of women during the war, but equally it might have been taken to show joint working between the GWR and LMS whose wagon features in the image. Inter-railway working between the railway companies was actively encouraged by the Government during the war as a means of maintaining an efficient and economic rail service, so staff and rolling stock worked across the different networks in a way that had not been seen previously.

Women employee in the Road Motor Department at Slough, 1944

The Road Motor Department at Slough was another area that saw the employment of women in traditionally male roles. This photograph was taken on April 18th 1944 and shows a female mechanic involved in the maintenance of the GWR's fleet of road vehicles. Supply difficulties and the shortage of trained staff made the maintenance of the road vehicles increasingly challenging, but with the railways being the biggest operators of road vehicles, it was vitally important that road services remained fully operational. With typical GWR resourcefulness, damaged and worn parts were repaired, and when component parts were not available from specialist firms, replacements were fabricated in the Company's own workshops.