Stations and Halts Gallery

Air Raid notice, issued to passengers in 1940

This notice was issued to passengers in August 1940 by the GWR's General Manager, James Milne. The safety of staff and passengers was of the utmost importance and the GWR was obliged to issue the correct directives. Many of the GWR's principal stations had huge overall roofs built from glass, iron, steel and wood and the threat of these huge structures collapsing during a bombing raid was extremely high

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

GWR station staff member in a gas mask, c.1939

During an air raid the threat of poison gas bombs being dropped by the German Luftwaffe was extremely high. Mustard gas was the most deadly gas available and could take up to 12 hours to take effect. 38 million gas masks were distributed in Britain to protect against any ill effects should gas bombs be dropped. After an air raid GWR staff would continue their normal duties, but in some instances would continue to wear their gas masks. This image shows a porter at Paddington Station wearing his mask. It must have been difficult to carry out normal tasks with limited visibility and restricted movement

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