Swindon Works Gallery

A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2, 1942

A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2 in the GWR Swindon Works, 1942. The man is wearing a blacksmith's apron and holding a glowing casting in place while the woman operates the lever for the hammer

1940s, 1942, Machinery, Steam Hammer, Swindon, Swindon Works, War, Woman, World War 2, World War Ii, Ww 2, Ww Ii, Wwii

Brake Third coach No. 3307 converted into a mobile cleansing unit, 1941

The fear of gas attack was of paramount concern during World War II, as demonstrated by the mass issuing of gas masks prior to the outbreak of war in 1939. One of the responsibilities of the ARP services was to lead the decontamination and cleansing process in the event of such an attack. Mobile cleansing units were made available to the ARP service to clean people who had been exposed to gas attack, and in July 1941 the GWR converted Brake Third coach No. 3307 into an ARP Cleansing Unit for this purpose. The van was equipped with an air lock leading to an undressing room, showers, and further along the vehicle, a dressing room stocked with fresh clothing. As can be seen in this photograph, the windows were completely blacked out and they were also made to be blast proof. This was one of 47 such units converted by the major railway companies, which were stationed at strategic locations for immediate dispatch to any station or rail depot where they were needed

Air raid damage to the gas holder at Swindon Works, 1942

Swindon Works following the air raid on 27th July 1942. The gas holder at the gas works is pock-marked by machine gun fire from a lone aircraft that had swooped over the town early in the morning. A fire broke out in the gas holder, but it was quickly put out and the holes were plugged with clay to prevent any further damage. It is interesting to note the strange breathing apparatus worn by the two men in the left of the image; presumably masks to combat the effects of any escaping gas