The “Mecca” for diesel hydraulics – many of the ‘Warships’ and ‘Westerns’ were constructed and other hydraulics were maintained here, in the GWR tradition. On the few occasions I passed I savored every moment from when the sidings first appeared to when they faded out on the other side of the station. Even the sight of the scrap lines deserved riveting attention, even though they were indistinct, distant phenomena …
I saved this photograph for posterity – plausibly entitled GWR Loco 2131 & Engineering Staff? at Swindon, circa 1910 – as I thought it unlikely to otherwise survive. I’ve cleaned up minor blemishes on the focus of the picture, and left the scuff marks at the extremes as hints to its actual condition. Obviously a proud workforce, with rank distinctions maintained! 10####A01-SWW-STAFF-POSNG
The replica GWR broad gauge loco “NORTH STAR” is shown within the works at Swindon, as D8XX ‘Warship’ Class locomotives are built in the background in the late 1950s. Representing a historic original engine, “NORTH STAR” was mounted on a plinth as inspiration for works employees to emulate the standards of the Great Western Railway. 5####CT01-SWW-N_STR-PRESD
Daylight silhouettes the funnels of (left to right) 1640, 1658, 1371 and 1365 on 16th October 1958, as they sit around the turntable at one of Swindon’s roundhouses between turns. Below them are inspection pits; behind, the whitewashed brick walls of the shed; beside a cast-iron pillar; and above are lights and the boarding of smoke-extractors. 581016A01-SWI-S_LCO-PARKD
5399 occupies one of the inward roads as it runs light engine in a cutting near Swindon on a late afternoon. The impeccably defined centre path is mirrored by the neatness of the tracks, trenches, cable run and cut back vegetation of the sides of the cutting. 5####GI01-SWI-s5399-LIGHT
A loco I’d have loved to have seem – work-worn 1006 “COUNTY OF CORNWALL” waits outside Swindon Shed. By the gap in the façade it looks as if a vent has been removed and not infilled again; adding to the general appearance of neglect this Shed carried by now. Copyright: P Ransome Wallis. 5####BY01-SWW-s1006-PARKD
Looking as if it hasn’t turned a wheel for some time, ex-GWR 0-4-2 5815 is out of service at Swindon, boxed in against the stop blocks by a tender loco. Its paintwork is blistered from the sun and it displays a “cycling lion’ emblem over a painted patch. 5####BM01-SWW-s5815-SCRAP
North British-built ‘Warship’ diesel-hydraulic D600 ‘ACTIVE’ is in gleaming ex-works condition all-over green with grey roof, before the addition of the body side stripe and red buffer beam. The white headcode discs describe it as a Class 3 “perishables” train. 58###BE01-SWW—D600-PARKD
The ‘new work’ area in Swindon Works ‘A’ Shop where ‘Warship” Class locomotives are being built. D803 “ALBION” is believed to be the loco carrying ‘1’ on its buffer beam, and D804 “AVENGER” ‘2’ – the others may be D805 “BENBOW” and so on. 59###AE01-SWW-LOCOS-BUILT
A fine array of semaphores frames a Warship on the up ‘Bristolian’ as it enters Swindon Station on August 1959. The raised signal box gives the signallers a longer scan, towards the Works behind and into the station before it. Balks of timber are arranged on the platform end for relaying the adjacent track and a steam shunter waits recall in the background. 5908##B01-SWI-D8##-PAS_U
A string of Castle Class steam locos with name and numberplates removed are stored at Swindon on a misty morning, with D818 “GLORY” and a Hymek diesel nearby. In the background are workshops, running sheds, fuel tanks, crane and a water column. 6####CM01-SWW-STEAM-SCRAP
The victim of a front end “prang”, D6302 in original livery with centre louvres instead of later radiator grille rests at Swindon awaiting attention in February 1961 – it has yet to receive a yellow warning panel. Beside it is a steam age water column and behind the main lines. 610214A01-SWW-D6302-PARKD
Although at Swindon, this view of D6319 is similar to that I well remember of this engine parked a few tracks away from the entrance of Long Rock Depot on a couple of occasions. The loco has yet to receive small yellow warning panels on its front ends and is in original green livery with grey bodyside stripe. 61###AF01-SWW-D6319-PARKD
A 1961 view of a D8XX class diesel loco at Swindon. It doesn’t have the gloss of Brunswick Green, but does carry the grey bodyside stripe suggesting it is not in grey primer. Multiple points rods and signal wires are explained by an impressive array of semaphores. 61###AD03-SWI–D8##-PAS_D
D1000 is in the finishing stages of build, as enthusiasts look over it in Swindon Works on 10th September 1961. Either side of it are Warships having their headcode panels fitted, and spare parts of various types lie before it. Photo: John Ramsey. 610910A01-SWW-D1000-BUILD
The life-expired running sheds of Swindon are fronted by 4706 and another tender loco in September 1962 – the days of all being numbered. The chimneys to expel smoke from locos under cover dominate the roofline and modest lighting hangs from the lintels. 6209#AB01-SWW-s4706-PARKD
With an oozing steam pipe, 1013 “COUNTY OF DORSET” is parked outside Swindon shed with a D67XX, Hymek and Class 08 shunter, while smoke drifts towards it from a Manor. The buildings are in dilapidation with missing panels and window glass. 6####GU01-SWW-s1013-PARKD
‘Warship’ Class D825 “INTREPID” is parked next to W50057 at Swindon. The loco has yet to receive yellow ends, and although the unit has a band, the experimental white above the windscreens is already fading and will not be retouched but painted out. 620812A01-SWI–D825-PARKD
In green livery D838 ‘RAPID’ is parked at Swindon Works. It’s headcode panel seems to be missing a vertical strut and wheels are painted with test marks. I saw ‘RAPID’ fairly frequently at Penzance from 1969 to its demise, though most often sighted in maroon. 620812A01-SWW–D838-PARKD
D855 ‘TRIUMPH’ is parked near the Dean Street exit from the Swindon Works complex on a damp day in March 1966. It still wears presentable, but work worn, original livery with red nameplate background and white bodyside stripe. 660306A01-SWW–D855-PARKD
Sunlight floods Swindon running shed with light, casting 6000 “KING GEORGE V” and a ‘Warship’ diesel into semi shadow in the depths of the shed. Exhaust shields still hang from the roof structure and the brick floor has a few puddles at the front end. 6####AQ01-SWW-LOCOS-PARKD
D845 “SPRIGHTLY” passes through Swindon on the a through road under the passenger bridge on its way to Paddington – unfortunately the shutter speed was too slow to frieze the movement. In the background is the signal box and spire of a local church. 6####AD01-SWI–D845-PAS_D
D811 “DARING” with steam-era headcode boards on its front end races through Swindon with a non-stopping passenger train of chocolate and cream coaches in 1963. Behind it the station building appears to have been extended with a lighter brick portion, and before it, the base of a water crane suggests recent removal of that fixture no longer required in the diesel age. 63###AJ01-SWI–D811-PAS_D
Unmarked by the rain that has recently fallen on the platform paving, D842 “RESISTANCE” emerges from the gloom of the awnings. Its headcode letters are very neatly arranged and its “GWR” paint finish includes a shedplate fixed to the red buffer beam. 61###AD01-SWI–D842-PAS_U
D6334 and D845 “SPRIGHTLY” are parked up at Swindon – the Warship still in green livery, but weather-beaten, and D6334 in serif numeral blue. Piles of ballast and sleepers lie around; with the rusty stained corrugated roof and shed lintels they give a semi-derelict appearance. 690824A01-NTA-D6334-PARKD
Shunter D3361 with Hymek D7033 and Peak D39 outside the sheds at Swindon Works on 3rd June 1962. Their new paint finishes contrast with the pile of sleepers, weeds and debris before them as they wait in the sunshine to be recalled for duty. 620603A01-SWW-D7033-PARKD
A Baby Warship is parked before a line of 6-plank wagons, with what looks like Swindon railway workshops behind – though I can’t imagine what is to its left. D6340 has recessed split headcode boxes, displaying a westbound passenger service, a gaping hole in its side missing a grille, a casually applied tail light, and a hanging rather than suspended coupling. 6####IG02-UNK-D6340-PARKD
D7005 in two-tone green livery heads a train of maroon Mk I coaches. I saw several such ‘Hymeks’ in this paint finish, but they were in poor external condition, and it wasn’t until preservation times that I could really appreciate the appearance of these locos. 6####CV01-SWW-D7005-PAS_D
D830 “MAJESTIC” is at the end of its existence at the back of Swindon Works in the beginning of the 70s . “MAJESTIC” was one of the half dozen or so that ‘got away’ – withdrawn before my period of interest began. It looks like the best part of its nose has been removed at this stage of its decrepitude. along with nameplate, missing windows, access panels, etc. 7####GT01-UNK–D830-SCRAP
A “Blue Pullman” set rests at a deserted Swindon station – it has had the Pullman coat of arms on its front end covered by a yellow warning panel, but still looks very attractive. Cast iron columns prop up very heavy looking serrated-edged platform awnings. 65###AH01-SWI-PULMN-PAS_D
D866 ‘ZEBRA’ stands broadside to the camera, displaying overhead wires panels, the new rail alphabet numbering but with ‘D’ prefix retained, double logos and RA panel, but an old style shedcode. This was a BR promotional shot of 1968. 6809#AB01-SWW–D866-PARKD
824 and D7023, bereft of name or number and builder’s plates lie in a quiet corner of Swindon Works. The ‘Warship’ has a sign hanging from its coupling hook reading, ‘CLASS 42 D/H LOCOMOTIVE’, suggesting this is after some sort of public visit. On its buffer beam it still displays the double diamond symbols denoting multiple working. 740907A01-SWW-D_LCO-MNTCE
Bereft of its bogies and key components cannibalised for reuse, the shell of D6328 awaits its complete disposal at Swindon Works, In the background to the right – surprisingly, so long after eradication – is a steam engine boiler of similar fate. Photo: Norman Preedy. 7205#ED01-UNK-D6328-SCRAP
The dismantling yard at Swindon Works shows the hulk of 1063 with a cab before it – the hoist above is for removing heavy components as the locos are cut apart. The appalling diesel contamination of the soil follows the demise of broad gauge steam in 1890 and standard gauge steam of the 1950/60s. 7708#AA01-SWW-D1063-SCRAP
Two cannibalised Hymeks and a Warship await cutting in Swindon yard. I saw this sort of scene a few times when passing, although with so much to take in, from a moving train, the detail didn’t register very easily. It was surely unusual to see a Warship with intense blue livery as late as 1975. 75###AL01-SWW-HYMEK-SCRAP
A sight that bewildered me in early 1980 was this, seen from the main line running alongside the yards at Swindon Works. I have since learned that the numbered areas were marked out for cosmetic restoration (filling, smoothing and painting) by different individuals of the Diesel Traction Group. 80###AI01-SWW-D1015-SCRAP
818 “GLORY” is on display at Swindon Works, superficially complete, but internally missing vital components. Behind it is one of the Work’s buildings with water tank on top. Lasting years beyond its class mates, the loco sadly did not make preservation. 7####BH01-SWW–d818-PARKD
Looking resplendent in corporate livery, D1062 “WESTERN COURIER” is parked up in the display area by the turntable on the mainline side of Swindon Works. Its four battery box latches are all neatly aligned in yellow paint, matching the warning panel at the front of the machine. 750913A01-SWW-D10##-PAS_D
The BR flag flies from the administrative buildings of the world famous ‘Swindon Works’, viewed from the station area, with various vans and Mk1 coaches before it. Across the foreground are the mainline tracks to Bristol (left) and Paddington (right), with the curve into the background heading for Gloucester. A maintenance shed is the modern building to the left. 820922A01-SWW-BLDNG-VI_NW
The Eric Curnow Collection 