Science Museum Group Photographic Collection

Photographs, a collection of approximately 11,450 silver gelatin glass negatives, predominantly 6½ x 4¾ ins and 8½ x 6½ ins, but also 12 x 10 ins to 20 x 16 ins, and 24 negatives at 30 x 20 ins. Also approximately 1,050 cellulose nitrate and triacetate safety negatives, 35 mm to 3½ x 2½ ins and 24 boxes of prints.

Featuring construction and repair of locomotives, carriages and wagons for the Great Northern, London & North Eastern and British Railways, together with road vehicles, munitions manufacture during First World War, people, events, c1896-1967. The collection includes the work of Bagshaw & Son and official photographers based at Doncaster Works. Complete with four registers. Known as the Doncaster Works Collection.

This collection of glass and film negatives and prints is the work of Bagshaw & Son and official photographers based at Doncaster Works. It features construction and repair of locomotives, carriages and wagons for the Great Northern, London & North Eastern and British Railways, together with road vehicles and munitions manufacture during the First World War. The twenty four 30 inch by 20 inch negatives in this collection are possibly the largest negatives in the Science Museum Group collection.

Construction of a locomotive and carriage works for the Great Northern Railway Company began at two sites in Doncaster in 1853, and in 1889 these were followed by a wagon works a short distance away. The first engines were manufactured at Doncaster in 1866 and in the years that followed, many famous locomotives were built and serviced at the works, including Stirling Singles, Flying Scotsman, and in LNER days Sir Nigel Gresley’s A4 Pacifics, including the record-breaking Mallard. The Carriage Works produced its first vehicles in 1866 and built all types of carriage, including the UK’s first dining car, together with sleeping cars, kitchen cars, and the carriages for the London & North Eastern Railway’s ‘Flying Scotsman’ service. The Wagon Works built vehicles from its opening until the GNR was absorbed by the LNER in 1923, and from then on concentrated on repairs.

This collection represents the work of generations of official photographers, and includes images of locomotive, carriage, and wagon construction, together with views of road vehicles and war work.