Steam Gallery

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 caused operational problems that threatened to affect the service the Company could offer to both the government and the general public. This was alleviated in part by borrowing locomotives from other British Railway Companies and also reinstating previously withdrawn engines back into service. In 1942 however, a number of American locomotives were shipped over to Britain to assist the domestic transport network. In a ceremony held at Paddington Station on the 11th December 1942, United States 2-8-0 tender locomotive No. 1604, pictured here adorned with the British and American flags, was formally handed over to Lord Leathers, Minister of War Transport, by Colonel N.A. Ryan, Chief of Transportation for the American Army, who stated that he hoped the locomotive "will do as good work for you as British Engines have done already for us"

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

7 King Class Locomotives at Swindon Shed, 1930

From l-r: No 6005 King George II, No 6008 King James II, No 6017 King Edward IV, No 6020 King Henry IV, No 6022 King Edward III, No 6023 King Edward II, No 6024 King Edward I

4 6 0, King, Swindon

The last broad gauge train leaving Paddington Station, 20th May 1892

A posed image of the last broad gauge train leaving Paddington station on 20th May 1892. The service is the 5pm to Plymouth, and the locomotive is Bulkeley (named after Captain Bulkeley, a director of the railway)

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

1890s, 1892, Broad Gauge, Broad Gauge Locomotive, Bulkeley, London, Paddington, Paddington Station, Station