Locomotive Works Gallery

Macaw B railway wagon No. 84350 loaded with gun carriages at Swindon Works, c.1915

Macaw B railway wagon No. 84350 has been photographed here loaded with 2 gun carriages awaiting dispatch from Swindon Works. The Macaw B was the GWR's standard bogie bolster wagon which, in normal service, was generally used to transport timber. During the war many of these wagons were requisitioned for military use, as shown by the writing along the side of the wagon specifying for military purposes only'; and where necessary, modifications and truss strengthening took place in order to accommodate abnormally heavy loads

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

Signalman in operating signal levers during wartime, c.1940

A signalman in his gas mask continues normal duties at this unknown signalbox. But what is interesting about this photograph is the strange looking metal cabinet with its door ajar stood in the corner of the signalbox. This cabinet is actually a small air raid shelter for the signalman to retreat to. The shelters were nicknamed coffins as there was just enough space to fit one person. The large number of windows in a signalbox made them dangerous places to be in an air raid, so the coffins were installed to provide shelter from shattering glass and debris. The coffins were made of boiler-plate and were manufactured in the L2 (Tank) Shop at Swindon Works

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

U.S locomotive No. 1604 at Swindon Works in December 1942

U.S locomotive, No. 1604 is photographed here at Swindon Works in December 1942. Many of the American engines that were shipped to Britain were actually on their way to service on the continent. However, during their stay in Britain the American engines were put into service on the country's railway networks. The difference between US and Great Western locomotives provided challenges for locomotive crews with the high sided tenders causing issues at coaling stages and the single boiler water gauge leading to several boiler explosions. In total, 174 U.S. 2-8-0 locomotives worked on GW routes, with engine No. 1604 working across the Western network from January 1943 until she was sent overseas in September 1944