Image Licensing : Box Station, 1885

EDITORS COMMENTS

This photograph, taken in the year 1885, transports us back in time to Box Station in Wiltshire, an essential stop on the Great Western Railway (GWR) network. The scene showcases the harmonious coexistence of two different railway gauges - standard and broad - a testament to the innovative engineering solutions of the era. The image features a powerful standard gauge locomotive, its steam plume billowing into the crisp air, parked on a mixed gauge track. The track's dual gauge rails allowed for seamless interchange between standard and broad gauge trains, a crucial adaptation as the GWR was in the process of converting its entire network to standard gauge. In the background, the West portal of Middle Hill Tunnel can be discerned, a significant engineering feat of the time. The tunnel, stretching over a mile in length, connected the Midlands to the South West of England, revolutionizing transportation and connecting communities. Box Station, with its red-brick buildings and neatly arranged tracks, epitomizes the meticulous planning and execution of railway infrastructure during the Victorian era. The photograph offers a rare glimpse into the past, revealing the intricacies of railway engineering and the transformative impact of the railway on the landscape and the lives of people. This photograph is a treasure from the extensive collection of the Steam Museum of the GWR, a living testament to the rich railway heritage of the Great Western Railway and the pivotal role it played in shaping the transportation landscape of the United Kingdom.