| WW2 steam train built by women takes to the tracks again after restoration Posted by CyclingSid at 18:42, 19th March 2025 |     |
Sounds like another reason to visit the Watercress Line
https://www.forcesnews.com/heritage/wwii/iconic-ww2-steam-train-built-women-takes-tracks-once-more
Not many ladies obvious in the restoration team.
| Re: WW2 steam train built by women takes to the tracks again after restoration Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:21, 19th March 2025 | |
To be fair, CyclingSid, in the detail of that article, it is made clear that the Watercress Line are making efforts to trace the women who built 'Canadian Pacific':
A search for the women of Canadian Pacific
Throughout the Second World War, while men were deployed, many women stepped into vital roles across the UK.
Initially, only single women aged 20 to 30 were called up but by mid-1943, nearly 90% of single women and 80% of married women were working in places such as factories, on farms or in the Armed Forces.
Women at Eastleigh Works were employed in various departments, such as machine shops, forges and sawmills.
They played a crucial role in supporting the war effort by building Merchant Navy Class locomotives, including the Canadian Pacific.
In the early stages of researching the history surrounding the iconic locomotive, project leader Dr Becky Peacock collected various stories and memories about Canadian Pacific, including those of Mr Asprey whose father was the foreman of the machine shop at the time that Canadian Pacific was built.
By 1940, he was the only man working in the machine shop.
Throughout the Second World War, while men were deployed, many women stepped into vital roles across the UK.
Initially, only single women aged 20 to 30 were called up but by mid-1943, nearly 90% of single women and 80% of married women were working in places such as factories, on farms or in the Armed Forces.
Women at Eastleigh Works were employed in various departments, such as machine shops, forges and sawmills.
They played a crucial role in supporting the war effort by building Merchant Navy Class locomotives, including the Canadian Pacific.
In the early stages of researching the history surrounding the iconic locomotive, project leader Dr Becky Peacock collected various stories and memories about Canadian Pacific, including those of Mr Asprey whose father was the foreman of the machine shop at the time that Canadian Pacific was built.
By 1940, he was the only man working in the machine shop.
