World War Ii Collection

US 2-8-0 tender locomotive No. 1604 at Paddington Station, 1942
On December 11th 1942, for the very first time, an American built locomotive steamed into Paddington Station. Acute shortages of locomotives on the GW network due to locomotives being sent overseas

A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2, 1942
A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2 in the GWR Swindon Works, 1942. The man is wearing a blacksmiths apron

Swindon Works War Work, 22nd January 1942
Female worker machining a 25 PDR shell on 22 January 1942. Munitions work issued by Ministry of Supply

Child evacuees on Maidenhead station, 1939
An image of a group of child evacuees from the East End of London on Maidenhead station in Berkshire in 1939

GWR staff loading a stretcher into a parcel van which has been converted into an ambulance, 1940. The van bears the GWR roundel branding and a stylised poster on the side

Scammel being loaded with Anderson Air Raid Shelter, West London, 1939
Westbourne Park Yard in April 1939 is the focus of this interesting pre-war image. Parts of Anderson shelters are being unloaded from a line of wagons onto a 3 ton Scammell tractor by a Ransome

Motor landing craft under construction, 1942
In August 1941 the GWR began building the first of a large number of motor landing craft in the Carriage and Wagon shops at Swindon. No

250lb Bombs at the Swindon Works, early 1940s
An image of some completed 250lb bombs being loaded onto GWR open wagon No. 44 in December 1940. Like with the majority of the war work undertaken at the Works specialist equipment was built to cater

Jackaments Bridge Halt, Gloucestershire, c. 1940s
A view of Jackaments Bridge Halt near RAF Kemble on the boarder between Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The small wooden platform opened in July 1939 and closed in September 1948

Welding Containers for Bombs, K Shop, 1940
Some rather intricate hot work is taking place in this photograph taken in K Shop, the Coppersmiths, in November 1940. The men are welding exploder containers for 250lb bombs that were ordered by

Midget Submarine superstructure, 1943
Also built in the Carriage and Wagon Works at Swindon were 50 of these midget submarine superstructures which were produced for the Admiralty

Anti-Aircraft Gun, Swindon Works, 1940s
This anti-aircraft 6-pounder navel gun was manufactured for the Admiralty in W Shop at Swindon Works during World War II. It comes with a mounting that would have allowed it to be fixed to

2 PDR gun mounting, 1943
A side view of a 2-pounder pom-pom gun mounting built for the Admiralty at Swindon Works. This image was taken in the AM Shop in February 1943 and shows the ammunition positioned in the side trays

Servicemen drinking tea from a refreshment trolley on Paddington station, during WWII
A member of Refreshment Department staff serving tea to servicemen from her platform trolley at Paddington Station is the feature of this official photograph taken in 1943

Mobile emergency canteen at Paddington Station, during WWII
Paddington station in 1943 and a shot of the mobile emergency canteen, which was used to feed station staff, APR wardens, firemen

Locomotive driver in air raid kit, during WWII
Locomotive no. 5085 Evesham Abbey with a locomotive driver on the footplate wearing a gas mask during WWII

GWR parcel van converted into an ambulance, 1940. The driver and another man in uniform are wearing gas masks. The van bears the GWR roundel branding

Woman pasting a billboard poster at Paddington station, 1943
Woman up a ladder pasting a billboard poster at Paddington station, 1943. The poster reads Remembrance Day FM Earl Haigs Appeal. Wear a Flanders Poppy. A locomotive in steam is in the background

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

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