Images Dated 2014 February

Mogul locomotive No. 8314 with bomb damage in 1941

A 4300 Mogul locomotive, No. 8314, lies amongst the debris following an air raid in Weymouth on 17th January 1941. Star Class locomotive, Princess Charlotte, can be seen to the right of the photograph and has escaped the worst of the damage. The south coast of Britain was easy prey for the German Luftwaffe based in Northern France, and the ports of Weymouth and Portland were prime targets for bombers due to their naval connections

LMS coach no.6204 converted to an ambulance train car, 1939

This official photograph of an ambulance train car was taken on behalf of the Swindon Works Drawing Office in October 1939. This is one of 16 LMS 57ft corridor third class coaches that were converted at Swindon during late 1939 for use in ambulance trains both at home and overseas. Car no. 6204, featured in this image, was converted into an administrative car that formed part of an ambulance train for use on Britain's railways. The administrative car was comprehensively fitted out with a sick officers compartment, kit store, pharmacy compartment, office and medical store. The exterior of the car was painted khaki with a white and red cross in the centre of the body on each side, and it is interesting to note that blackout precautions were taken into account during the conversion of the vehicles with all the external windows of the carriage painted black

Australian officers and sailors on a visit to Swindon Works,1945

Officers and sailors from H.M.A.S Australia on a visit to Swindon Works on July 13th 1945 whilst their ship was docked at Plymouth awaiting repairs. Their ship was heavily involved in the war effort throughout South East Asia until she was forced to withdraw for repairs in early 1945. She arrived at Plymouth on July 2nd 1945 for a major refit and remained there until December of that year. With up to 6 months in port while their ship was undergoing repair the group of Australian soldiers, pictured here continuing their tour around Swindon Works, presumably had plenty of time to tour sites of interest around Britain. The impressive building in the background of this image is the Pattern Store which housed the GWR's thousands of component patterns