RAILSCOT | Great Western Railway

Great Western Railway

Dates

04/06/1838	Great Western Railway First part of Great Western Railway opened from Paddington [1st] to Maidenhead [1st] opened. Stations on this section at: Paddington [1st], Royal Oak, Westbourne Park, Acton, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell and Elthorne, Southall, Hayes and Harlington, West Drayton and Yiewsley, Iver, Langley, Slough, Burham, Taplow, and Maidenhead [1st] .
06/04/1839	Great Western Railway Cooke and Wheatstone 5 needle system electric telegraph installed between Paddington and Hanwell. This was the first commercial telegraph line (and in fact first commercial use of electricity) and the public were able to pay to send messages.
09/04/1839	Great Western Railway Electric telegraph completed from Hanwell to West Drayton. Later extended to Slough.
01/07/1839	Great Western Railway Maidenhead (Old) to Twyford opened. Stations on this section at: Maidenhead (New), and Twyford.
30/03/1840	Great Western Railway Twyford to Reading opened. Stations on this section at: Reading.
01/06/1840	Great Western Railway Reading to Steventon opened. Stations on this section at: Tilehurst, Pangborne, Goring & Streatley, Cholsey & Moulsford, Didcot, Steventon.
20/07/1840	Great Western Railway Steventon to Faringdon Road (now Challow) opened. Stations on this section at: Wantage Road, Challow.
31/08/1840	Great Western Railway Bristol (Old) to Bath opened. Stations on this section at: Bath, Oldfield Park, Saltford, Keynshaw & Somerdale, St Annes Park, and Bristol (Temple Meads).
17/12/1840	Great Western Railway Faringdon Road to Hay Lane (just west of Swindon) opened. Stations on this section at: Uffington, Shrivenham, Stratton Park Halt, Swindon, Hay Lane (But was this a station?).
31/05/1841	Great Western Railway Hay Lane to Chippenham opened. Stations on this section at: Wootton Bassett, Dauntsey, Malford Halt, Chippenham.
31/05/1841	Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway (Great Western Railway) Swindon to Kemble to Cirencester Town opened. Stations on this section at: Purton, Minety and Ashton Keynes, Oaksey Halt, Kemble and Cirencester Town.
30/06/1841	Great Western Railway Chippenham to Bath opened, Great Western Railway main line open throughout. Stations on this section at: Corsham, Box, Bathford Halt, Bathmapton.
12/06/1844	Oxford Branch (Great Western Railway) Didcot Junction to Oxford [1st] opened. Stations on this section at: Appleford Halt, Culham, Radley and Oxford [1st].
08/07/1844	Bristol and Gloucester Railway Standish Junction to Gloucester opened. The Great Western Railway had running powers from Standish Junction to Gloucester.
/ /1845	Bristol and Exeter Railway Great Western Railway Great Western considers buying the Bristol and Exeter which would be threatened by their planned direct London to Exeter line.
12/05/1845	Gloucester Branch (Great Western Railway) Kemble Junction to Gloucester opened
12/05/1845	Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway (Great Western Railway) Kemble to Gloucester (Standish Junction) opened. Stations on this section at: Tetbury Road, Brimscombe, Stroud and Stonehouse [Gloucestershire]. Standish Junction to Gloucester was owned by the Midland Railway.
07/11/1845	Bristol and Exeter Railway Great Western Railway Great Western^s take over offer refused by the smaller company.
/ /1846	South Wales Railway, Great Western Railway Great Western Railway to lease the South Wales Railway at 5%, if South Wales Railway completed to Fishguard.
23/10/1847	Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway (Great Western Railway) Broad Gauge line from Gloucester, Tramway Junction, to Cheltenham, Lansdown Junction, opened. Stations on this section at: Churchdown and Cheltenham. Gloucester to Cheltenham owned by the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway later owned by the Midland Railway.
23/10/1847	Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway (Great Western Railway) Cheltenham, Lansdown Junction, to Cheltenham St James station opened.
23/10/1847	Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway (Great Western Railway) Gloucester Avoiding Line (Millstream Junction to Barnwood Junction) opened.
01/11/1848	Basingstoke Branch (Great Western Railway) Reading, Southcot Junction, to Basingstoke opened. Stations on section at: Mortimer, Bramley and Basingstoke.
30/04/1849	Bristol and Exeter Railway Great Western Railway Great Westerns lease expires
08/10/1849	Windsor Branch (Great Western Railway) Slough to Windsor and the west curve at Slough opened.
/ /1850	Great Western Railway Starts to acquire coking coal, for locomotive coal coke ovens, from Great Western Colliery on the Dinas Branch (Taff Vale Railway).
/ /1854	Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Great Western Railway Shrewsbury and Chester Railway merged into the Great Western Railway.
/ /1854	Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway Wolverhampton Low Level station opened by the Great Western Railway.
16/01/1854	Great Western Railway Paddington New station, departure side, opened.
29/05/1854	Great Western Railway Paddington New station, arrival side, opened.
/ /1860	Great Western Railway Buys the Cilely Colliery near Tonyrefail and the Ely Valley Railway. (1860s).
02/08/1860	Ely Valley Railway Broad gauge line opened from Llantrisant on the South Wales Railway. The line is worked by the Great Western Railway.
/ /1861	Ely Valley Railway Great Western Railway takes a 999 year lease of the line.
07/06/1861	Llantrissant and Taff Vale Junction Railway Act passed for this Taff Vale Railway backed line. The line was promoted to stop expansion eastwards of the Great Western Railway backed schemes from Llantrisant. The line ran from Llantrisant Branch Junction, Treforest, to meet the Mwyndy Branch (Ely Valley Railway) at Maesaraul.
01/10/1861	Great Western Railway Third rail laid into London Paddington allowing standard gauge trains to enter the station.
01/07/1862	Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway Leased jointly by the London and North Western Railway, West Midland Railway and Great Western Railway.
/06/1863	Cowbridge Railway Agreement with the Great Western Railway to join South Wales Railway at Llantrisant rather than run to Maesaraul. Third rail laid from Llantrisant to Maesaraul Junction along the Mwyndy Branch (Ely Valley Railway).
13/07/1863	West Midland Railway, Great Western Railway West Midland Railway merged with Great Western Railway.
01/08/1863	South Wales Railway, Great Western Railway South Wales Railway amalgamated with the Great Western Railway.
01/02/1865	Vale of Neath Railway Great Western Railway works the line as part of its network.
/ /1867	Taff Bargoed Joint Line (Great Western Railway and Rhymney Railway) Agreement to build line from Nelson to Dowlais for hauling iron ore from Cardiff to the Dowlais Iron Works.
/ /1871	Rhymney Railway Connection made between the Rhymney Railway (at south facing Penalltau Branch Junction) to a west facing junction on the Taff Vale Extension. This gave access to the line as far west as Middle Duffryn Junction and also the Taff Bargoed Joint Line and Quakers Yard and Merthyr Joint Railway both of which were jointly owned by the Great Western Railway and the Rhymney Railway to compete with the Taff Vale Railway.
/ /1872	Swansea Canal Bought by the Great Western Railway.
01/08/1875	Monmouthshire Canal Tramway, Great Western Railway The Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company gives the Great Western Railway running rights over their system.
01/01/1876	Bristol and Exeter Railway Great Western Railway Great Western leases line
01/08/1876	Bristol and Exeter Railway Great Western Railway Great Western absorbs the Bristol and Exeter
/ /1877	Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway Extended south to Abersychan and Talywain station and Varteg Hill Colliery. A branch from Garndiffaith Junction ran to Golynos Junction on the Great Western Railway's Cwmffrwd Branch.
/ /1877	Halls Tramway Leased by the Great Western Railway.
01/08/1877	Taff Vale Railway Passenger trains transferred from Merthyr Plymouth Street to Merthyr High Street. Connection from Brandy Bridge Junction to Mardy Junction (Vale of Neath Railway) opened. The connection was joint Great Western Railway and Taff Vale Railway.
/ /1878	Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway Connection made from Llantarnam Junction to Cwmbran Junction on the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company line. Great Western Railway trains divert to main Newport station.
01/01/1878	East Somerset Railway Cheddar Valley and Yatton Railway (Bristol and Exeter Railway)Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway starts to run passenger trains from the Cheddar line through the Somerset and Dorset Railway^s Wells station to Witham.
01/05/1878	Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway Extension to Abersychan and Talywain opened to passengers. Track in the station was jointly owned by the London and North Western Railway and the Great Western Railway as the line met its Talwain Branch here.
/ /1880	Ely and Clydach Valleys Railway Merged into the Great Western Railway.
02/04/1880	Culme Valley Light Railway Great Western Railway Line sold to the Great Western.
01/08/1880	Monmouthshire Canal Tramway, Great Western Railway Act passed for merging the Monmouthshire into the Great Western Railway.
09/05/1881	Morriston Branch (Great Western Railway) Opened from Hafod Junction to Morriston.
/ /1882	Moss Valley Branch (Great Western Railway) Line opened from Moss to Moss Valley Junction
14/09/1882	Cardiff Riverside Branch (Great Western Railway) Opened by the Great Western Railway.
07/07/1884	Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Newport Railway First attempt to open new route. Train departs Pontypridd but is blocked by the Great Western Railway at Bassaleg Junction.
01/05/1885	Exe Valley Railway (Great Western Railway) Line opened by the Great Western. Built to standard gauge.
09/11/1885	Abbotsbury Branch (Great Western Railway) Abbotsbury opened
/ /1886	Severn Tunnel (Great Western Railway) Opened
22/03/1886	Llynvi Valley Extension (Great Western Railway) Abergwynfi opened
/04/1886	Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Newport Railway Owned section of track through Park Mile is opened to West Mendalgief Junction. Route authorised to east of existing lines, but is swapped with Great Western Railway for use of original westernmost route. Great Western Railway moves sideways onto new tracks.
01/04/1886	Quakers Yard and Merthyr Joint Railway (Great Western Railway and Rhymney Railway) Opened. The line connected to the Crawshays Private Railway and the Vale of Neath Railway at Merthyr. Joint Great Western Railway and Rhymney Railway.
28/06/1892	East Usk Branch (Great Western Railway) Powers to build East Usk Branch taken over by Great Western Railway.
/ /1894	Cardiff Riverside Branch (Great Western Railway) Converted for passenger use.
/ /1897	Minehead Railway Great Western Railway Minehead Railway absorbed by the Great Western Railway.
01/01/1899	Great Western Railway Takes over the Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Newport Railway^s Newport to Pontypridd passenger service.
/ /1900	Penllwyn Tramway, London and North Western Railway A new spur, west of Nine Mile Point, is opened to the Penllwyn Tramway by the owners, the London and North Western Railway to give access to Nine Mile Point Colliery. Formerly this tramway was accessible by a point west of Nine Mile Point and thus in Great Western Railway territory.
/ /1901	Devon and Somerset Railway Great Western Railway Devon and Somerset Railway absorbed by the Great Western Railway.
31/07/1902	Brynmawr and Western Valleys Railway Line taken over jointly by the London and North Western Railway and the Great Western Railway as the Nantyglo and Blaina Iron Company were asking too high a price to buy their private Nantyglo Iron Works to Brynmawr railway.
/ /1903	Ely Valley Railway Merged into the Great Western Railway.
02/11/1903	Roath Dock Branch (Great Western Railway, Cardiff Railway) Joint line opened from Pengam Junction to Queen Alexandra Dock, Cardiff.
05/06/1905	~Great Western Railway Aberderfyn Halt opened
/ /1911	Great Western Railway A Cwmtillery to Abertillery Milnes-Daimler bus service starts.
22/03/1915	~Great Western Railway Aberderfyn Halt closed
/ /1919	Great Western Railway Extends Newport to Pontypridd passenger service to Merthyr.
/ /1921	Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway Great Western Railway Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway merged with Great Western Railway.
/ /1921	Vale of Glamorgan Railway Merged with Great Western Railway.
19/08/1921	Railways Act Act passed to create London, Midland and Scottish Railway, London and North Eastern Railway, Great Western Railway and Southern Railway by grouping smaller companies into bigger units. This was due to financial problems the railway companies were having in the aftermath of the First World War.
/ /1922	#West Somerset Railway# Great Western Railway West Somerset Railway absorbed by the Great Western.
10/07/1922	Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Newport Railway Tram Road Motor Halt, Pontypridd, closed when the Great Western Railway arranges for Newport trains to use the Taff Vale Railway^s Pontypridd station.
/ /1923	Didcot Newbury and Southampton Railway Great Western Railway Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Junction Railway merged with the Great Western Railway.
18/07/1923	Swansea Harbour Trustees Vested in the Great Western Railway.
/ /1926	Great Western Railway Act passed to allow closure of the Barry Dock and Railways three miles of line from Phenrhos Lower Junction and Duffryn Isaf (the Rhymney Valley Branch). The Penrhos Viaduct, Penyrhoel Viaduct and Llanbradach Viaduct were to be demolished.
/ /1928	Taff Vale Extension Crumlin Viaduct re-plated by the Great Western Railway.
/ /1928	Great Western Railway Swansea North Dock closed.
/ /1930	Great Western Railway Connection made between Barry Dock and Railways (a north facing junction, just north of Tonteg Junction) to the Llantrissant and Taff Vale Junction Railway at a south facing junction just to the east of Tonteg Viaduct. The former Llantrissant and Taff Vale Junction Railway line between the junction just east on Tonteg Viaduct and Llantrissant Branch Junction is closed.
/ /1930	Llancaiach Branch (Taff Vale Railway) Railway between Nelson station and Nelson and Llancaiach on the Taff Vale Extension to be improved by the Great Western Railway to take passengers.
/ /1934	Railway Air Services London Midland and Scottish Railway London and North Eastern Railway Great Western Railway Southern Railway Imperial Airways Railway Air Services formed by the LMS, LNER, GWR, SR and Imperial Airways. Airport opened at Renfrew
01/10/1934	Somerset and Dorset Railway Great Western Railway The Great Western makes use of the Somerset and Dorset Railways Wells station (Priory Road)
19/05/1940	Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway The line is closed. It was used by the Great Western Railway briefly for storing spare stock.
23/10/1947	Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway (Great Western Railway) Gloucester T Line (Tramway Jnct - T Station) opened.
01/01/1948	British Railways Forth Bridge Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway London and North Eastern Railway Great Western Railway Southern Railway Britains railways are nationalised.
/ /1951	Quakers Yard and Merthyr Joint Railway (Great Western Railway and Rhymney Railway) Branch over the river to Merthyr Vale Colliery closed.
12/02/1951	Quakers Yard and Merthyr Joint Railway (Great Western Railway and Rhymney Railway) Closed to passengers.
01/12/1952	Abbotsbury Branch (Great Western Railway) Abbotsbury closed
22/11/1954	London and North Western Railway South Wales Freight services transferred to Great Western Railway routes.
13/06/1960	Llynvi Valley Extension (Great Western Railway) Abergwynfi closed
07/10/1963	#Tiverton and North Devon Railway# Exe Valley Railway (Great Western Railway) Dulverton to Tiverton (excluded) to Thorverton (excluded) closed.
16/03/1964	Cardiff Riverside Branch (Great Western Railway) Closed excluding Currans Siding.
15/06/1964	Taff Bargoed Joint Line (Great Western Railway and Rhymney Railway) Closed to passengers.
/ /1965	Taff Bargoed Joint Line (Great Western Railway and Rhymney Railway) Connected to Ocean Colliery and Taff Merthyr Colliery on closure of the Taff Vale Extension.
30/11/1966	Exe Valley Railway (Great Western Railway) Thorverton to Stoke Canon closed.
08/07/1968	Cardiff Riverside Branch (Great Western Railway) Curran^s Siding closed.
19/09/1997	Great Western Railway 7 people killed at Southall as a result of a collision between a First Great Western express train and a freight train. Following the crash 43011 is withdrawn, the first HST power car to be withdrawn.
05/10/1999	Great Western Railway 31 people killed at Ladbroke Grove when a local train over-runs a signal and crashes into a First Great Western express train.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

Paddington

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A nice souvenir of the last day of HSTs out of Paddington. I also fondly remember the round of applause from the crowd of enthusiasts after the last ...
Ken Strachan 18/05/2019

Heathrow Express EMU 332004 waits for departure on 5th April 2017 ...
Colin McDonald 05/04/2017

Somewhere to be bored? Authentic-looking sign upstairs by the Paddington pub (Mad Bishop and Bear). ...
Ken Strachan 23/03/2019

Out on the country end of Paddington station 08944 carries out some shunting in front of the signalbox while 31401 waits under Bishop^s Bridge Road to ...
John McIntyre /08/1985

4 of 54 images. more

Paddington [1st]

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Westbourne Park

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Ladbroke Grove Junction

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Old Oak Common East Junction

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See also
Old Oak Common East Junction to North Pole Junction (Great Western Railway)

Old Oak Common West Junction

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Old Oak Common to Northold Junction (Great Western Railway)

Acton Main Line

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First Great Western 166202 heads west through Acton Main Line on 25 July 2014. ...
Bill Roberton 25/07/2014

A Foster Yeoman stone train alongside Acton yard on 20 July 2005. ...
John Furnevel 20/07/2005

A maroon ^Western^ diesel hydraulic locomotive photographed shortly after passing through Ealing Broadway and approaching Acton Main Line in March ...
John Furnevel 18/03/1969

3 of 3 images.

Ealing Broadway

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Ealing and Shepherd^s Bush Railway
Ealing Broadway Branch (Metropolitan District Railway)

A westbound HST approaches Ealing Broadway at speed on the afternoon of 04 June 2011. ...
John McIntyre 04/06/2011

A westbound HST passes through Ealing Broadway station at speed on 26 January 1990. ...
John McIntyre 26/01/1990

A First Great Western Class 165 Networker calls at Ealing Broadway
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John McIntyre 04/06/2011

District Line, Central Line and main line trains stand together in the rain at Ealing Broadway station in July 2005. ...
John Furnevel 20/07/2005

4 of 24 images. more

West Ealing

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Greenford Loop (Great Western Railway)

387153 from London Paddington passing West Ealing station, on the GWR main line in west London, on 9th February 2019. ...
David Bosher 09/02/2019

Bombardier Aventra EMU 345013, from Hayes & Harlington to London Paddington, at West Ealing station on 9th February 2019. ...
David Bosher 09/02/2019

2 of 2 images.

Hanwell

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Greenford Loop (Great Western Railway)

Southall

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Great Western and Brentford Railway

A 387 leaves Southall station in full sun. ...
Rod Crawford 26/07/2018

Platform extension work in progress at Southall in April 2017. Quick grabshot from one of the Class 387 EMUs which currently have to use Selective ...
Colin McDonald 05/04/2017

BR Standard class 9F 2-10-0 92207 stands alongside ex-GW locomotives in the yard of its home shed at Southall on a dull and overcast day in the early ...
K A Gray //

Platform view west at Southall on 18 November 1980 as a train of tanks runs through the station. ...
John Furnevel 18/11/1980

4 of 15 images. more

Hayes and Harlington

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Platform widening and extension work in progress at Hayes & Harlington platforms 4 and 5 as part of the Crossrail project.
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Colin McDonald 05/04/2017

One of the 110mph GWR Class 387 EMUs which were introduced in September 2016 on Hayes & Harlington to London Paddington services waits in the recently ...
Colin McDonald 05/04/2017

Grab shot from a passing train on 23 October showing EWS liveried 66179 on a rake of Construction Sector aggregate hopper wagons being unloaded at ...
David Pesterfield 23/10/2013

3 of 3 images.

West Drayton

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31423 runs through West Drayton in November 1980 with a Paddington bound parcels train see image 42682. ...
John Furnevel 18/11/1980

A Brush Type 4 speeds through West Drayton in 1980 with a Bristol - Paddington express. ...
John Furnevel 18/11/1980

Class 47 with a train of 100t oil tanks westbound on the GW main line through West Drayton in November 1980. ...
John Furnevel 18/11/1980

A BR Western Region ^Express Parcels Service^ diesel unit that spent its days calling at stations between Paddington parcels depot and Reading in the ...
John Furnevel 18/11/1980

4 of 4 images.

Iver

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Langley [GWR]

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Slough [1st]

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Slough

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GWR liveried Turbo Express 166218 slows for the Slough stop with a Paddington to Oxford service on 27th January 2018. ...
Mark Bartlett 27/01/2018

GWR Electrostar 387135, seen from the new Slough footbridge, is on the rear of a westbound service on 27th January 2018. ...
Mark Bartlett 27/01/2018

A pair of nearly new Great Western Class 387 EMUs pull away from Slough heading for Paddington with a stopping service from Didcot on 27th January ...
Mark Bartlett 27/01/2018

Old building put to good use. What is now the Slough and Windsor Railway Society clubroom, facing the down side Windsor line bay platform 1 at ...
David Pesterfield 05/06/2013

4 of 6 images. more

Slough East Junction

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See also
Windsor Branch (Great Western Railway)

Slough West Junction

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Windsor Branch (Great Western Railway)

Burnham

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Taplow

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Brush Type 4 47143 heads for Paddington at speed in July 1981 taking eight MkI coaches through Taplow on the fast lines. 47143 was withdrawn from ...
Mark Bartlett 18/07/1981

50044 Exeter hurries a Paddington bound train through Taplow on the Up Slow line in 1981. Thankfully the former D444 was preserved and, over ...
Mark Bartlett 18/07/1981

A Pressed Steel Class 117 suburban DMU leaves the Up slow line platform at Taplow heading for Paddington in 1981. When these 1st generation units were ...
Mark Bartlett 18/07/1981

3 of 3 images.

Maidenhead,Maidenhead and Taplow,Taplow [1st]

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Maidenhead

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Wycombe Railway

FGW service from Paddington to Oxford calls at Maidenhead on 18 June 2009. ...
John McIntyre 18/06/2009

On the GWR main line west of Maidenhead a First Great Western HST heads towards Reading on 18 June 2009. ...
John McIntyre 18/06/2009

A westbound HST in full flight (or at least it felt like that) rushes through Platform 1 at Maidenhead on 18 June 2009. ...
John McIntyre 18/06/2009

3 of 3 images.

Twyford

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Henley Branch (Great Western Railway)

Platform scene at Twyford on 18 May as the 19.41 to Reading (right) crosses the 19.43 to Paddington. ...
Ken Strachan 18/05/2013

Aerial view of Twyford looking south west. The branch runs to Henley-on-Thames. ...
Ewan Crawford //

2 of 2 images.

Reading

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A Virgin Voyager forming a Southampton - Newcastle Central service stands at Reading in May 2002. ...
Ian Dinmore 24/05/2002

166214 forming a Paddington - Oxford ^Turbo Express^ service calls at Reading on 24 May 2002. ...
Ian Dinmore 24/05/2002

Thames Trains 166206 calls at Reading on 24 May 2002 with an Oxford - Paddington service. ...
Ian Dinmore 24/05/2002

Voyager 220-008 being readied for a trip up to Manchester, ex- Southampton Central. ...
Peter Todd 28/11/2016

4 of 58 images. more

Tilehurst

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Flying Scotsman whizzes through Tilehurst with the Cathedrals Express on 13th June 2017. Photo courtesy of Peter Caton. ...
Ken Strachan 13/06/2017

1 of 1 images.

Pangbourne

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The latest freebie on First Great Western HST^s: moving maps on seatback screens. It^s good to see railways adopting technology used by their ...
Ken Strachan 18/05/2013

1 of 1 images.

Goring Watertroughs

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Goring and Streatley

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Platform view north at Goring and Streatley station on 24 May 2002. [Ref query 2 June 2018] ...
Ian Dinmore 24/05/2002

A Virgin CrossCountry Voyager runs through Goring and Streatley in May 2002 heading north west towards Didcot. [Ref query 1657] ...
Ian Dinmore 24/05/2002

2 of 2 images.

Wallingford Road

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Cholsey

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Wallingford and Watlington Railway

Freightliner 66543 brings an eastbound container train through Cholsey on 21 April 2011. ...
Peter Todd 21/04/2011

Freightliner 66535 passing eastbound through Cholsey Station on 5 January with a container train. ...
Peter Todd 05/01/2012

Freightliner 66503 through Cholsey on 21 April with eastbound containers.
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Peter Todd 21/04/2011

EWS 66037 takes a freight through Cholsey on 4 April 2010 ...
Peter Todd 04/04/2010

4 of 8 images. more

Didcot Parkway

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Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Junction Railway

Freightliner 70005 on an eastbound train through Didcot in March 2017. ...
Peter Todd 15/03/2017

70003 heading a Freightliner from Bristol to London. ...
Peter Todd 15/03/2017

HST 125 43005 at Didcot on 27 July 2016 in the new GWR Colours... unfortunately the rest of the train wasn^t! ...
Peter Todd 27/07/2016

Freightliner 66414 eastbound through platform 4. ...
Peter Todd 16/06/2016

4 of 217 images. more

Foxhall Junction

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Steventon

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A First Great Western HST heads for Paddington at speed on 22 September. The train is pssing the site of Steventon station (closed 1964) to the west ...
John McIntyre 22/09/2011

1 of 1 images.

Wantage Road

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Challow

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DB 66020, stopped in the westbound loop at the site of the defunct Challow station, on 30th January 2020.
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Peter Todd 30/01/2020

GBRf 66707 stopped in the loop at Challow Station in February 2019. (Pity about the pylon). ...
Peter Todd 20/02/2019

GBRf 66707 ^Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway^ and its freight train are stationary in the westbound loop at Challow Station, to the west of Didcot, ...
Peter Todd 05/04/2019

DBS 66193 stands in the loop at the site of Challow Station with a train of steel empties, returning to Margam from Tilbury on 081015. ...
Peter Todd 08/10/2015

4 of 20 images. more

Uffington

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Faringdon Railway

Rail Operations Group 47815 ^Lost Boys 68-88^, and also with NHS logos, hauling a rake of condemned Mk 3 coaches past Uffington on 15th June 2020. ...
Peter Todd 15/06/2020

Freightliner 66523, eastbound near Uffington at 1150 hours on the 21st May 2020, with the Wentloog to Felixstowe intermodal service.
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Peter Todd 21/05/2020

Colas 70811 eastbound at Fernham, near Uffington, with the Westbury to Cliffe Hill Stud Farm stone/ballast train, running as (GBRf) 610E ZZ on 21st ...
Peter Todd 21/05/2020

GWR 800-004 westbound, with a Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, passing Uffington on 15th May 2020.
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Peter Todd 15/05/2020

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Shrivenham

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HST 125 43 036 eastbound, passing the long gone station site at Shrivenham on the GWML. ...
Peter Todd 17/06/2017

35028 Clan Line, at the head of an eastbound Belmond Pullman special at Shrivenham. Running 40 minutes late. ...
Peter Todd 16/05/2018

46233 ^Duchess of Sutherland^, leading the first leg of the Great Britain XII train from Paddington to Bristol and beyond, seen here approaching the ...
Peter Todd 27/04/2019

66536 heading an eastbound Freightliner through Shrivenham. ...
Peter Todd 16/05/2018

4 of 17 images. more

Stratton Park Halt

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Highworth Junction

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Swindon and Highworth Railway

66097 westbound approaching Swindon on 6th May 2017 with empty stone wagons heading for Whatley Quarry via Melksham & Westbury. ...
Peter Todd 05/05/2017

Taken on the eastern outskirts of Swindon, 34052 (aka 34046) & 46100 pass westbound light engine to Bristol as part of the Great Britain Experience. ...
Peter Todd 05/05/2017

34052 (aka 34046) & 46100 westbound light engines to Bristol as part of the Great Britain Experience. The line disappearing to the right is the stub ...
Peter Todd 05/05/2017

View west showing a selection of the various plant and equipment located at Highworth Junction GW electrification depot to the east of Swindon on 5 ...
Peter Todd 05/05/2017

4 of 4 images.

Swindon

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Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway (Great Western Railway)

Swindon had the pleasure of Tornado passing through enroute to Cardiff. Paddington-Reading-Swindon-Chippenham-Filton-Severn Tunnel-Cardiff. Passing ...
Peter Todd 01/03/2017

HST 43190 poised to head east. ...
Peter Todd 04/12/2015

A short trip to London on 22nd March 2019 had an eventful return journey. The 1345hrs from Paddington was cancelled at Swindon due to an ill passenger ...
Alastair McLellan 22/03/2019

Rebuilt Merchant Navy 35028 ^Clan Line^ taking water in Swindon station on 10th March 1999.
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Peter Todd 10/03/1999

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Rushey Platt Junction

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Wootton Bassett Road

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Wootton Bassett

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Wootton Bassett Junction

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South Wales and Bristol Direct Railway (Great Western Railway)

Dauntsey

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Malmesbury Railway

50002 Superb eastbound at Dauntsey on the GWR main line on 23 December 1983. The locomotive is currently being restored by the Devon Diesel ...
Peter Todd 23/12/1983

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Christian Malford Halt

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Chippenham

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Calne Railway

A Paddington bound HST calls at Chippenham on 18 October 2014. ...
John McIntyre 18/10/2014

A Paddington bound HST arrives at Chippenham on 18 October 2014. ...
John McIntyre 18/10/2014

An HST heading for Bristol on 10 October waits under the new footbridge under construction at Chippenham. For the original footbridge, which is still ...
Ken Strachan 10/10/2015

A westbound HST departs from Chippenham on 18 October 2014. The train is the 1252 First Great Western London Paddington - Bristol Temple Meads. ...
John McIntyre 18/10/2014

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Thingley Junction

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Thingley to Westbury (Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway)

Corsham

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Box (Mill Lane) Halt

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Box

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This sturdy new footbridge has just been completed at Shockerwick (near Box) between Bath (right) and Chippenham (left). The tall walls will doubtless ...
Ken Strachan 10/10/2015

They^re a bit keen on bridge rails down Somerset way see image 53123. These fine examples (there are at least four posts) hold up a fence near the ...
Ken Strachan 10/10/2015

Having regained the right line see image 42041, a London-bound HST clears Middle Hill tunnel and heads for Box tunnel on 9 February 2013. Although ...
Ken Strachan 09/02/2013

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Bathford Halt

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Bathampton

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Bradford Line (Frome, Yeovil and Weymouth Railway)

A 158 heading for Weymouth approaches the former station and Bathampton Junction past a rather decrepit looking hut on 30 March 2013. The A4 dual ...
Ken Strachan 30/03/2013

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Hampton Row Halt

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Bath Spa

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Everything you could possibly want to know about IET^s see image 61791 - except whether you will get a cold shower from the HVAC. ...
Ken Strachan 05/11/2017

Bath Spa station looking very welcoming on a cold dark November night. Compare to see image 37202 ...
Ken Strachan 02/11/2019

Transport interchanges are nothing new, you know. A selection of bicycles sheltering from the elements below the platforms see image 43555. View ...
Ken Strachan 08/11/2015

A Westbound HST curves into Bath Spa on 14th July 2018. ...
Ken Strachan 14/07/2018

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Oldfield Park

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The 15.23 to Paddington (time from Bath Spa) is about to pass Oldfield park at speed. Photo^ taken from road bridge adjacent to the S&D trackbed. See ...
Ken Strachan 05/03/2017

That bridge at Oldfield Park hasn^t been reshaped yet see image 54573, but the traction has been updated. 22nd April 2019. ...
Ken Strachan 22/04/2019

The first evening of the New Year, looking towards Bath Spa. For a daytime view see image 55059. ...
Ken Strachan 01/01/2017

Storm Desmond? What Storm Desmond? A Maritime liveried class 66 puts a brave face on being an hour late as it hauls a stone train from Banbury to ...
Ken Strachan 15/02/2020

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Tiverton-on-Avon

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Saltford

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Keynsham

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Doctor Day^s prescription for Hinksey Yard was to send it a train (631U) full of ballast. 66570 leans to the curve at Keynsham on 4th November 2018. ...
Ken Strachan 04/11/2018

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Keynsham Watertroughs

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North Somerset Junction

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Bristol Temple Meads [1st]

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Bristol Temple Meads station, 26th May, a very impressive station. This is the entry into the original passenger terminus. ...
Alan Cormack 26/05/2017

Brunel^s original train shed at Temple Meads in February 2013. The site is now used for car parking (with a �1 discount for parking outdoors!), but ...
Ken Strachan 10/02/2013

Bristol Temple Meads the original western terminus of the GWR. Note signalbox back right. ...
Ewan Crawford //

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Books

A History of the Great Western Railway

An Illustrated History of Great Western Diesel Railcars

Great Western Railway Then and Now

Great Western Railway: A History

The Great Western Railway Volume One: Paddington to Bristol: 1

The Great Western Railway: 150 Glorious Years (GWR)

Great Western Railway

Dates

Locations along the line

Paddington

Paddington [1st]

Westbourne Park

Ladbroke Grove Junction

Old Oak Common East Junction

Old Oak Common West Junction

Acton Main Line

Ealing Broadway

West Ealing

Hanwell

Southall

Hayes and Harlington

West Drayton

Iver

Langley [GWR]

Slough [1st]

Slough

Slough East Junction

Slough West Junction

Burnham

Taplow

Maidenhead,Maidenhead and Taplow,Taplow [1st]

Maidenhead

Twyford

Reading

Tilehurst

Pangbourne

Goring Watertroughs

Goring and Streatley

Wallingford Road

Cholsey

Didcot Parkway

Foxhall Junction

Steventon

Wantage Road

Challow

Uffington

Shrivenham

Stratton Park Halt

Highworth Junction

Swindon

Rushey Platt Junction

Wootton Bassett Road

Wootton Bassett

Wootton Bassett Junction

Dauntsey

Christian Malford Halt

Chippenham

Thingley Junction

Corsham

Box (Mill Lane) Halt

Box

Bathford Halt

Bathampton

Hampton Row Halt

Bath Spa

Oldfield Park

Tiverton-on-Avon

Saltford

Keynsham

Keynsham Watertroughs

North Somerset Junction

Bristol Temple Meads [1st]

Books

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