Locomotives Gallery

American S160 Class 2-8-0 locomotive No. 1609 upon arrival at Newport Docks, 1942

From late 1942 American locomotives began to arrive at the Great Western's South Wales Docks, having been shipped over from America to assist allied forces both in Britain and on the Continent. In this image S160 Class 2-8-0 locomotive No. 1609 is pictured draped in the US and British flags having just arrived at Newport Docks. This was one of 800 S160 Class American engines that were dispatched from Newport to railways around the country. The vast cranes for lifting cargo from ships can be seen in the background of this image. Such was the quantity of goods being loaded and unloaded at the South Wales Docks during the latter half of the war that US forces loaned 30 ton floating cranes to the docks at Cardiff, Newport and Swansea to assist with the movement of heavy cargo

Bomb damage to locomotives at Newton Abbot Station, 1940

On 20th August 1940 Newton Abbot Station was attacked by three German planes. This image shows the devastation that was caused by both bomb damage and extensive machine gun fire. Parts of the station were completely destroyed, along with damage to 15 locomotives, 52 passenger carriages and 22 goods wagons. In total, 60 people died or were seriously injured. The image shows pannier tank No. 2785 attached by chain to Grange Class locomotive, No. 6801, Aylburton Grange, to stop it falling into a bomb crater

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

USA S160 2-8-0 locomotive No. 1606 coupled to an ambulance train, 1942

Once the USA joined the war following the bombing of Pearl Harbour in December 1941 the GWR became involved in the provision of rolling stock for use by the American Army. As preparations for D Day progressed, the US requested that 10 ambulance trains be provided for the conveyance of American casualties. This image shows the official handing over of the first of these trains in a ceremony held at Swindon Works on the 24th March 1943. The 14 coach train was aptly hauled by USA S160 2-8-0 locomotive No. 1606 and comprised of six ward cars, kitchen cars, a pharmacy and operating theatre, and carriages for staff. The handover was performed by GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer F.W Hawksworth, stood to the right of the group of uniformed American Officers, and the occasion was considered noteworthy enough for the attendance of a newsreel camera which can just be seen to the far right of this photograph