Paddington Collection

Taxi Rank at Paddington Station, 1934
This images shows the busy taxi rank at Paddington Station in 1934. Over 20 taxis are waiting along this stretch. By the 1930s most taxis were motor vehicles

US 2-8-0 tender locomotive No. 1604 at Paddington Station, 1942
On 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

St Marys Hospital, Paddington, West London. circa 1905

GWR Refreshment Department Platform Trolley, May 1937
A GWR Refreshment Department platform trolley at Paddington station in London, May 1937. A woman is viewing the refreshments available from the trolley

Quick Lunch and Snack Bar at Paddington Station, 1936
An interior view of Paddington station showing a busy snack bar, which probably opened soon after the modernisation of the station in the 1930s

Platform 1 at Paddington Station, 1929
A view of Platform 1 at Paddington Station, London, August 1929. This image shows crowds gathered on the platform with the glass roof above, and station clock and various advertisements on the left

Class 52 Western Diesel Locomotive at Paddington Station
A view of a Class 52 Western Diesel Locomotive at Paddington Station, c.1960s, showing passengers on platform. The Westerns were built in the early 1960s at Swindon and Crewe

Platform 1 at Paddington Station, 1904
This view of passengers boarding a train on Platform 1 was taken on the August Bank Holiday 1904. Teeming with people, passengers

Adlestrop Railway Station, Gloucestershire
The railway station at Adlestrop, Gloucestershire. Station staff stand on the platform while the Paddington-Worcester Express steams towards the station

Chris Reynolds Victorian fire engine cartoon
Chris Reynolds was a fireman at Paddington fire station and a talented cartoon artist. He produced a series of LFB/MFB cartoons of which this is one

No 4073 Caerphilly Castle
4-6-0 Castle class locomotive. Built 1923. This photograph taken at Paddington Station shows the handing over of the locomotive to the Science Museum at South Kensington in 1961

Music Hall at the Metropolitan Theatre, London - Brochure
Music Hall brochure for The Metropolitan Theatre - a West End music hall and theatre located at 267 Edgware Road, Paddington, London

King CLass Locomotive No. 6004, King George III, 1931
Seen here at Paddington Station

The last broad gauge train leaving Paddington Station, 20th May 1892
A posed image of the last broad gauge train leaving Paddington station on 20th May 1892. The service is the 5pm to Plymouth, and the locomotive is Bulkeley (named after Captain Bulkeley)

London arms and seals
The Arms and Common Seals of the Metropolitan Boroughs of London and of the City of London, with a block map showing their boundaries

No. 111, The Great Bear at Paddington Station, c. 1910
An image of the No 111 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive, The Great Bear, in steam at Paddington station in c.1910. It was built in 1908 and withdrawn in 1924 and rebuilt as 4-6-0 Viscount Churchill

Design for Gentlemens Lavatory sign at Paddington Station
Drawn in 1914, this design was for an illuminated sign advertising the Gentlemans Lavatory on Paddington Station

Platform 6 and 7 at Paddington Station, 1979
A view of passengers alighting British Rail Inter-City 125s at Platforms 6 and 7 at Paddington Station in London in 1979. The overall roof of the train shed is visible

Platform 1 at Paddington Station, c. 1910
A classic Edwardian view of Platform 1 at Paddington Station, London. The crowds of passengers at the station wearing straw boaters and the abundance of luggage suggest it is the summer holiday season

Albert Ward, St Marys Hospital, Paddington, West London
Scene in Albert Ward, St Marys Hospital, Paddington, West London, with doctors, nurses and patients. circa 1905

Paddington Station, 1913
Passengers board Windsor Royal Garden Party trains on Platforms 4 and 5 at Paddington Station in 1913. The County of Wilts locomotive can be see to the left of the image

Collecting Milk Churns at Paddington Station, c. 1920s
A view of railway workers collecting milk churns at Paddington Station, London, c.1920s. The goods workers are loading the milk from a dairy motor vehicle onto wooden goods wagons

GLC-LFB appliance fleet -- Emergency Tender
The GLC-LFB was created on 1 April 1965. A series of photos was commissioned of each type of fire engine, either within or absorbed into the enlarged London Fire Brigade

Refreshments at Paddington Station, c. 1920
A refreshment porter hands a first class passenger a luncheon basket through the window of a carriage while stationary at Paddington station, c.1920

Female telegraph operator, 1910
A female operator can be seen here working the switchboard at the Paddington Telegraph Office in 1910. Prior to this date the Great Western Railway had been slow to employ women in their telegraph

Royal Waiting Room, Paddington Station, c. 1890
Situated on Platform 1 the Royal Waiting Room was used regularly by Royalty travelling from London to Windsor. As one can see from this image taken around 1890

The Great Western Royal Hotel, Paddington, 1902
A view of The Great Western Royal Hotel at Paddington station in London, c.1902, seen here elaborately decorated for the coronation of King Edward VII

Empty milk churns on Paddington Station, c. 1914
Porters sort and move empty milk churns on Platform 1 of Paddington Station in London, c.1914. The overall roof of Paddingtons train shed can be seen in the background

Highland Band at Paddington Station, 1915
First contingent of GWR Regimental company of Railway Troops R.E headed by a Highland Band, June 18th 1915

Wymans Bookstall at Paddington Station, 1913
This bookstall is cramed full of books, leaflets and posters. GWR publicity can clearly been seen in this image

Platform 3 at Paddington Station, 1926
This image shows holiday crowds boarding The Torbay Limited on Platform 3 of Paddington Station in 1926. The platform is full of frenzied passengers with luggage and station staff busy at work

Paddington Telephone Exchange, London, 1906
An image of a female operator connecting callers to the railway system at Paddingtons Telephone Exchange, London, 1906

Advert, Southern Railway Excursions
Advertisement for Southern Railway Excursions to Birmingham, Cambridge, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Rugby, Wolverhampton, etc, every Sunday from December to March

Evacuees at Paddington Station in 1939
This moving image of evacuees making their way along platform 4 at Paddington Station was also taken during the 4 day evacuation of London and other major cities in September 1939

St Marys Hospital, Paddington, West London. Date: circa 1905

GWR fire brigade at Paddington Station taking part in a drill, c. 1940
This 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

Bomb Damage at Royal Oak near Paddington c. 1940
Bomb damage to stations was inevitable after the sustained air attacks by the German Luftwaffe in late 1940 and early 1941

Ticket barrier at Paddington Station, London, c. 1940
An image showing passenger tickets being checked at Paddington Station, London, c.1940. A ticket inspector is checking the ticket of a city gentleman wearing a bowler hat

Paddington Station No. 2 Booking Hall, 1936
This image was taken in 1936 after extensive modernisation was made to Paddington Station. This image shows holiday posters advertising Wolverhampton

Track Renewal at Paddington Station, 1967
A view of a gang working on a track renewal scheme at London Paddington station, taken on 15th October 1967 at Platform Road No.3

Evacuees waiting outside the departure platform at Paddington in 1939
One 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

Bomb damage to Paddington Station in 1941
A view of the departure side of Paddington Station following the explosion of a parachute mine on 17th April 1941. A gaping hole can be seen to the right of the image where the station offices were

Map of St Marylebone, London
Map of St Marylebone, from a plan of London published by Richard Phillips. Date: 1813

St Vincents Catholic Boys Home, Paddington
A group of boys at St Vincents Home for Roman Catholic Boys, Harrow Road, Paddington, West London. Date: early 1900s

Paddington Station, platform 5 and 6 - London. Date: early 1930s

King George V and an Intercity 125 at Paddington Station, 1971
An image where two eras of the railway meet; the King George V locomotive and an Intercity 125 are seen here at Paddington Station, London in 1971

The last shunting horse at Paddington, 1925
An image of the last shunting horse at Paddington station, London, taken in 1925. This dray horse is preparing to pull open GWR goods wagon no.86459 in the yard

Devonshire Place, Lisson Grove, London
Devonshire Place (or perhaps Devonshire Place Mews), Lisson Grove, near Paddington, London. A crowd - mostly children with a few adults - has gathered. Someone holds a placard aloft

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"Step back in time with Paddington: A journey through history at Paddington Station" Discover the rich heritage Station, a place steeped in history and captivating stories. From the iconic GWR Refreshment Department Platform Trolley in May 1937 to the bustling Quick Lunch and Snack Bar in 1936, this station has witnessed countless moments that shaped our past. Transport yourself to 1929 as you stand on Platform 1 at Paddington Station, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of daily life. Imagine the steam billowing from trains as they arrive and depart, connecting people from all walks of life. Travel even further back to 1904 when Platform 1 was just beginning its transformation into a hub of activity. Picture horse-drawn carriages lined up alongside early locomotives, waiting for their passengers to embark on new adventures. Marvel at the Class 52 Western Diesel Locomotive proudly standing tall within Paddington Station's walls. Its powerful presence symbolizes progress and innovation that propelled us into a new era of transportation. Venture beyond Paddington itself and explore Adlestrop Railway Station in Gloucestershire—a charming countryside stop immortalized by Chris Reynolds' Victorian fire engine cartoon. Let your imagination run wild as you envision simpler times filled with quaint charm. Don't forget King Class Locomotive No. 6004, King George III—its regal stature capturing attention since its arrival in 1931. Witnessing this majestic machine is like stepping into an era where elegance met engineering marvels head-on. Reflect upon history's turning points as you learn about The last broad gauge train leaving Paddington Station on May 20th, 1892—an event marking the end of an era but paving the way for modern rail travel we know today. Immerse yourself completely by taking a glimpse into c. 1910 when Platform 1 was abuzz with excitement once again.