BR standard class 2 tanks 82039 and 82038 under construction in Swindon, 1954. The British Railways standard class 2 2-6-2T was a class of steam locomotive one of the standard classes of the 1950s Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar)

Swindon railway works were built by the Great Western Railway in 1841 in Swindon in the English county of Wiltshire. The Great Western Railway ( GWR) was a British railway company and a notable example of Civil engineering, linking London with the West For the game see 1841 (board game. Year 1841 ( MDCCCXLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link Swindon ( is a large town in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire in the South West of England, midway between Bristol (64 km / 40 miles England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Etymology The county formerly 'Wiltonshire' or 'Wiltunscir' (9th century is named after the former county town of Wilton (itself named after the River Wylye

History

In 1835 Parliament approved the construction of a railway between London and Bristol. Year 1835 ( MDCCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London Its Chief Engineer was Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS (9 April 1806 &ndash 15 September 1859 (ˈɪzəmbɑrd ˈkɪŋdəm brʊˈnɛl was a British Engineer.

From 1836, Brunel had been buying locomotives from various makers for the new railway. Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Few of them were satisfactory, some suggest, because of Brunel's specifications. In 1837, Brunel recruited Daniel Gooch and gave him the job of rectifying the situation. Year 1837 ( MDCCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Sir Daniel Gooch 1st Baronet ( August 24 1816 &ndash October 15 1889) was first Chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western

It became clear that the GWR needed a central repair works so, in 1840 Gooch identified a site at Swindon because it was at the junction of the Cheltenham branch and also a "convenient division of the Great Western line for engine working". Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Education With Brunel's support, Gooch made his proposal to the GWR directors, who, on 25 February 1841, authorised the establishment of the works at Swindon. Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor For the game see 1841 (board game. Year 1841 ( MDCCCXLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link Construction started immediately and they became operational on 2 January 1843. Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1843 ( MDCCCXLIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common

Location

There are several stories relating to how the railway came to pass through Swindon, with a well-circulated myth that Brunel and Daniel Gooch were surveying a vale north of Swindon Hill and Brunel either threw a stone or dropped a sandwich and declared that spot to be the new location of the works. Sir Daniel Gooch 1st Baronet ( August 24 1816 &ndash October 15 1889) was first Chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western

The works transformed Swindon from a small market town into a railway town, boosted the population considerably and provided medical and educational facilities that had been sorely lacking. Market town or market right is a legal term originating in the Medieval period for a European settlement that has the right to hold Markets A railway town is a settlement that originated or was greatly developed because of a Railway station or junction at its site

The Great Western Railway was originally planned to cut through Savernake Forest near Marlborough, but the Marquess of Ailesbury, who owned the land, objected. Savernake Forest, located between Marlborough and Hungerford in the English county of Wiltshire, is privately owned by the Trustees of Savernake Marlborough ( IPA /ˈmɔːlbrə/ " Maul bruh" is a market town in the English county of Wiltshire on the Old Bath Road The Marquess had previously objected to part of the Kennet and Avon Canal running through his estate (see Bruce Tunnel). The Kennet and Avon Canal is a Canal in southern England The name may refer to either the route of the original Kennet and Avon Canal Company, which linked the Bruce Tunnel ( is on the summit pound of the Kennet and Avon Canal between Wootton Top Lock and Crofton Locks in Wiltshire,

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 north of the original route.

The line was laid in 1840, but the location of the works was still undecided. Tracks were laid at Didcot in 1839 (chosen as Lord Wantage did not want the railway passing close to Abingdon) and for some time this seemed a more likely site. Didcot is a Town in the Thames Valley, in the English county of Oxfordshire (although formerly in Berkshire) Brigadier-General Robert James Loyd-Lindsay Baron Wantage of Lockinge, VC, KCB, FRS, ( April 16 1832 &ndash June

Gooch noted that the nearby Wilts and Berks Canal gave Swindon a direct connection with the Somerset coalfield. The Somerset coalfield included pits in the north Somerset, England, area where Coal was mined from the 15th century until 1973 He also realised that engines needed to be changed at Swindon or close by as the gradients from Swindon to Bristol were much more arduous than the relatively easy gradients between London and Swindon. Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London The grade (or gradient or pitch or slope) of any physical feature such as a Hill, Stream, Roof, railroad, or London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Drawing water for the engines from the canals was also considered, and an agreement to this effect was completed in 1843.

Gooch recorded at the time "I was called to report upon the best situation to build these works and, on full consideration, I reported in favour of Swindon, it being the junction with the Cheltenham branch and also a convenient division of the Great Western Line for the engine working. Mr. Brunel and I went to look at the ground, then only green fields, and he agreed with me as to its being the best place. "^[1]

Once the plan was set for the railway to come to Swindon, it was at first intended to bring it closely along the foot of Swindon Hill so as to be as close as possible to the town without entailing the excessive engineering works of building on the hill. However, the Goddard family (Lord's of the Manor of Swindon), following the example the Marquess of Ailesbury (and many other landowners of the day) objected to having it near their property, so it was laid a couple of miles further north. The title of Lord of the Manor arose in the English mediaeval system of Manorialism following the Norman Conquest.

Early years

The first building, the locomotive repair shed, was completed in 1841 using contract labour, with the necessary machinery installed within it by 1842. Initially only employing 200 men, repairs began in 1843, with the first new locomotive, the "Premier", built in 1846 in under two weeks and renamed "Great Western". For the game see 1846 (board game. Year 1846 ( MDCCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display This was followed by six more, the "Iron Dukes", including "The Lord of the Isles", considered the fastest broad-gauge engine of its day. The Great Western Railway Iron Duke Class 4-2-2 broad gauge steam Locomotives for express passenger train work By 1851 the works were employing over 2000 men and were producing about one locomotive a week, with the first standard-gauge engine built in 1855. 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year A rolling mill for manufacturing rails was installed in 1861, attracting workers from South Wales. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Although some rolling stock was built at Wolverhampton (producing 800 standard-gauge locomotives up to 1908), Worcester and Saltney near Chester, most of the work was concentrated at Swindon. Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Worcester (ˈwʊstə is a city and County town of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands of England. Saltney is a small Town in Flintshire, North Wales. It is immediately to the west of the border with Cheshire in England and forms Chester is the County town of Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77040

Like most early railways, the GWR was built with gentle gradients and the minimum of curves, which meant that it was able to operate fast lightweight 'single-wheelers', 2-2-2 and 4-2-2. Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, a 2-2-2 Locomotive has two Leading wheels two Driving wheels Under the Whyte notation for the classification of Steam locomotives, a 4-2-2 Locomotive has four Leading wheels two Driving wheels However, from 1849 Gooch also built 4-4-0 saddle tanks for the hillier routes in Devon. Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A 4-4-0 is a type of Steam locomotive. In the Whyte notation, 4-4-0 signifies that it has a two-axle Bogie ( Am A tank locomotive is a Steam locomotive that carries its own fuel and water on it instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. Devon is a large county in the South West of England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name

In addition to locomotive building, from 1850 standardised goods wagons were produced and in 1867 Swindon was made the central workshop for the construction of carriages and wagons, with extensions and 13 miles of additional sidings. For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting In 1864, when Joseph Armstrong took over, he took on the responsibility of improving the passenger stock. Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Joseph Armstrong (1816-1877 was a British locomotive engineer and the second locomotive superintendent of the Great Western Railway. In 1878 a separate carriage and wagon works was built on land north of the station. Year 1878 ( MDCCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The first Royal Saloon was built in 1874 and converted to standard gauge in 1899. Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

1875 saw the opening of the boiler and tender making shops, eventually used to also produce parts for locomotives, and marine engines for the GWR's fleet of ships and barges.

In 1892 the GWR made the decision to convert rolling stock to standard gauge. Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year All locomotives, wagons and carriages were brought to Swindon for conversion. Those that could not be converted were scrapped.

Expansion

At the turn of the century, the works were employing an estimated ¾ of Swindon's entire workforce. Churchward's tenure, first as Assistant Chief Superintendent in 1897, then Locomotive Superintendent in 1902 , produced heavier locomotives, firstly the 4-4-0 City class, then the County class. George Jackson Churchward CBE ( 31 January 1857 - 19 December 1933) was Chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting A 4-4-0 is a type of Steam locomotive. In the Whyte notation, 4-4-0 signifies that it has a two-axle Bogie ( Am The Great Western Railway 3700 Class, or City Class, locomotives were a series of twenty 4-4-0 steam Locomotives designed for hauling express The Great Western Railway County Class were a class of 4-4-0 steam Locomotives for express passenger train work introduced in 1904 in a batch of ten Later in 1906 "North Star", originally 4-4-2, was rebuilt as the first four-cylinder 4-6-0. Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting In the Whyte notation a 4-4-2 is a Steam locomotive that has a two-axle Leading truck, two powered Driving axles and a one-axle Trailing In the Whyte notation, a 4-6-0 is a Railroad Steam locomotive that has a two-axle Leading truck followed by three Driving axles Later four-cylindered engines were 4-6-0 built and, in1908 the first "Pacific" 4-6-2, the only one of its type in the country for many years. In the Whyte notation, a 4-6-0 is a Railroad Steam locomotive that has a two-axle Leading truck followed by three Driving axles Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Under the Whyte notation for the classification of Steam locomotives, a 4-6-2 Locomotive has four Leading wheels (generally arranged in a It was later rebuilt as a 4-6-0. In the Whyte notation, a 4-6-0 is a Railroad Steam locomotive that has a two-axle Leading truck followed by three Driving axles

The first GWR through corridor train was built in 1891, with electric lighting introduced in 1900. Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar

From 1914 the works turned to aiding the war effort, producing twelve howitzers by the end of the year. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year A howitzer is a type of Artillery piece that is characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small explosive charges to propel projectiles

Heyday

C. B. Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer from 1921 to 1941, greatly improved the works' boiler making and its facilities for working heavy gauge sheet metal. Charles Benjamin Collett ( September 10 1871 - April 5 1952) was Chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western Railway Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1927 the GWR's most powerful and largest locomotive, the King class, was introduced to become the "flagship" of the GWR fleet. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Great Western Railway 6000 Class or King is a class of 4-6-0 Steam locomotive designed for express passenger work The Kings had been developed from the Castle Class which, along with the Halls, were the foundation of the GWR's reputation and image. The GWR 4073 Class or Castle class locomotives were a group of 4-6-0 Steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. The Great Western Railway 4900 Class or Hall Class is a class of 4-6-0 Mixed traffic Steam locomotives designed by Charles

This was the heyday of Swindon Works, when 14,000 people were employed and the main locomotive fabrication workshop, the A Shop was, at 11. 25 acres, one of the largest covered areas in the world.

Loco's awaiting scrapping outside the Works

During World War II Swindon was once again involved with military hardware, producing various types of gun mountings. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Loco wheel-turning lathes were also ideally suited for making turret rings for tanks. A tank is a tracked, Armoured fighting vehicle designed for Front-line combat which combines Operational mobility and tactical The works also built landing craft and parts for midget submarines.

In 1947 the works were still producing 60 new locomotives in the year, falling to 42 in 1954. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Between 1949 and 1960 some 200 of the various BR Standard locomotives were produced. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. British Railways (BR built 2537 steam locomotives in the period 1948–1960 1538 to pre-nationalisation designs and 999 to its own standard designs British Railway's last steam locomotive BR standard class 9F 92220 Evening Star was built in 1960 and the first diesel-hydraulic main line locomotive in 1957. See also Rail transport in Great Britain, National Rail, Network Rail This article is about the defunct entity "British Railways" British Railways Standard Class 9F number 92220 Evening Star, is a preserved British steam locomotive Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A locomotive is a railway Vehicle that provides the motive power for a Train. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar)

Decline and closure

The former Pattern Store, now a bar with a working turntable a feature of the building

In 1962 new building of locomotives finished at Swindon. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Locomotive repairs and carriage and wagon work continued, though the original carriage and wagon workshop was sold. The works closed in 1986, but one building currently houses a museum dedicated to the Great Western Railway. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The Great Western Railway ( GWR) was a British railway company and a notable example of Civil engineering, linking London with the West The engineers' office is now the headquarters of English Heritage. English Heritage is a Non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government ( Department for Culture Media and Sport) with a broad remit of Purpose-built storage now houses the archive of the National Monuments Record

Most of the remaining buildings are part of the Designer Outlet Village [1]. The National Monuments Record (NMRis the public Archive of English Heritage, located in Swindon.

Superintendents and Chief Engineers

• Sir Daniel Gooch, Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent 1837-1864
• Joseph Armstrong, Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent 1864-1877
• Major William Dean, Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent 1877-1902
• G. J. Churchward, Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent 1902 to 1916, and Chief Mechanical Engineer 1916-1921
• C. B. Collett, Chief Mechanical Engineer 1921-1941
• F. W. Hawksworth, Chief Mechanical Engineer 1941-1949

Organisation

A great many different activities were carried out within the works and most of the components used to make locomotives, carriages and wagons were made on site. Sir Daniel Gooch 1st Baronet ( August 24 1816 &ndash October 15 1889) was first Chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western Joseph Armstrong (1816-1877 was a British locomotive engineer and the second locomotive superintendent of the Great Western Railway. See Dixie Dean for the footballer in the United Kingdom whose real name was William Dean George Jackson Churchward CBE ( 31 January 1857 - 19 December 1933) was Chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western Charles Benjamin Collett ( September 10 1871 - April 5 1952) was Chief mechanical engineer of the Great Western Railway Frederick W Hawksworth ( 10 February 1884 &ndash 13 July 1976) was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Great Western Railway The works were organised into a number of shops:-

Literature

Alfred Williams' book Life in a Railway Factory has been described as "the most important literary work ever produced in Swindon, about Swindon". Alfred Williams (1877 &ndash April 1930 was a self taught Poet who lived in the vicinity of Swindon, UK. At the time, the town of Swindon, with a population of about 50,000, was almost entirely dependent on the railway works for its survival and prosperity. The book is a frank account of the very hard working conditions in this enormous industrial complex, which then employed 12,000 people (almost all men), and includes information both about how locomotives were made and the people who made them.

References

1. ^ The World's Finest Railway Works SwindonWeb accessed December 6, 2006

• Mark Child [2002]. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Swindon : An Illustrated History. United Kingdom: Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 1-85983-322-5.  
• (1950) Swindon Works, and its Place in British Railway History. London: Railway Executive (Western Region).  
• Simmons, J (1986). The Railway in Town and Country. Newton Abbott: David and Charles.  
• Larkin, E. J. ; Larkin, J. G. (1988). The Railway Workshops of Great Britain 1823-1986. Macmillan Press.  
• Cattell, John; Falconer, Keith (1995). Swindon: the Legacy of a Railway Town. London: HMSO, pp 181.  
• Williams, Alfred (1915). Life in a Railway Factory. London: Duckworth. ISBN 978-0-905778-31-0.  

See also

• Locomotives of the Great Western Railway

External links

• STEAM museum
• Swindon's Railway Heritage
• Jobs on the Line - BBC TV documentary about Swindon Works and the redundancy threats in 1982
• Requiem for a Railway - Three-part BBC TV documentary from the mid-80s about Swindon Works and the closure