The Swindon Works
    Establishments for the constructlion and repair of locomotives, carriages, and wagons
  throughout the world. The Works were under the control of the Great Western Railway Company's 
 Chief Mechanical Engineer, Mr. C. B. Collett, O.B.E., J.P., M.Inst. C.E., M.I.1Mech. 
 who was responsible for the supervision of all mechanical and elecctrical engineering
 work throughout the system. The total staff employed in this department is normally 
 about 40,000. To Mr. Collett belonged the distinction of having designed the famous
 "CaStle" and "King" classes of locomotives.
   The Works are divided into three sections, Locomotive, Carriage, and Wagon, and together
 they cover an area of 323 acres, of which 73 are roofed.
   In addition to the construction and repair of locomotives,carriages, and wagons, a great
 variety of miscellaneous work was done at Swindon, including large quantities of cagtings,
 forgings, etc., for other departments and repairs to pumping and hydraulic machinery.
   The machinery as a whole was driven elecctrically, power being obtained from the Swindon
 Corporation Power Station, the Great WeStern Railway Company's maximum demand being
 approximately 45 per cent. of the total demand on the Station.
   During the Great War of 1914-1918 immense quantities of munitions were made in the Swindon
 Works, including the complete manufaCture of guns, shells, fuses, bombs, etc., together
 with parts for submarines, parsvanes, howitzers and mines. A large quantity of toluol was
 also produced for use in the manufacture of the T.N.T. explosive. Great WeStern Railway 
 Engines, ambulance trains, and wagons were a familiar sight in all fields of British
  operations abroad.