2. MILITARY MUSEUMS, EVENTS & LOCATIONS

RAILWAYS AT WAR

From the very start of the Second World War, the railways of Britain were prime targets for attack as they played a major role in the war effort.As the war progressed, an increasing strain was placed on the railway system with an ever increasing number of trains carrying troops,wounded, munitions, fuel and equipment rattled along the Big Fours tracks. Many special rolling stock vehicles were constructed including ambulances and converted wagons for carrying aircraft parts.The Southern Railway evacuated over 45,000 people between 1st -4th September 1939.This gallery with hopefully give an insight to the railways war effort. Also added to this gallery are various publications available regarding the railways during WWII.
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  • -peck_4

    -peck_4

  • ss_amsterdam

    ss_amsterdam

  • lees_well wagons

    lees_well wagons

  • crash_2

    crash_2

  • danger_uxb

    danger_uxb

  • reading_signal_works

    reading_signal_works

  • ATWAR_NOCK

    ATWAR_NOCK

  • atwar

    atwar

  • brits-wartime

    brits-wartime

  • springboard

    springboard

  • GRWatwar

    GRWatwar

  • GWR_WARTIME

    GWR_WARTIME

  • lms

    lms

  • locos

    locos

  • SOUTHERN_1

    SOUTHERN_1

  • SOUTHERN_2

    SOUTHERN_2

  • factsabout

    factsabout

  • wartime

    wartime

  • WARTIME_RAILWAYS

    WARTIME_RAILWAYS

  • WAR_DEPT-LOCOS

    WAR_DEPT-LOCOS

  • WAR_PRODUCTION

    WAR_PRODUCTION

  • LNER class K3 2-6-0 locomotive No.4674 'Loch Archaic' at Edinburgh, St Margarets Depot during the 1940s being cleaned by women cleaners.

    LNER class K3 2-6-0 locomotive No.4674 'Loch Archaic' at Edinburgh, St Margarets Depot during the 1940s being cleaned by women cleaners.

  • 8th November 1940 after the attack on Loughborough Junction after two bombs hit the London end of the island platform. It took until early January 1941 for full services to resume as the viaduct supporting Canterbury road jct was seriously damaged.

    8th November 1940 after the attack on Loughborough Junction after two bombs hit the London end of the island platform. It took until early January 1941 for full services to resume as the viaduct supporting Canterbury road jct was seriously damaged.

  • Just East of Royal Pier, Southampton was the location for this temporary rail connection that allowed the loading of rail wagons on and off ships. This was installed during the allied build up to DDay.

    Just East of Royal Pier, Southampton was the location for this temporary rail connection that allowed the loading of rail wagons on and off ships. This was installed during the allied build up to DDay.

  • 20th February 1944, one of the locomotives damaged in the Nine Elms raid.

    20th February 1944, one of the locomotives damaged in the Nine Elms raid.

  • Nine Elms depot 20th February, 1944.

    Nine Elms depot 20th February, 1944.

  • Another image of the Peckham Rye UXB from late December 1940.

    Another image of the Peckham Rye UXB from late December 1940.

  • This is from a series of images showing a team removing an unexploded bomb from the line at Peckham Rye, Late December 1940.

    This is from a series of images showing a team removing an unexploded bomb from the line at Peckham Rye, Late December 1940.

  • This is a former LNER vessel, SS Amsterdam who was converted into a hospital ship in 1939 and was subsequently lost off the cost of Dunkirk in 1944.

    This is a former LNER vessel, SS Amsterdam who was converted into a hospital ship in 1939 and was subsequently lost off the cost of Dunkirk in 1944.

  • There remained a substantial British force in France after Dunkirk. Large numbers of support troops were making their way to the western-most ports to find a route home. The 51st Highland Division had been fully engaged, fighting a defensive battle under French Command. This force made their way to the small French port of St Valery-en-Caux where an attempt was made by the Royal Navy to evacuate them. This image shows SS Roebuck at Penarth for repairs after the St Valery raid on 13th June 1940.

    There remained a substantial British force in France after Dunkirk. Large numbers of support troops were making their way to the western-most ports to find a route home. The 51st Highland Division had been fully engaged, fighting a defensive battle under French Command. This force made their way to the small French port of St Valery-en-Caux where an attempt was made by the Royal Navy to evacuate them. This image shows SS Roebuck at Penarth for repairs after the St Valery raid on 13th June 1940.

  • One of four trains used to patrol the Southern region seen here at Wadebridge 2nd May 1940. Three other locations were Canterbury, Tonbridge and Barnstaple.Former great eastern armour plated locomotive 2-4-2T with running wagons either end with a pair of 20ton armoured trucks.As the treat of invasion deminished, these trains were out of action from the late summer of 1943.

    One of four trains used to patrol the Southern region seen here at Wadebridge 2nd May 1940. Three other locations were Canterbury, Tonbridge and Barnstaple.Former great eastern armour plated locomotive 2-4-2T with running wagons either end with a pair of 20ton armoured trucks.As the treat of invasion deminished, these trains were out of action from the late summer of 1943.

  • Feeding of men on return from Dunkirk.

    Feeding of men on return from Dunkirk.

  • During WWII, women took over core jobs in industry, replacing the men who were fighting overseas.This is Dunton Green Station 22nd April 1941 with women painters at work.

    During WWII, women took over core jobs in industry, replacing the men who were fighting overseas.This is Dunton Green Station 22nd April 1941 with women painters at work.

  • U.S. Army caterpiller cranes at Ordanace Dept, Tidwell, c.1944 loading war department crates onto LNER 20ton Plate wagons.

    U.S. Army caterpiller cranes at Ordanace Dept, Tidwell, c.1944 loading war department crates onto LNER 20ton Plate wagons.

  • Scrap for Salvage at what looks to be Hockley, Birminghm area.

    Scrap for Salvage at what looks to be Hockley, Birminghm area.

  • Great western railway fire brigade at Paddington Station 7th July 1940.

    Great western railway fire brigade at Paddington Station 7th July 1940.

  • Great western railway converted Iron Mink wagon used during the Salvage campaign.

    Great western railway converted Iron Mink wagon used during the Salvage campaign.

  • Pannier tank locomotive no.2785 and 4-6-0 no.6801 'Aylburton Grange' after the Newton Abbot raid in August 1940.

    Pannier tank locomotive no.2785 and 4-6-0 no.6801 'Aylburton Grange' after the Newton Abbot raid in August 1940.

  • These are aircraft propeller special wagons, 50 of which were constructed in May 1940.

    These are aircraft propeller special wagons, 50 of which were constructed in May 1940.

  • Petrol/oil train hauled by a Collett Goods 0-6-0 locomotive on Salisbury Plain. Part of the Allied build-up to D-Day.Location possibly Ludgershall or Bulford?

    Petrol/oil train hauled by a Collett Goods 0-6-0 locomotive on Salisbury Plain. Part of the Allied build-up to D-Day.Location possibly Ludgershall or Bulford?

  • This is Ealing air raid shelter, purpose -built for railway staff.

    This is Ealing air raid shelter, purpose -built for railway staff.

  • Modified for blackout conditions,Old Oak Common locomotive depots pickup.

    Modified for blackout conditions,Old Oak Common locomotive depots pickup.

  • Compton Sons & Webb factory, one of the anti-aircraft sites protecting Swindon Railway works.

    Compton Sons & Webb factory, one of the anti-aircraft sites protecting Swindon Railway works.

  • Lee/Grant Trainload of tanks awaiting possible shipment to the Soviet Union 1942. Location looks like Acton Yard.

    Lee/Grant Trainload of tanks awaiting possible shipment to the Soviet Union 1942. Location looks like Acton Yard.

  • U.S. Army M3 Lee tanks on GWR Well wagons, ''Somewhere in England' c1943.

    U.S. Army M3 Lee tanks on GWR Well wagons, ''Somewhere in England' c1943.

  • Hurricane in France on French National Railways.

    Hurricane in France on French National Railways.

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