EAW022470 ENGLAND (1949). British Railways Hostel, Engine Shed and Carriage Sheds at Old Oak Common Sidings, Old Oak Common, 1949. This image was marked by Aerofilms Ltd for photo editing.

Post War 9400 class pannier Tank.

Coronation Carriage Sidings.

Stores.

Walkway, later made up to a proper roadway.

The "Factory" where locomotives underwent heavy repairs.

GWR 0-6-0PT locomotive

Oil Tanks. After the war there was a shortage of coal so the GW like other companies converted a few of their locomotives to steam on oil. It was then found that the imported oil had political implications so the experiment was dropped and the locos returned to steaming on coal.

North London Line.

Grand Union Canal

Victoria Road

Old Oak Common Lane

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!

Double sided coal stage. Main line engines one side, freight and smaller engines the other. GWR main line locomotives were designed to steam on soft Welsh coal but availability during the war changed that.

Main engine shed with 4 65ft turntables each capable of stabling 28 locomotives.