Old Oak Common Engine Shed

A Memory of Old Oak Common.

I started work as an engine cleaner at Old Oak in 1973. At that time steam engines were rapidly being withdrawn and replaced by diesel locomotives. Because of the filthy nature of steam locomotives and everything associated with them it was almost impossible to recruit staff to work in the engine sheds anywhere in the country .
Old Oak suffered particularly because it was in an area where lots of other ,cleaner work was available.
I spent very little time cleaning engines due to an acute shortage of firemen.so I was soon out on the road on trains.
Because I had not progressed through the links and learned how to fire an engine well and maintain steam I was pretty
useless and I was overjoyed when the steam engines disappeared completely.
Many people hold the view that steam engines are wonderful, however, most people who worked on them as an occupation would strongly disagree. The area close to any loco shed suffered from a continuous discharge of smoke and dirt from the shed which coated everything in the locality.Good old days people may say, take off the rose tinted spectacles I say.
The locomen were a fine bunch of guys and I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with them. The old boys who were
there when I started were as tough as old boots and their knowledge of the road unbelievable. They are long gone now.RIP
For a taste of real life on the railways watch The Enginemen of Newton Heath on YouTube. It shows it in all it's stark reality. Row upon row engines emitting smoke, steam and dirt into the atmosphere, could you imagine living close to that. Then there's the reality of disposing of engines. See the men emptying the smokebox of char, clearing out the fire and the ashpan, all hot dirty jobs. No wonder no-one wanted a job on the railway.

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