At the outbreak of war, 563,000 men and boys, and 25,000 women and girls worked on the railways. Over the next six years, over 98,000 railwaymen (17.5%) and over 4,000 (16%) railwaywomen enlisted in the Forces or other wartime services.

As in 1915, women war-workers were invited to fill men's places. This time, however, some were conscripted. At the peak of their numbers, in 1944, over 114,000 women were employed - more than the total number of railway staff today.

Please follow the links below to see photos and read reminiscences of railwaywomen in wartime.