Rights Managed > STEAM Museum of the GWR > People > War Workers
Women porters working in the left luggage office at Paddington station, during WWII
Filename: S36C 073 Female porters in left luggage room WWII.jpg
Size: 1797 x 2436 (972KB)
Date: 11th March 2014
Source: STEAM Museum of the GWR
© STEAM Museum of the GWR
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from STEAM Museum
Women porters working in the left luggage office at Paddington station, during WWII
The Left Luggage Department at Paddington Station was, during the war, manned by female staff as can be seen in this image taken in 1943. Such roles were regarded by the GWR as ideal for women, allowing male workers to transfer to heavier manual roles within the company. Restrictions were placed on passenger luggage from the early days of the war in an attempt to discourage travel for pleasure, but as the quantity of luggage in this photograph shows, this campaign was not completely successful. Note that the lady on the right is in the process of storing a soldiers tin helmet on the shelves behind her
STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway
Media ID 14547098
© STEAM Museum of the GWR
1940s 1943 Female London Paddington Porter Second World War Staff Station Wartime World War Ii Luggage Tin Helmet Women Workers
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> People
> War Workers
> The Railway at War
> Second World War
> Stations and Halts
> London Stations
> Paddington Station
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print from 1943 showcases the remarkable women porters working diligently in the left luggage office at Paddington station during World War II. As part of the war effort, these female staff members were entrusted with this crucial responsibility, allowing their male counterparts to take on more physically demanding roles within the company. The image provides a glimpse into an era when restrictions were imposed on passenger luggage to discourage non-essential travel. However, despite such measures, it is evident from the abundance of suitcases and bags captured in this photograph that not all travelers adhered strictly to these regulations. A particularly intriguing detail can be observed as one of the women on the right side carefully stores a soldier's tin helmet onto one of the shelves behind her. This small but poignant gesture serves as a reminder of how closely intertwined daily life was with wartime efforts during this period. This snapshot encapsulates both the resilience and adaptability displayed by women workers during WWII. Their vital contributions often went unrecognized or underestimated, yet they played an essential role in keeping transportation systems functioning smoothly amidst challenging circumstances. Preserved by STEAM Museum of GWR (Great Western Railway), this historical artifact offers us a window into London's Paddington station during a pivotal moment in history - where ordinary women stepped up to fulfill extraordinary responsibilities.
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