Search Britain, Great Western Railway Company Staff Records

Each record includes a transcript and the option to view the original image. While details can vary for each record, you can expect to find a combination of the following facts:

• Name
• Year of appointment
• Appointment date
• Station
• Birth year
• Birth date
• Last year
• Last date
• Occupation

This collection originates from the RAIL 264 (Great Western Railway Company) series at The National Archives which contains registers of staff who were employed by the Great Western Railway Company.

The Great Western Railway Company (GWR) was one of Britain’s best known railway companies, which was founded in 1835 to connect London to Bristol and the west of England. The railway was designed by famous Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, whose ambitious engineering feats included bridges, viaducts and the Box Tunnel. GWR’s original network grew substantially, and would eventually serve much of southwest England and Wales, as well as routes towards the Midlands and further afield. In 1948, Britain’s railways were nationalised and the GWR became part of British Rail’s Western Region.

It’s identity and historic importance has nevertheless remained influential. GWR is remembered for its iconic steam locomotives and for helping to popularise mass tourism by carrying millions of holidaymakers from London to popular areas such as Cornwall and Devon.