Legends mark 111 years at Old Oak Common

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OLD Oak Common charity open day certainly lived up to its Legends of the Great Western billing, attracting more than 7,000 visitors to the West London depot.

An overall view of the best show in town as crowds flock around the exhibits keeping the main display clear. From left: Railmotor No. 93, No. 6023 King Edward II, No. 7903 Foremarke Hall, D821 Greyhound, D1015 Western Champion, 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange, 180102 and 800003. CHRIS GEORGE

The event took place on September 2, after many months in the planning.

It is probably the last event to be held on the site, and celebrated 111 years of Old Oak as a railway maintenance depot; the first depot opened on March 17, 1906.

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Chances to see behind the scenes of a modern depot are few and far between, and for the ‘Legends’ event, GWR worked very hard to create unique photographic line-ups representing the various generations of motive power that have worked on the Great Western. This included steam, in the form of a ‘King’ and a ‘Hall’, to the soon-to-be-introduced Hitachi Intercity Express Train (IET).

Locomotives were carefully positioned for photographers. For one of the line-ups, it was a case of six of the best with half a dozen preserved Class 50s side-by-side, while the main line-up consisted of nine exhibits representing motive power that has worked on the Great Western through the years, including a seventh Class 50.

More words and images in October’s issue of The RM – on sale now!

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