The Carriage and Wagon Works of the GWR at Swindon

The Great Western Railway at Swindon, with its highly skilled craftsmen, is world-famous. It has been written about and filmed countless times, and many of its old steam locomotives have been saved from the scrapyards and lovingly rebuilt to run again on heritage lines. But despite such affection, its skill in the construction and repair of the carriages and wagons has often been sadly overlooked. Rolling stock is essential for the operation of any railway and no doubt played a key role in the success of the GWR, transporting people and goods of all kinds across its extensive network. Retired GWR railwayman Ken Gibbs seeks to redress the balance and reveal for the first time exactly ‘how they did it’ – showcasing the history and work of the Carriage and Wagon Works at Swindon.