We remain at the railway station to bring the history of the station up to date.

During the Second World War the goods yard was tremendously busy, because apart from the needs of the town there were nearby ammunition stores, Royal Air Force camps and a Royal Naval depot to service.

In addition to the hardware sent to and from these units fruit, fish,vegetables, Lyons cakes and ice cream were also required for the camps. In 1939 a Scammell unit with about eight trailers was used for town deliveries, later to be replaced by two six tonners.

Westinghouse and the Nestle milk factory were good customers, with the yard employing six lorry drivers and two horse drivers. After the war there were enough railwaymen at Chippenham to form a football team.

The goods shed was demolished around 1976 to extend the station car park and all goods traffic ceased entirely on January 1 1981. Our archive picture was taken in March 1951 and shows the King class 4.6.0 6019 arriving at the station.

The engine King Henry V brought the 9.05am Paddington to Bristol train into the town. The down main platform is now unused, with all trains using the island platform.

The down line was slewed to the south side of the island platform in February 1976 in preparation for high speed train running. Today HST 's arrive at Chippenham station on the up line en route to London. The gas works has gone but the large building of Westinghouse Brakes still dominates the skyline.