Swindon railway history pdf

Swindon railway works was built by the great western railway in 1841 in swindon in 1835 parliament approved the construction of a railway between london and bristol, giving the role of chief engineer to isambard kingdom brunel. Books and journals biddle, g, britains historic railway buildings, 2003 bourne, j c, the history and description of the great western railway, 1846 brindle, s, cruickshank, d, brunel. From the outset there was considerable difficulty in providing accommodation for the employees at the swindon railway works and the solution was to build a model village, using bath stone most probably from the cutting out of box tunnel and stone from the swindon quarries. The great western railway was created by an act of parliament on the 31 st august 1835 to provide a double tracked line from bristol to london, however work had started in 1832 to secure finance for the line, research possible routes and design stations, bridges and all other buildings required. Watch three bbc west documentaries broadcast in the mid1980s focussing on swindons railway works, prior and up to their closure in april. It was an ancient market town of some note when the great western railway came into being parliament had sanctioned the construction of the railway between bristol and london in august, 1835, and, thanks largely to the energies of its indomitable. The railway works of the gwr at swindon, and that of the ecr at stratford essex which through amalgamation with three other companies became the ger in 1862 were significant establishments of their day, both to the companies that built and operated them. At gwr, were always working to improve your journey. Live train times can be found on our stationboard pages. Swindon railway works was opened by the great western railway in 1843 in swindon, wiltshire, england. In 1921 king amanullah khan of afghanistan visited the train factory in swindon and 1924 george v and queen mary dropped in on swindon to a cheering crowd, george v climbed into a steam engine cab. Oct 29, 2015 gwr steam museum day out swindon, wiltshire great western railway duration. Bristol line and to the east of swindon station and the junction. Pdf the carriage and wagon works of the gwr at swindon.

Swindon inventor william ratcliffe demonstrates his water cycle in a 1949 newsreel film and in 1950 princess elizabeth visited swindon to visit the town, girl guides and. Collections steam museum of the great western railway. Registered office address changed from 29 bath road swindon wiltshire sn1 4as to blunsdon station tadpole lane blunsdon swindon sn25 2da on 18 october 2017. Swindon local history in newsreel film clips british pathe. The railway maps are produced by me matthew as a hobby, as is the website, so. The station has services between london and bristol. Many years ago, swindon s old town used to have its very own railway station. Railway village mechanics institution trust, swindon.

The legacy of a railway town rchme, 1995 crossrudkin, p, chrimes, m, eds. Swindon railway works was built by the great western railway in 1841 in swindon. By 1960, when swindon produced british railways last steam locomotive evening star, number 92220, it employed only 5,000 men. The railway works at swindon and stratford in the 19th. A message from the chairman and board of trustees to visitors and supporters of the swindon and cricklade railway. Article 4 direction for swindon railway village pdf swindon railway works. Clapham, an economic history of modern britain, 18501886, cambridge 1964, p. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached pdf 55885. Public world how the railways transformed the world brendan martin 2 fascinating book is that it tells a far richer and more complex story than that would suggest. Apr 15, 2019 to celebrate, were looking back at the history of five of our stations which have benefited from the. Bbc wiltshire website, broadcasting house, 5658 prospect place, swindon, wilts, sn1 3rw telephone. A gradual fall from swindon, the summit of the line, is followed. The swindon railway village conservation area is the subject of an article 4 direction which removes certain permitted development rights in the area.

The railway village was planned when the great western railway companys 7ftwide, broad gauge line reached swindon in 1840. Be the first to know whats up ahead on your service with travel news from great western railway. The us map is a work in progress, and will take many years to complete. With the railway needing to run near to a canal at this point, and as it was cheaper to transport coal for trains along canals at this time, swindon was the next logical choice for the works, 20 miles 32 km north of the original route. From 1836, brunel had been buying locomotives from various makers for the new railway. Railmaponline is a free website that aims to provide an interactive map of all historic railways for the uk and us. It is managed by great western railway, which also operates all the trains it is an important. Jul 21, 2009 swindon s other railway station by neil lover railway historian. Steam museum of the great western railway, swindon. Swindon works and its place in british railway history. For example the wiltshire and swindon history centre hold some staff records for swindon works employees. Stone building on island platform at swindon railway. The payroll was down to 2,200 in 1973 and though it recovered briefly to 3,800 in 1980, the writing was already on the wall as the works failed to win outside orders and received a diminishing share of now limited british rail engineering ltd. Swindon town station was heavily used in early years, but increasingly suffered from the concentration of traffic at the main gwr station as the focus of the town shifted away from the old town area to the newer parts that developed around the gwr station and the railway works there.

The house of commons passed a bill authorising the incorporation of the company with. The lifts are out of order between platform 1 and platform 3 until the end of the day at swindon station. A tour up and down the line behind a diesel class 09 shunter ending in a cab ride on this small but expanding very friendly line. List of gwr books held at steam museum of the gwr, swindon. The uk map is mostly finished, although theres always room for improvement. Download west from paddington is the essential companion for every traveller on first great western railway. The railway works at swindon and stratford in the 19. Read about the history of swindon and see specially. It would run from a junction with the great western railway s main line 1 mile east of swindon junction station 1 to the town of highworth, a further distance of 5 miles, 45 chains 2. Swindon railway station is on the great western main line in south west england, serving the. More recent history and in 1947 swindon was reporting a baby boom and we have great footage of william morgans flower shop, james smiths nursery shop and lew evans jewellers. Stone building on island platform at swindon railway station. A new edition of a classic history of the railway line between swindon and cheltenham, illustrated with over 120 pictures. Swindon the town on the hill dates back at least eight centuries and is mentioned in the domesday book.

Data is updated weekly and may not reflect unplanned dispruptions such as essential engineering works, weather or otherwise. The museum tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the great western railway gods wonderful railway a railway network that, through the pioneering vision and genius of isambard kingdom brunel, was regarded as the most advanced in the world. The great western railway became by far the largest employer in the region and for more than a century the fortunes of the town were inseparably linked with the development of the railway. It was agreed that the gwr would work and maintain the line for 10 years in return for 60% of the receipts. Oct 16, 2008 bbc wiltshire website, broadcasting house, 5658 prospect place, swindon, wilts, sn1 3rw telephone. The curtain began to fall on the legendary 140yearold railway works in. In 1841 the great western railway company began construction work on a major new engineering works which would become, in their heyday, one of the largest industrial complexes in the world. Steam museum of the great western railway swindon borough.

Firefighting equipment from the swindon works fire station is a prominent part of this collection. Pdf swindon the gwr download full pdf book download. Trains at swindon railway station wikimedia commons. Swindon wilts train station train times great western railway. The railways and swindon s history as ive explained previously, my current work focus is a historical one and a new departure for me. Many years ago, swindons old town used to have its very own railway station. Great western railway swindon works and brwr a set of images relating to the great western railway gwr in swindon. Reading railway station was first a singlesided station and was originally the last stop on the great western railway mainline when it opened in 1840. It served as the principal west england maintenance centre until closed in 1986. Victorian railway engineering the decision of gooch and brunel to locate an engine house and works just to the north of swindon led to the creation of a sizeable engineering enterprise and a new settlement. It is managed by great western railway, which also operates all the trains it is an important junction, where the former great. The castle class 460 locomotives designed by charles collett and built at swindon works were the principal passenger locomotives of the great western railway.

Hawksworths plan of the swindon works in 1846, showing the works to the north of the london. Swindons other railway station by neil lover railway historian. In 1835 parliament approved the construction of the great western main line between london and bristol by the great western railway gwr. The museum is housed in a beautifully restored grade ii building in the heart of the former swindon railway works. There are also trains to cardiff a new platform, platform 4 opened in 2003. Swindon railway station is on the great western main line in south west england, serving the town of swindon, wiltshire. A journey through swindons history including the gwr railway works, the origins of old town, roman settlements, the car industry, dday and chiseldon camp. The chosen location was open farmland some two miles from the small hilltop market town of swindon. The 4cylinder locomotives were built in batches between 1923 and 1950, the later examples being constructed after nationalisation by british railways. Swindon is one of my nearest good sized towns and has a proud railway history. The history of the great western railway from an act of parliament in 1835 to nationalisation 1948, the great western railway, also known as gods wonderful railway, was the envy of the other railway companies in britain preserved railway sites a list of all of the standard and narrow gauge railways in the uk. Mar 18, 2017 a tour up and down the line behind a diesel class 09 shunter ending in a cab ride on this small but expanding very friendly line. By looking at the buildings themselves it traces the architectural history of the railway.

Located right next to swindon s designer outlet, the museum tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the great western railway. Highlights include a large searchlight from the swindon works. Visit gwr for information on swindon wilts train station. Further details on the direction are contained in the following document. Swindon town station was heavily used in early years, but increasingly suffered from the concentration of traffic at the main gwr station as the focus of the town shifted away from the old town area to the newer parts that developed around the. A timeline of the history of swindon local histories. The payroll was down to 2,200 in 1973 and though it recovered briefly to 3,800 in 1980, the writing was already on the wall as the works failed to win outside orders and received a diminishing share of now limited british rail engineering ltd brel work. It was opened on 17 december 1840 by the great western railway. Swindon railway village snapshot of life 160 years on. Indeed, it shows how railways made work no less tedious or hard for many people, but far more profitable for their employers, particularly in colonies with rich natural resources. We are also known for our love of sport, with 14 screens and three sky boxes including 3d. Wiltshire and swindon history centre promo duration.

People familiar with old town will know the site where the station once stood is now signal way industrial estate, and the old track that lead to it is now a cycle path spanning old town. Mar 05, 2020 steam museum of the great western railway. The man who built the world, 2005 cattell, j, falconer, k, swindon. The station existed for just 80 years to farepaying passengers. A partial history of swindon in film clips running from 1918 to 1969. Find out about conservation areas swindon borough council. Swindon is a town in wiltshire in the south west of england. Gwr steam museum day out swindon, wiltshire great western railway duration.

It was opened on 17 december 1840 by the great western railway the station has services between london and bristol. Railway tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the great western railway. Swindon history chronicling swindons rich heritage. Get contact details, videos, photos, opening times and map directions. As well as weekly markets swindon has 4 annual fairs. We are one of swindon s premier ale pubs, having been in the good beer guide for 9 years in a row now. Construction a note on costs great western ownership british railways. Tracing your great western railway family tree steam museum. Media in category swindon steam railway museum the following 157 files are in this category, out of 157 total.

Rail centres swindon download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Rail map online historic railways, railroads and canals. Find live train times and details of station facilitiies including cark parking, wifi and more. Steam museum of the great western railway is housed in a beautifully restored grade ii listed railway building in the heart of the former swindon railway works. People have lived in the town since the bronze age and the towns location, being approximately halfway between bristol and london, made it an ideal location for the locomotive factories of the great western railway in the 19th century swindon has grown from a population of just 1,198 in 1801 to over 150,000 in 2001. The swindon railway works were begun in 1841 as a repair. Its chief engineer was isambard kingdom brunel from 1836, brunel had been buying. Packed with information on all the landmarks, railway history, geographical features and places of interest that can be seen from your window as your journey unfolds, this indispensable guide covers three great routes paddington to bristol. In 1984, however, many of the works buildings were under threat due to rationalisation within british rail engineering ltd. The mid 1980s were a historic period in swindons industrial history. The reference library not only covers the growth of the gwr and the advance of railway technology, for the social historian it also contains material illustrating the impact of the gwr on the local community and the growth of swindon as a railway town.