A LONG out of print railway enthusiasts’ bible is among the GWR memorabilia in the Swindon Advertiser archive.

GWR Engines was published in 1938 and lists every current and obsolete series of steam locomotives.

The oldest Swindon-built machine mentioned was built in 1855, while the earliest whose photograph appears in the book is the Duke of Cornwall, which was built in 1895.

Each class is illustrated not just with photographs but also with engineering drawings marked with the dimensions of each engine.

A chapter devoted to Swindon begins: “The Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway comprise one of the largest railway establishments for the construction and repair of locomotives, carriages and wagons in the world, and since the acquisition of the earliest engines for opening the railway in 1838 (with but few exceptions) all the locomotives of the Great Western Railway have been constructed there.

“The works are situated on both sides of the main line to Bristol and the West of England, and give employment to about 12,000 men.

“The Locomotive Works include Fitting, Erecting, Boiler-making and Machine Shops; Iron and Brass Foundries, Smiths’, Stamping, Tinsmiths’ and Coppersmiths’ Shops.”

According to the book, the Works averaged two completely new locomotives per week and was capable of repairing up to 1,000 per year.

Another chapter is devoted to locomotive speeds, and reveals that passengers travelling between Swindon and Paddington in 1938 could expect to complete the 77.25 mile journey in 77 minutes at an average speed of 60.2mph.

The 118.25 miles between Paddington and Bristol were generally covered in 105 minutes at an average of 67.6mph.

The many photographs include a front view of 6000 King George V, complete with the bell presented by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company when the loco visited America for an exhibition marking the railroad company’s centenary in 1927.

There is also a close-up of a commemorative medal struck to mark the occasion.

Other GWR books are listed at the back of GWR Engines as well as a jigsaw puzzle - “The Famous GWR Jigsaw Puzzle” – which showed old and new locos.

It cost five shillings, the equivalent of 25p in decimal currency, and had 400 pieces.

Original copies are quite rare as most were read to shreds by the enthusiasts who bought them, but copies of a 1981 reprint can be found online for as couple of pounds.