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Original Text (Annotation: EAW022470 / 678867)
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Enginemen's Hostel. Built for the purpose to give accommodation to train crews on "double home" turns. A double home turn is one where the loco crew would book on duty one day, work to destination, book off duty, take rest til the following day. After a minimum off 12 hours rest they would book on at the "foreign" depot and work home.
The hostel consisted of individual rooms with a bed , chair and wardrobe.Toilets and bathrooms would be shared. At Old Oak there was a canteen, games room and later even a tv room. Before hostels were built Loco-men on double home would stay at homes that had arrangements with the railway companies. It was often said that on many occassions one man would get into a bed that was still warm from its previous occupant! '