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Mobile emergency canteen at Paddington Station, during WWII

Mobile emergency canteen at Paddington Station, during WWII


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Mobile emergency canteen at Paddington Station, during WWII

Paddington station in 1943 and a shot of the mobile emergency canteen, which was used to feed station staff, APR wardens, firemen and other staff who were active during the night when the station canteen was closed. The canteen was usually manned by a driver and a female attendant and was designed as a mobile unit so that it could move from place to place, where it was most needed when air strikes affected station or depot facilities. This mobile trailer canteen was designed in the Road Transport Department Drawing Office at Slough and built at Swindon Works, and was designed with adaptable couplings so that it could be attached to any of the Companys articulated tractors. The canteen was fully equipped with water supply, cooking facilities, tea urn and storage space for emergency stocks of dried food

STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

Media ID 14547100

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

1940s 1943 Paddington Refreshment Station Wartime World War Ii Canteen


FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS

> STEAM Museum of the GWR > People > War Workers

> STEAM Museum of the GWR > The Railway at War > Second World War

> STEAM Museum of the GWR > Stations and Halts > London Stations > Paddington Station


EDITORS COMMENTS
This print takes us back to the heart of World War II, specifically to Paddington Station in 1943. In this snapshot, we catch a glimpse of the mobile emergency canteen that provided much-needed sustenance for station staff, APR wardens, firemen, and other dedicated individuals who tirelessly worked through the night when the regular canteen was closed. Manned by a driver and a female attendant, this ingenious mobile unit was designed to be flexible and adaptable during times of air strikes or disruptions to station facilities. Created at Swindon Works under the guidance of the Road Transport Department Drawing Office in Slough, this trailer canteen boasted versatile couplings that allowed it to be attached to any of the Company's articulated tractors. Equipped with essential amenities such as water supply, cooking facilities, tea urns, and storage space for emergency stocks of dried food, this mobile canteen served as a lifeline amidst chaos. Its presence ensured that those on duty could find solace in warm meals and comforting refreshments even during wartime challenges. As we gaze upon this remarkable image from STEAM Museum of GWR's collection, let us remember not only the bravery displayed by those working tirelessly behind-the-scenes but also appreciate how innovation played its part in supporting them during one of history's most challenging periods.

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