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Passengers at Paddington Station in 1943
This image, taken on Saturday 31st July 1943 (August Bank Holiday), shows hoards of passengers at Paddington Station. In 1939 the slogan " Is Your Journey Really Necessary" was introduced to discourage people from travelling within Britain. It was used to remind people to save fuel and allow trains to transport soldiers and war supplies instead. By the summer of 1943 these regulations had been relaxed slightly, which encouraged more pleasure travel. On this day, 34, 000 passengers were despatched from Paddington, with 40, 000 recorded on the day before. All the trains to the West Country were loaded to capacity and some passengers were left behind. STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway. © STEAM Museum of the GWR
Media ID 19929933
Filename: 44.jpg
Size: 3112 x 2344 (1.8MB)
Date: 25th February 2014
Source: STEAM Museum of the GWR
1940s 1943 August Holiday Paddington Passengers Station Summer West Country World War 2 Bank Holiday
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> People > Passengers
> The Railway at War > Second World War
> Stations and Halts > London Stations > Paddington Station
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the bustling scene at Paddington Station in 1943, during the height of World War II. The image, taken on a sunny Saturday, August Bank Holiday, showcases throngs of passengers eagerly awaiting their train journeys. During this period, Britain was under strict travel restrictions to conserve fuel and prioritize transportation for soldiers and war supplies. The famous slogan "Is Your Journey Really Necessary" had been introduced in 1939 as a reminder to the public about the importance of saving resources for the war effort. However, by the summer of 1943, these regulations were slightly relaxed to allow for more pleasure travel. This change resulted in an influx of holidaymakers flocking to Paddington Station. On that particular day captured in this photograph, an astonishing 34,000 passengers embarked from Paddington alone. In fact, just one day prior saw a staggering count of 40,000 travelers. The trains destined for the picturesque West Country were packed to capacity with excited vacationers eager to escape their daily routines and enjoy some well-deserved leisure time amidst wartime challenges. Unfortunately, due to overwhelming demand and limited space on board these trains bound for idyllic destinations further westward from London's heartland; some unlucky passengers were left behind on this busy day. This historic image serves as a poignant reminder not only of how people sought solace through vacations during challenging times but also highlights the resilience and determination exhibited by individuals amidst adversity.
