True stories from the GWR footplate during the years 1939-45.

INTRODUCTION.

                          AT THE START OF THE 1939-45 WAR, WHILE STUDYING AT COLLEGE, THE AUTHOR WAS CALLED UP AT 16 YEARS OLD, TO BE TRANSFERRED TO WAR WORK IN A RESERVED OCCUPATION. HE WAS DIRECTED TO THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY WHERE HE SERVED FOR 7 YEARS ON THE LOCOMOTIVE FOOTPLATE UNTIL HE WAS RELEASED IN 1947 WHEN HE WAS ABLE TO RESUME HIS STUDIES.

ALL STORIES IN THIS BOOK ARE TRUE HAPPENINGS THAT HE EXPERIENCED DURING THIS PERIOD.

AUTHOR A.T. FAULTLESS. IEng MIMech IE.

This is a collection of short stories by a ex- GWR fireman during the war years 1939-45 "True stories of the GWR footplate" below is a list of the stories which can be downloaded individually or as one. They are in Word format, if required in any other format please email and let me know and i will do my best to get them to you. If you enjoy reading these stories  please email me with your comments so that i can pass them on to the author (email address at the bottom of the page). These stories were originally going to be published as a short book but due to the high publishing costs on a short run the author decided against it, they were then given to me to have a read of and i was given permission to put them on this website for all to read.

All stories are © copyright of the Author A.T FAULTLESS

  Cover and Introduction.   195kb.                                                                                                                                                   

                                          Picture of Old Oak Common turntable and The start of things to come.    370k                

                                          Signals.    182kb.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                          GWR - Promotion to steam engine driver.    26.5kb.                                                                                             

                                          My first trip on the GWR footplate.    1.99mb.                                                                                                                

                                          Gonna ride on the engine.    30.5kb.                                                                                                                                       

                                          The diminishing long tom.    5.18mb.                                                                                                                                      

                                          6000 King George V - Pride of the GWR.    36kb.                                                                                                  

                                          The kleptomaniac.    201kb.                                                                                                                                                                 

                                          Straight back.    32.5kb.                                                                                                                                                                         

                                          The crash.    234kb.                                                                                                                                                                            

                                          It was all in a days work.    37.5kb.                                                                                                                                             

                                          Fireworks on the Oxford to London express.    30kb.                                                                                            

                                          The officers mess.    27kb.                                                                                                                                                                  

                                          Conversion to oil burning.    32kb.                                                                                                                                               

                                          Going Royal.    27.5kb.                                                                                                                                                            

                                          General Lee.    25.5kb.                                                                                                                                                      

                                All the above stories in one download.    Download size 8.5 mb.