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Choose from 78 Rights Managed in our The Railway at War Rights Managed Collection
American Flag flying from Paddington Station hotel on July 4th 1941This image shows the American Flag flying from the front of the hotel at Paddington Station on July 4th, American Independence Day, 1941
Brake Third coach No. 3307 converted into a mobile cleansing unit, 1941The 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
Military tanks loaded onto Crocodile G wagons, c. 1939A train load of military tanks, loaded onto Crocodile G wagons, make their way through Acton, en-route to the Channel Ports, for shipment over seas
Chevrolet Thornton military trucks lined up at Caerphilly Works, 1941This image taken in April 1941 shows five Chevrolet Thornton military trucks lined up outside the GWRs works at Caerphilly. These trucks were imported from the USA and arrived unassembled in crates
Railway carriage converted to an ambulance ward car, c1939This internal view of an ambulance ward car gives a clear image of both the ingenuity used in converting rolling stock for medical use, but also the cramped conditions endured within these vehicles
A corridor brake composite carriage converted into a rail mobile emergency canteen, 1941In November 1941 this 56 feet corridor brake composite carriage was converted at Swindon Works into a rail mobile emergency canteen
Siphon G Wagon converted to ward car No. 3209 in 1943By the spring of 1940 Britains railway companies had supplied 25 ambulance trains for use both at home and abroad. In September 1942 the government ordered a further 27 ambulance trains
A paper recycling cart outside the General Stores at Swindon Works, 1941A paper recycling cart outside the General Stores at Swindon Works in 1941. Bound bundles of paperwork and ledgers can be seen piled on the cart ready to be taken away to be pulped
Bomb damage to the GWRs salvage warehouse in London, 1940In a cruel twist of fate, this image from the 15th November 1940 shows bomb damage to the GWRs salvage warehouse at Park Royal in north-west London
Evacuees waiting outside the departure platform at Paddington in 1939One of the very first war time roles that the GWR was engaged in was the evacuation of children from cities to the relative safety of the countryside
The 13th Battalion Home Guard at a rifle shoot at Liddington, c. 1942The 13th Battalion Home Guard at a rifle shoot on the chalk ridge at Liddington, near Swindon. The Home Guard evolved to be a well-equipped trained army and would partake in numerous drills
Swindon Home Guard manning an anti-aircraft gun platform, c. 1940Swindon Works was considered a prime target for aircraft strikes during World War II. Here, two members of the Home Guard are manning an anti-aircraft gun platform situated on the roof of uniform
GWRs Home Guard battalions on parade at Castle Bar Park in London, c. 1940The Home Guard was originally known as the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV). The LDV was formed in May 1940, but in August 1940 the LDV changed its name to the Home Guard
Standing down parade of 13th Battalion Home Guard, Swindon Works, 1944By the end of 1944 the threat of invasion from Germany became unlikely and it was decided that the Home Guard could be stood down
Presentation of the Wiltshire Home Guard in 1944This photograph shows the presentation of an award to Home Guard member Mr C Wheeler in April 1944. He was a member of the 13th Battalion of the Wiltshire Home Guard which was formed in 1943 to
Air raid damage to the gas holder at Swindon Works, 1942Swindon 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
GWR fire brigade at Paddington Station taking part in a drill, c. 1940This image shows members of the GWR fire brigade at Paddington Station taking part in a drill. Training was an important part of fire fighting and kept employees prepared in case of an emergency
Air raid shelter at West Ealing Goods Yard, 1940A rather intriguing photo here of West Ealing Goods Yard, taken in 1940. The strange molehill shaped mounds dotted along the track are air raid shelters
Anti-aircraft platform at Swindon Station c. 1940An anti-aircraft platform can be seen in this image of Swindon Station, but what is most intriguing is the very small Swindon Junction sign hanging in the centre of the platform canopy
Wartime shells being packed up in 24F shop, ready for transportation in 1942By 1943 the majority of Allied munitions production was undertaken by America and Canada. This eased the pressure on British workshops as there had become a serious shortage of materials
Tanks under construction in A Erecting Shop, Swindon Works. 1941One 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
No. 24F shop, Swindon Works, undergoing war time alterations in 1941This 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, 1942No.24 Shop, on the Carriage and Wagon side of Swindon Works was fitted out with two production lines for 25-pounder shells
6in. naval guns on display on Macaw B wagons at Swindon Works, c. 19156in. naval guns on display on Macaw B wagons at Swindon Works. The guns were sent in from elsewhere, but the manufacture of 40 large field carriages upon which the guns were mounted was a specialist
Norton Fitzwarren train crash, 1940On 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 1940On 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, 1939This 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 1943A 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, 1940During 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
Two little girls awaiting evacuation from Paddington Station, September 1939Part of the evacuation of London during WW2
Locomotive driver in air raid kit, during WWIILocomotive no. 5085 Evesham Abbey with a locomotive driver on the footplate wearing a gas mask during WWII
US 2-8-0 tender locomotive No. 1604 at Paddington Station, 1942On 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
U.s locomotive No. 1604 at Swindon Works in December 1942U.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
LMS coach no. 6204 converted to an ambulance train car, 1939This official photograph of an ambulance train car was taken on behalf of the Swindon Works Drawing Office in October 1939
A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2, 1942A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2 in the GWR Swindon Works, 1942. The man is wearing a blacksmiths apron
Swindon Works War Work, 22nd January 1942Female worker machining a 25 PDR shell on 22 January 1942. Munitions work issued by Ministry of Supply
Highland Band at Paddington Station, 1915First contingent of GWR Regimental company of Railway Troops R.E headed by a Highland Band, June 18th 1915
Child evacuees on Maidenhead station, 1939An image of a group of child evacuees from the East End of London on Maidenhead station in Berkshire in 1939
Mess room of No. 16 Ambulance train, March 1915No.16 Ambulance train was built at Swindon Works in 1915 and was paid for by the United Kingdom Flour Millers Association. It was equipped with patient beds, a pharmacy and treatment rooms
Workers riveting a locomotive boiler in V Boiler Shop c. 1942In this image taken at Swindon Works sometime during the latter half of the war, three women are shown working on the riveting of a locomotive boiler in V Boiler Shop
SS St Julien at the Banana Dock in Dieppe c. 1939SS St Julien is pictured here at the Banana Dock in Dieppe during her service as a hospital ship. St Julien was built in 1925 as a vessel to serve the GWRs Weymouth route
No. 16 ambulance train ward carriage, April 1915Built at Swindon Works in 1915 and paid for by the United Kingdom Flour Millers Association. The ward carriages had a three tier folding bunk system that allowed patients to be either sat up or lying
SS Africa at Tilbury Docks, September 1915A British cargo ship used to transport GWR built ambulance carriages to France during WW1. It was sunk on 16th September 1915 by a German mine off the coast of Kent
Women workers in the Permanent Way Dept at Reading, 1943Three ladies from the Permanent Way Department are pictured here at Reading in April 1943 off-loading wooden blocks from a wagon
Tanks being loaded onto Rectank flat wagons, c. 1940Three tanks are being loaded onto Rectank flat wagons which were designed and built specifically for the movement of military vehicles by rail
Loading Churchill Tanks at Marlborough High Level Station, 1942Taken from the January 1943 edition of the GWR Magazine
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
Soldiers and Sailors Buffet at Paddington Station, 1919A shot capturing the last servicemen to be offered refreshments at the Soldiers and Sailors Free Buffet at Paddington Station on 28th June 1919
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