Second World War Collection (page 3)

Tanks under construction in A Erecting Shop, Swindon Works. 1941
One of the earliest tasks contracted to the GWR by the Ministry of Supply was the erection of tanks for supply overseas. Thousands of tank components were being made by all the British railway

War time work in Q Shop at Swindon Works, 1942
This image was taken in March 1942 and shows four women operating a large pressing machine in Q Shop. The women are making 4.5inch copper bands for ammunition shells

No. 24F shop, Swindon Works, undergoing war time alterations in 1941
This image, taken in September 1941, shows the alterations taking place in 24F Shop to accommodate the new shell production for the Ministry of Supply

Production line for wartime shells in No. 24 Shop, Swindon Works, 1942
No.24 Shop, on the Carriage and Wagon side of Swindon Works was fitted out with two production lines for 25-pounder shells

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

1000 lb Bombs at the Swindon Works, 1941
This image taken in March 1941 shows two 1000lb bombs sat next to each other in the X Shop, one with a fin and one without

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

Bailey Bridges, No. 2 Shop, 1942
This Official image taken in April 1942 shows timber components for Bailey Bridges under manufacture in No.2 Shop, the Sawmill, at Swindon Works

4000lb Bombs at the Swindon Works, 1940s
Over 2, 000 bodies for the 4, 000lb bombs were constructed at Swindon Works. This image taken at the L2 Tank Shop in December 1940 shows the construction of these bodies prior to them being sent to

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

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

Sandbag protection at Birmingham Snow Hill Station
Railway stations were on high alert during the war years. The principal stations on the GWR network were used by hundreds of people each day

Women workers at the Road Motor Department, Slough, March 1944
During the Second World War women were given jobs normally assigned to men. At the GWR Road Motor Depot at Slough this involved car maintenance and repair

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

American troops boarding a train at Swansea Docks, October 1943
The soldiers had just disembarked from the SS Santa Rosa and were boarding the train to take them to their British military base during World War II

Norton Fitzwarren train crash, 1940
On the night of November 4th 1940 locomotive No. 6028 King George VI left Paddington Station hauling thirteen coaches heading for Penzance

Norton Fitzwarren train crash in 1940
On the night of November 4th 1940 locomotive No. 6028 King George VI left Paddington Station hauling thirteen coaches heading for Penzance

Dean Goods locomotive No. 2533 in War Department livery, 1939
This official photograph of a Dean Goods locomotive No. 2533 was taken at Swindon Works in October 1939 prior to its shipment overseas

Passengers at Paddington Station in 1943
A busy view of Paddington Station from August Bank Holiday 1943. The scene looks relatively dark, with only a few beams of sunlight coming through the roof

GWR Salvage Corps leaflet, 1940
During the war the GWR were committed to salvaging paper and other material. In August 1940 General Manager, James Milne, invited employees to join the GWR Salvage Corp

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

Evacuees at Paddington Station, September 1939

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

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

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

Female worker servicing a Thorncroft lorry at Slough Road Motor Department, 1944
During the Second World War women were given jobs normally assigned to men. At the GWR Road Motor Depot at Slough this involved car and lorry maintenance and repair

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

Shunter in the wartime blackout, c. 1940
Blackouts were challenging times for some GWR employees, as this image of a shunter taken at Bristol shows. Limited lighting during an air raid posed a serious health and safety risk

Swindon Works War Work, 23rd January 1942
Female workers sorting 25 PDR shells. Work issued by the Ministry of Supply

Female track maintenance workers during WW2

Women working on a locomotive boiler in Swindon Work during WW2

Discharging American locomotives at the GWR Docks, Cardiff, 1942

V Shop, 1943
Female worker drilling crown plate of boiler firebox. During World War 2 female staff were employed at Swindon Works to replace the men who had been enlisted

Women war workers making ammunition shells in 24F Shop, 1943
These women have been tasked with the pressing on of copper bands and insertion of base plates for 25-pounder quick firing, high explosive, streamline shells

Woman using steam press at Swindon Works, 1942
Although women were employed on the railways prior to 1939, work involving the operating of heavy machinery, as shown in this photograph, was considered to be unsuitable for the fairer sex

Women war workers stamping ammunition shells in B Shop, 1942

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

Swindon Works War Work, 26th June 1942
A female worker varnishing the inside of a 9.2" shell. This work was issued by the Ministry of Supply

Female employees working in the Permanant Way Department during WW2

Female Ticket Collector at Paddington Station during WW2
An official photograph of a ticket inspector at Paddington Station checking the ticket of a passenger on-board an outbound train in 1943

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