The Swindon Railway Works 40 years on: A tale of two sides

The Works transformed Swindon from a small market town with a population of only 2,500 people into the fastest growing town in Europe. Most people from Swindon have a link to the Railway Works either having spent time there themselves or having family or friends who worked there. However, the vast use of asbestos at the Works has also left a legacy of illness, and a community disproportionately impacted by mesothelioma, an incurable cancer. 

In 1835 parliament approved the construction of the Great Western mainline between London and Bristol by the Great Western Railway (GWR). Isambard Kingdom Brunel was appointed as Chief Engineer. In 1837, Daniel Gooch was appointed to take on oversight of the repair of locomotive stock, and to do this GWR needed a central repair works. In 1840 Gooch identified a site close to Swindon and in 1841 set about the huge task of establishing the Railway Works which were built by JD and C Rigby, and the now infamous workshops designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The works became operational on 2 January 1843, the start of almost a century and a half of the building, repair and maintenance of steam locomotives and diesel trains in the town.  

A railway village was subsequently developed, providing homes for workers, and medical and educational facilities for them and their families. In addition to locomotive building, the production of goods wagons also began and by 1867 the Works became the central workshop for the construction of carriages and wagons. The expansion progressed rapidly. Joseph Armstong took on the task of improving passenger stock and by 1878 it was necessary to build separate wagon works on land north of the station.  

However, the heyday at the works came decades later. In the first half of the 20th century the boiler making abilities improved as did the facilities for working heavy steel metal. In 1927 the King Class was introduced and became the flagship of the GWR fleet. An estimated 14,000 people were employed at the Works and ‘A Shop’ the main locomotive and fabrication workshop was vast spanning 11.25 acres, one of the largest covered workshops in the world! 

1948 saw the nationalisation of the industry and job losses but even then, the Works are reported to have still been producing around 60 locomotives a year and a huge number of steam engines. In 1960 the decision was made to move from steam power to diesel which brought with it change but also new opportunities with experimental diesel-powered locos being designed and produced. The Works later became the southern regional hub for the storage and scrapping of steam locos and rolling stock and a repair facility. 

The use of asbestos at the Works was rife in the era of steam power. Used as thermal insulation known as ‘lagging’ on boilers and pipework, and later to insulate train carriages for fire protection. Asbestos had a whole host of other uses from materials used in the fabric of the workshops at the vast site, to use in components in presses and machinery, to insulation boards and floor tiles used in the carriages. Many workers have told stories of ’snowball’ fights with asbestos, and say that it was difficult not to come in to contact with asbestos in some way, shape or form over the years.

As the 1980s arrived, the Works were subjected to constant cuts and impacted by the uncertainty in the British Railway industry generally. Locomotive building was outsourced and railway workshops closed. Maintenance work was now undertaken at Crewe and Derby instead. Despite protests from locals and a fight against the closure, the Works could not be saved.  1,100 people were still employed at the Works when it closed on 26 March 1986. The hooter fell silent. The end of an era.

Some workers stayed to help with the wind down operations for a year or two longer. One of those men was Roy who has fond memories and many anecdotes to tell about his 35 year career at the Works. From starting as an office boy at the age of 15 in 1952 for the Outdoor Carriage and Wagon Manager, then undertaking an apprenticeship in fitting, turning and erecting to eventually leaving the Works in 1987 after helping with the closure operations. Roy still has his works number fob on his keys, something he holds dear.

However, like so many Roy’s story doesn’t end there. Sadly, in his 80s he started to experience breathlessness and began to struggle with day-to-day activities. A consultation with the GP led to a referral for a chest x-ray, CT scan and lung function tests which revealed fibrosis in his lungs, later diagnosed as ‘asbestosis’.

Roy was not surprised. He has lost many former workmates over the years due to mesothelioma and asbestos disease, caused by exposure to asbestos. Roy is not alone. Due to the extensive use of asbestos at the Works, Swindon has been disproportionately impacted and has become a ‘hotspot’ for asbestos disease, with mesothelioma, the incurable cancer caused by asbestos, becoming known locally as ‘The Swindon Disease’.

We also acted for the family of John who joined the Works in 1945 completing his apprenticeship in 1952. After undertaking National Service, he returned to the Works again in 1962 working in the Coach Finishing Department undertaking repairs and refurbishment to carriages which included removing the ceiling panels which revealed asbestos which had been sprayed to fireproof the carriages. John left the Works but returned again in 1980 until the Works closed. In the 1990’s John was diagnosed with pleural plaques – scars on the lining of the lungs caused by asbestos. He was told there was a risk he could develop another asbestos disease in the future. John gladly remained well for many years to come but lived with the knowledge that he had asbestos in his lungs. Then in 2017 he became unwell. Following his death a postmortem was undertaken by the coroner revealing he had developed and died from mesothelioma.  

(John pictured front row, third from the left)

Peter was born in Swindon and undertook an apprenticeship in fitting and turning at the Works, frequently coming in to contact with asbestos dust whilst working in the Stamping Shop stripping down steam powered hammers and presses. After completing his apprenticeship, he undertook National Service but returned afterwards where he continued to work in fitting, erecting and boiler making. Peter left the Works in 1960 and was not exposed again to asbestos during his career. However, these years at the Works and exposure to asbestos sadly would lead to Peter being diagnosed with mesothelioma more than 50 years later. A devoted family man, he bravely attended our Action Mesothelioma Day ceremony in Queens Park in July 2017. 

(Peter and his family on Action Mesothelioma Day 2017)