Catalogue description The Woodcock collection of railway photographs, including his models of working locomotives

It is composed of 35mm and medium format film negatives and a small number of prints, mainly showing Woodcock's models of working locomotives, but also including narrow gauge and industrial engines. Locomotives from a wide range of companies are represented, including the GWR, Great Eastern, and Ffestiniog Railway. The collection also includes some papers, including drawings of locomotives and manuscripts of Woodcock's books on industrial locomotives, traction engines and the industries of Essex. No list is available. Prints may be viewed on request, but they are not numbered and include the work of other photographers, so the NRM does not always hold the negatives and rights.

Woodcock, George, c1930-1980, locomotive designer

• Railway transport

George Woodcock trained as a premium apprentice with one of the constituents of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway, receiving a thorough grounding in locomotive design and construction. On completion of his apprenticeship he worked for the LMS, then for a general engineering company, before joining the LNER at Stratford Works. He put his training to good use through his hobby, the manufacture of 10¼ ins gauge model live steam locomotives and traction engines, and sold his first model in the 1930s for £40. Later he built models of a GNR 'Stirling Single', the Lynton & Barnstaple locomotive 'Lyn', Metropolitan 4-4-0T and Bury's 1837 locomotive built for the London to Birmingham Railway. Woodcock also built miniature locomotives that ran at Lowestoft pier and Paignton Zoo.

The NRM acquired the George Woodcock collection in 1980, shortly after his death.