The GWR Story

Rosa Matheson

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780752456249
• eBook ISBN: 9780752485041
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Rail Transportation
• Index: Technology & Engineering

The Great Western Railway – quickly coming to be known as 'God's Wonderful Railway' – was once regarded as the most advanced in the world. Engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel it was initially designed to connect Bristol to London and came to develop a distinct character all of its own, one of the many reasons why it remains a much-loved and popular area of interest. This book traces its history covering topics such as the company, its engines and carriages, its engineers – including Gooch, Dean, Armstrong, Collett, Churchward and of course Brunel – as well as the battle of the gauges. Full of little-known facts and figures and with numerous photographs and memorabilia as well as a timeline, it is a tale full of record breakers and mighty achievements waiting to be retold to a modern age.

TIMELINE AND MILESTONES

1833

(21 January) Business men of Bristol meet to discuss possibility of a Bristol to London Railroad

(7 March) Isambard Kingdom Brunel appointed as engineer to survey the route.

(19 August) First joint meeting of Bristol and London Committees. Title ‘Great Western Railway’ adopted.

1834

(25 July) GWR Bill rejected on grounds of ‘insufficient means’. New prospectus issued to raise more funds.

1835

(31 August) Great Western Railway Act passed by Parliament. This does not stipulate the gauge width!

(29 October) Birth of the broad gauge. Directors resolved that ‘the embankments, bridges and other works to be constructed of such dimensions as to admit rails being laid to the extreme width proposed by Mr Brunel, viz., 7ft’ (¼ inch added for expansion).

1836

Work commenced.

1837

(18 August) Daniel Gooch appointed Locomotive Superintendent.

1838

First GWR train ran as a ‘Director’s Special’, hauled by the engine North Star.

1839

(1 July) Maidenhead–Twyford section opened.

1840

Much of the line completed, only Swindon–Bath section remaining.

(16 December) line reached Swindon.

1841

(30 June) London-Bristol line fully opened. First train ran from Paddington to Bristol in 4 hours. Network had 170 miles of broad gauge track.

1843

(2 January) Swindon Works opened for business.

Brunel’s great iron ship SS Great Britain launched in Bristol.

1845

‘Break of Gauge’ controversy instigates Gauge Commission.

1846

(February) First complete engine to be built by the company – Great Western – completed.

Gauge Commission finds in favour of the ‘narrow’ gauge 4ft 8 ½ins. This becomes the ‘standard’ gauge for all new railways.

1847

GWR Medical Fund Society started in Swindon.

1848

(14 June) Swindon Works ‘Trip’ commenced.

1854

GWR absorb the Shrewsbury & Chester Railway, acquiring standard gauge locomotives and rolling stock.

1855

First ‘narrow’ gauge locomotive built at Swindon.

First ‘Special Postal’ train run by GWR.

1859

(2 May) Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash, designed by Brunel, is opened.

1866

(November) Daniel Gooch becomes Chairman of the Board.

1871

Powers granted by Parliament for GWR to operate ships.

1874

Work begins on the Severn Tunnel

1875

The vacuum brake employed on passenger rolling stock. This was a safety system that applied a train’s brakes if it passed a danger signal.

1877

Last broad gauge branch line opened to St Ives.

1886

The Severn Tunnel opens – Britain’s longest underwater mainline tunnel.

1892

First corridor train with toilet facilities runs.

(21–22 May) Last of the broad gauge changed to standard gauge.

1895

Compulsory ten-minute stop at Swindon Station ended when GWR bought back the catering concession.

1903

(10 March) First non-stop run between Paddington and Plymouth via Bristol with the Royal Special.

(17 August) Start of GWR's own road motor services.

1904

City of Truro becomes first locomotive in the world to reach 100mph.

1906

First use of ‘Automatic Train Control’ (ATC) during trials on the Henley branch line. Further trials carried out in 1908 (Paddington–Reading) and in 1909, after satisfactory trials on Lambourn section the GWR gave the go-ahead to introduce it throughout the system.

(17 March) Old Oak Common locomotive shed opened.

1914

(4 August) War declared. Government takes control of the railways.

1923

(1 January) All the railways are grouped into the ‘Big Four’. The GWR was the only company to keep its own name and structure.

1933

(12 April) Introduction of air services from Cardiff to Torquay and Plymouth.

(4 December) GWR pioneered the use of diesel traction in the UK and introduced it in their fast railcars.

1934

(July) Introduction of the new GWR roundel.

1935

(31 August) GWR Centenary.

Introduction of ‘The Bristolian’.

1939

The Second World War begins – Government takes control of railways again.

1946

The first oil-fired GWR locomotive appears and trials begin on gas-turbine propulsion.

1948

(1 January) Nationalisation of British railways.

(5 March) Last Board meeting of the Great Western Railway Company.

Did you know?

NEW LIMBS!

The GWR had a special workshop in Swindon Works that made artificial wooden limbs for those who lost their own in the service of the company. The first was probably in 1878 when an unfortunate man named Harris was run over by a train and had to have his legs cut off. Fortunately for Harris, he was a member of the Medical Fund Society who ordered him ‘a pair of legs with sockets’ – an engineering masterpiece. All limbs were customised to suit the individual’s needs and interests and by the 1930s some 4,000 limbs had been issued.

Did you know?

MEDI...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements and Introduction
• The Company
• The ‘Battle of the Gauges’
• Great Western Railwaymen
• ‘7 Wonders’ of the Great Western Railway
• ‘Firsts’ and ‘Record Breakers’
• Shipping Services
• Timeline and Milestones
• Sources