Carriages and Wagons Gallery

First Class Compartment of Composite Carriage

Cornish Riviera/Torbay Ltd stock. Built 1929 to diagram No E137

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

Carriage, E137, First Class

Carriage No. 4329 from US General Dwight D. Eisenhowers ‘Alive train in 1942

One of the most important areas in which the GWR was asked to support both the war effort and the US army was in the provision of what was codenamed the ?Alive train which was to be used by the US General Dwight D. Eisenhower whilst in Britain making preparations for the invasion of Europe. Much secrecy surrounded both the make up and the operation of this train, although some details have emerged during the years following the war, and we know that carriage No. 4329, featured in this image, was one of the sleeping coaches from the ?Alive train. It is understood that the order for the train was issued in June 1942 and that many additions and improvements were subsequently made over the following years, so making the train a fully equipped and self-contained vehicle from which General Eisenhower and his team could operate. During the latter years of the war the ?Alive train travelled extensively around Britain, and in December 1944, fully equipped with bullet proof glass, the train was shipped overseas where it operated throughout France and on many occasions travelled close to the enemy line

Macaw B railway wagon No. 84350 loaded with gun carriages at Swindon Works, c.1915

Macaw B railway wagon No. 84350 has been photographed here loaded with 2 gun carriages awaiting dispatch from Swindon Works. The Macaw B was the GWR's standard bogie bolster wagon which, in normal service, was generally used to transport timber. During the war many of these wagons were requisitioned for military use, as shown by the writing along the side of the wagon specifying ?for military purposes only'; and where necessary, modifications and truss strengthening took place in order to accommodate abnormally heavy loads

© STEAM Museum of the GWR