Our archive picture of Chippenham station this week shows a steam engine arriving on the down line, with goods on the station waiting to be loaded at the rear of the train.

Today that side of the station is not used, as the down line was slewed to the south side of the island platform in preparation for the introduction of high speed trains.

Our today picture shows the main London to Bristol HST train arriving at the station. The Great Western Railway reached Chippenham in May 1841, although the station was not finished until about 1858. Stone excavated from Box Tunnel was used in the railway viaduct and the station buildings in the town.

The railway brought industrialisation to the town. Small engineering firms were started near the station in Foundry Road and Old Road, eventually merging to become Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company Ltd.

Building and construction work expanded to provide houses for the growing population. Harris' Bacon Factory at Calne wanted a branch line so they could transport their meat products quickly to Chippenham station and from there to Bristol, and the Calne Railway Company was founded by the Harris family and a group of businessmen.

By the end of the 19th century goods trains were bringing milk into Chippenham for the Nestle factory as well as taking pigs, coal and salt to Calne for the Harris factory. Over the years the station attracted considerable industry close by.

During World War Two the goods shed was modified so Royal Navy trailers from Hawthorn could be backed at right angles to the loading platforms so spares could be loaded for ships and could be transported to the docks.