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Break of Gauge at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, 6th June 1846. Artist: WJ Linton
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Break of Gauge at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, 6th June 1846. Artist: WJ Linton
Break of Gauge at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, 6th June 1846. Plate taken from the Illustrated London News (6 June 1846) showing passengers and luggage being transferred from broad gauge to narrow gauge carriages at Gloucester station, on their way to Birmingham. Narrow gauge became the uniform railway line gauge nationally. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the engineer of the Great Western Railway (GWR) had laid broad gauge track, meaning that passengers on the GWR had to be transferred to trains that ran on narrow gauge where necessary
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Media ID 14862812
© Oxford Science Archive / Heritage-Images
Baggage Brunel Carrying A Burden On Ones Shoulders Carrying A Heavy Load Chaos Disruption Disruptive Gauge Gloucester Gloucestershire Great Western Railway Irritation Isambard Kingdom Isambard Kingdom Brunel Linton Luggage Oxford Science Archive Passenger Passengers Porter Railway Station Railway Track Signpost Station Train Station Transfer Wj Linton Illustrated London News Inconvenience Metaphor
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the historic "Break of Gauge at Gloucester" on 6th June 1846, an event that marked a significant turning point in railway transportation. Artist WJ Linton beautifully depicts the scene from a plate taken from the Illustrated London News, showcasing passengers and their luggage being transferred from broad gauge to narrow gauge carriages at Gloucester station. During this era, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the brilliant engineer behind the Great Western Railway (GWR), had laid down broad gauge tracks. As a result, passengers traveling on GWR trains often faced inconvenience when transferring to narrow gauge lines for certain destinations like Birmingham. This image vividly portrays the chaos and disruption caused by this break of gauge system. The monochrome composition adds depth and metaphorical significance to this historical moment. The black-and-white tones symbolize both the uniformity of railway lines across England after narrow gauge became standardized nationally and also reflect the challenges faced by both passengers and porters during these transfers. Through this print, we can sense not only irritation but also resilience as individuals carry heavy loads upon their shoulders while navigating through Gloucester station. It serves as a powerful reminder of how progress sometimes comes with inconveniences that must be overcome for greater advancements in travel and transport.
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