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Workers at Swindon Works Collection

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Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: J Shop - Iron Foundry, 1951

J Shop - Iron Foundry, 1951
Casting cylinders

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: V shop, c1930

V shop, c1930
Rivetting a firebox

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Drawing Office Staff, 1899

Drawing Office Staff, 1899
Back Row - 2nd left (Mr A E Leader) Seated - centre (Mr F W Hawksworth)

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Men leaving Swindon Works, Rodbourne Road entrance, 1928

Men leaving Swindon Works, Rodbourne Road entrance, 1928
Hoards of men leaving Swindon Works, Rodbourne Road entrance, 1928. The pattern shop is in the background and an omnibus with Arkells advertising on it

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Trip, 1931

Swindon Works Trip, 1931
GWR families from Swindon wait in line to board the trains for Trip week. Destinations included Weymouth, Weston Super Mare and Cornwall

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 7 Shop, Carriage Finishing Shop, 1924

No 7 Shop, Carriage Finishing Shop, 1924
Dozens of men can be seen here in the carriage finishing shop. It was here that parts of the carriages were finished off. Doors

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Works staff boarding Trip trains in 1934

Swindon Works staff boarding Trip trains in 1934
Swindon Works staff and families making their way to board Trip Trains in 1934

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1946

No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1946
These men are working hard helping to construct a Hawksworth coach body. Each piece of timber and frame had its own place and slotted in with exact precision

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: K Shop - Coppersmiths, 1938

K Shop - Coppersmiths, 1938
Making domes and saftey valve covers

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Hooter Operator 1936

Swindon Works Hooter Operator 1936
The hooter was a set of steam whistles that called employees into work, and signalled the end of the working day. The operator sounded the hooter by turning a wheel that released steam at high

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Tunnel Entrance, 1935

Swindon Works Tunnel Entrance, 1935
A sea of men can be seen leaving the Works, probably at lunchtime. This was the main entrance tunnel for the Works. The doors were promptly closed after each call for work

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Trip, c1910

Swindon Works Trip, c1910
GWR families from Swindon wait in line to board the trains for Trip week. Destinations included Weymouth, Weston Super Mare and Cornwall

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Men leaving Swindon Works, Rodbourne Road entrance, c. 1910

Men leaving Swindon Works, Rodbourne Road entrance, c. 1910
Men leaving Swindon Works, Rodbourne Road entrance, c.1910

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: F Shop, Steam Hammer Shop, c1930s

F Shop, Steam Hammer Shop, c1930s

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Women working in the Swindon Works laundry, c1930

Women working in the Swindon Works laundry, c1930

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 21 Shop, Wagon Repairs and Building Shop, c1930s

No 21 Shop, Wagon Repairs and Building Shop, c1930s
Several men can be seen here in one of the wagon repair bays. The platform gave workers easier access to the inside of the wagons

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 12 Shop, Carpenters Shop, 1953

No 12 Shop, Carpenters Shop, 1953
Carpentry was a skilled craft. Here three men are making various bits of furniture, including chairs, desk and cabinets. A stack of timber can be seen piled on the mezzanine floor behind them

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, c1930s

No 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, c1930s
Two ladies are sat weaving luggage racks for the carriages built at Swindon Works. The majority of women were employed at the Works in roles that required good dexterity and skill

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: F Shop - Steam Hammer Shop, 1936

F Shop - Steam Hammer Shop, 1936
Forging a connecting rod

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 19 (C / D) Shops, c1930

No 19 (C / D) Shops, c1930
No 19 C and D shops covered both carriage lifting and bogie repairs. 3 men can be seen in this image lift a frame onto a set of wheels with the help of an overhead crane

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Retirement of Frederick George Sheldon

Retirement of Frederick George Sheldon
Draughtsman for the GWR and British Railways (Western Region) between 1915 and 1956

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Men in the Engine Repairs shop at Swindon Works in 1985

Men in the Engine Repairs shop at Swindon Works in 1985
Men in the Engine Repairs shop at Swindon Works in May 1985. The slogans on the wall tell of the imminant closure of the Works

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: G Shop, c1920

G Shop, c1920
Cutting connecting rods

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: 12a Carpenters Shop, 1960

12a Carpenters Shop, 1960
The carpenters shop was based within the Carriage and Wagons Works. Here they made an array of wooden items for use within the Great Western Railway

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 8 Shop, Paint Shop, 1953

No 8 Shop, Paint Shop, 1953
Two men can be seen here painting a carriage. The carriages, like locomotives, had their own special livery that had to be painted with precision

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 5 Shop, Train Lighting Shop, 1950

No 5 Shop, Train Lighting Shop, 1950
These men are working on the components used in the assembly of carriage lights. In the centre of the image, on the floor, is a domed light fitting either awaiting repair or construction

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Works employees manouvering a wheel set by crane, c. 1940

Swindon Works employees manouvering a wheel set by crane, c. 1940
In this photograph a female crane operator is working alongside two male colleagues, manoeuvring a locomotive wheel set into place

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, c1920s

No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, c1920s
Several men can be seen here working on building coaches in No 4 Shop. The carriages are in varying stages from early frameworks to near completion

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Old Saw Mills, Newburn Crescent, c1870

Old Saw Mills, Newburn Crescent, c1870
Before No 1 Sawmills opened in the far west of the Works wood was cut at a mill on Newburn Crescent. The men in this image have been busy cutting length of timber

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: 12a Carpenters Shop, 1960

12a Carpenters Shop, 1960
The carpenters shop was based within the Carriage and Wagons Works. Here they made an array of wooden items for use within the Great Western Railway

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Presentation of a War Savings League Cup to members at Swindon Works, 1944

Presentation of a War Savings League Cup to members at Swindon Works, 1944
This photograph was taken on 20th April 1944 and shows Chief Mechanical Engineer, F.W. Hawksworth, presenting a War Savings League Cup to members at Swindon Works

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Apprentice Training School, Class of 1980 / 1981

Apprentice Training School, Class of 1980 / 1981
Group photograph of the class of 1980/1981 of the Apprentice Training School in Swindon, taken in August 1981. The training school was situated at Dean Street

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Workers riveting a locomotive boiler in V Boiler Shop c. 1942

Workers riveting a locomotive boiler in V Boiler Shop c. 1942
In 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

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Home Guard manning an anti-aircraft gun platform, c. 1940

Swindon Home Guard manning an anti-aircraft gun platform, c. 1940
Swindon 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

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Presentation of the Wiltshire Home Guard in 1944

Presentation of the Wiltshire Home Guard in 1944
This 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

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Fire Brigade, 1916

Swindon Works Fire Brigade, 1916
This is a really impressive image of the Swindon Works Fire Brigade, taken in 1916. The smartly uniformed firemen are sat upon the Dennis Fire Engine which was purchased by the GWR in 1912

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Female Clerks at Swindon Works, 1916

Female Clerks at Swindon Works, 1916
This image of female clerks was taken in May 1916, just 10 years after women were first employed in clerical positions within the GWR

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Works Polishing Shop in 1914

Swindon Works Polishing Shop in 1914
A photograph taken on 7th August 1914 of the Polishing Shop in the Carriage and Wagon Works. French polishing was a skilled trade

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 13 Shop, Wagon Frame Shop, late 1940s

No 13 Shop, Wagon Frame Shop, late 1940s
In the centre of the image two men can be seen using rivet guns to rivet a wagon frame. To the left two younger men are heating the rivets in a furnace using tongs

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 9 shop, Carriage Trimming Shop, 1953

No 9 shop, Carriage Trimming Shop, 1953
Here a group of men are making seats for train carriages. They are attaching fabric to ready made frames, complete with springs

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Making artificial limbs, No 9 Shop, 1953

Making artificial limbs, No 9 Shop, 1953
The skilled craftsmen of the Carriage and Wagon Works didn t just make rolling stock, they also made artificial limbs made from wood

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, August 1914

No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, August 1914
The date of this photograph is 7th August 1914. Just three days after Britain entered the war. By this date there were already women employed at Swindon Works

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1953

No 4 Shop, Carriage Body Shop, 1953
Construction of British Railways standard coaches. The main frame is held to shape by a jig whilst two men use blow torches to fix metal pieces in place

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 3 Shop, Carriage fitting and machine shop, 1953

No 3 Shop, Carriage fitting and machine shop, 1953
Two men operate a 90 ton press in the carriage fitting shop. The press enabled sheet metal to be bent into shapes. It was cut and then assembled on carriages and wagons

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 24 Shop, Paint Stores, 1938

No 24 Shop, Paint Stores, 1938
The paint stores, also known as the paint mill, was where paint was mixed. This man is drawing off and straining paint from one of the heavy duty mixing machines

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No. 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, October 1937

No. 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, October 1937
A rather busy scene here. Hundreds of men are working on carriage seat upholstery and padding cushions with horse hair. Racks of carriage seats

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon Works employees welding superheaters for locomotive boilers, 1942

Swindon Works employees welding superheaters for locomotive boilers, 1942
A group of female employees are welding the superheaters for locomotive boilers in P1 Shop. As rail operation was essential to the war effort

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Female employees at Swindon Works making lamps, c. 1940

Female employees at Swindon Works making lamps, c. 1940
A larger group of female employees have been photographed here engaged in the making of lamps at Swindon Works. The tin lamp bodies

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: The 13th Battalion Home Guard at a rifle shoot at Liddington, c. 1942

The 13th Battalion Home Guard at a rifle shoot at Liddington, c. 1942
The 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

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Standing down parade of 13th Battalion Home Guard, Swindon Works, 1944

Standing down parade of 13th Battalion Home Guard, Swindon Works, 1944
By the end of 1944 the threat of invasion from Germany became unlikely and it was decided that the Home Guard could be stood down

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon town centre prior to trip 1934

Swindon town centre prior to trip 1934
Swindon town centre busy with shoppers getting new outfits and holiday paraphernalia prior to the Swindon Works trip holiday in 1934

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Swindon holiday makers at Weston Super Mare station 1960

Swindon holiday makers at Weston Super Mare station 1960
Swindon Works staff and families exiting Weston Super Mare station during their Trip holiday in 1960

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: GWR Works Home Guard passing out parade, December 1944

GWR Works Home Guard passing out parade, December 1944

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 17 Shop, Road Vehicle Shop, c1920s

No 17 Shop, Road Vehicle Shop, c1920s
This view of the Road Vehicle shops shows the construction and repair of mainly horse drawn vehicles. The GWR relied heavily on horse power, especially in good yards and for parcel deliveries

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, 1952

No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, 1952
This worker is operating a steam hammer in the Smith Shop. He is wearing the traditional leather apron to protect against hot metal and sparks

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, 1930

No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, 1930
This busy scene from 1930 shows about 30 women in the female sewing room. On the left a row of women work on sewing machines

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: V Shop, 1951

V Shop, 1951
Female member of staff drilling boiler from inside

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Female Clerks at Swindon Works, 1916

Female Clerks at Swindon Works, 1916
A group shot of female clerks taken in May 1916. This group are from the Accounts Office at Swindon Works and were managed by Mr Kelynack, the Clerk in Charge

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Woman using steam press at Swindon Works, 1942

Woman using steam press at Swindon Works, 1942
Although women were employed on the railways prior to 1939, work involving the operating of heavy machinery, as shown in this photograph, was considered to be unsuitable for the fairer sex

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 12c Shop, Carriage Paint Shop, 1950s

No 12c Shop, Carriage Paint Shop, 1950s
Stacks of carriage destination boards can be seen here as they wait to be painted. The boards were all painted by hand, and repainted when the destinations changed

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 1 Shop, Sawmill, November 1934

No 1 Shop, Sawmill, November 1934
A young boy is operating a firewood chopping machine. It is not clear if he is an apprentice. Boys were often given the simple, more menial, tasks

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, February 1913

No 9 Carriage Trimming Shop, February 1913
A sea of ties and aprons in this view of the Carriage Trimming Shop. Men and boys are working alongside each other making upholstery for carriage furniture

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: F Shop - Blacksmiths Shop, 1936

F Shop - Blacksmiths Shop, 1936
This image is probably as posed photograph because there appears to be too many men working the metal

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Extending A Shop, 1914

Extending A Shop, 1914
Workmen excavating the land in preparation for the A Shop extension. Redcliffe Street can be seen to the left

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Bogie repairs in No 19 (C / D) Shop, c1965

Bogie repairs in No 19 (C / D) Shop, c1965
No 19 C and D shops covered both carriage lifting and bogie repairs. In this image 3 men can be seen attaching a frame to a set of wheels. An overhead crane helps ift the frame into position

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: New Swindon Mechanics Institution Trip ticket 1903

New Swindon Mechanics Institution Trip ticket 1903
New Swindon Mechanics Institution Trip ticket issued to Mr Hawkins for a train journey to Newton Abbot on July 10th 1903

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Two men up a ladder in G Shop, 1913

Two men up a ladder in G Shop, 1913
G Shop at Swindon Works in 1913. This image is probably a posed shot for the Safety Movement Campaign, highlighting the safety issues of two men up a ladder

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: Female rivet hotter, A Shop, c. 1940

Female rivet hotter, A Shop, c. 1940
During the Second World War Swindon Works employed women in both the workshops and offices. Here a female employee is helping her male colleague with riveting

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 3 Company Swindon Battalion Home Guard, January 1941

No 3 Company Swindon Battalion Home Guard, January 1941
Marching alongside the Iron Foundry (J Shop)

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, 1966

No 9 Shop, Sewing Room, 1966
This view of the sewing room was taken in 1966. It shows several women sewing large pieces of fabric, possibly sheeting for wagons

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, 1938

No 14 Shop, Smiths Shop, 1938
This worker is coupling links using a 5 cwt pneumatic hammer. The hammer was made by B&S Massey Ltd who were based in Lancashire and specialised in forging equipment

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 12 Shop, Carpenters Shop, c1890s

No 12 Shop, Carpenters Shop, c1890s
Carpenters have downed tools and posing for the photographer in this early image of No.12 shop in the carriage works. A foreman can be seen on the steps of the office on the left of the image

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: No 8 Shop, Carriage Paint Shop, 1953

No 8 Shop, Carriage Paint Shop, 1953
This was the sign writing section for all the carriages. All sorts of signs and notices were hand painted. It was a skillful job and a lot of precision was required

Background imageWorkers at Swindon Works Collection: X Shop, Points and Crossings Shop, c1950

X Shop, Points and Crossings Shop, c1950
This image shows the assembly of a crossing; a piece of track that enabled a train to switch lines. The men in the centre of the image are using tools to attach


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