The RailStaff Awards 2024

Nominations for Rail Team of the Year

Surjit Bharj

Said the following about Old Oak Common Open Day Team:

“The Old Oak Common team had a vision to create a once in a lifetime event, one to remember, that would set the benchmark for any future depot open days.

After nine months of meticulous planning, overcoming many challenges and hurdles, over 7000 people attended the one day event on 2nd September celebrating 111 years of the West London depot with all proceeds going to the chosen charity, Place2Be.

The team was pulled together from across GWR (Engineering, Operations, Traincrew, Planning, Safety, Revenue, Comms and Finance) who all dedicated a huge amount of their own time to ensure a fantastic and safe day was had by all who attended.

Railway Depots by their very nature are full of hazards, but the team was determined for the day to be a success. To ensure this was achieved the team reviewed every area of risk and produced a safety plan for the depot. It needed to be able offer access to large areas of the depot for those attending and still run an operational depot.

The team quickly established a HAZOP group to look at all possible risks and how this could be overcome, this included the installation of special walkways, safety fencing, additional rail crossings and an army of GWR volunteers to manage visitors on the day.

On display was a unique collection of steam, diesel hydraulic and diesel electric locomotives which have all helped to make the Great Western ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’. In addition, Fun fair rides, staged entertainment, merchandise stalls, children activities, and locomotive naming ceremonies made it a great day out for the family.

During the depot’s 111-year history, the depot and its dedicated, highly skilled staff have maintained everything from steam era Kings and Castles, diesel-powered Westerns and Warships, and in 1976 the depot was the maintenance hub of the Western region for the newly introduced HST’s, the iconic trains which changed the face of Intercity travel in the UK.

A list of trade and society stalls, and for something unique a funfair, from which amongst the many rides was a 45ft Ferris Wheel positioned centrally in the depot yard. This allowed visitors to view and record a special line-up of exhibits from a spectacular height, this was a challenge that had never been undertaken before and doubt will be ever seen again, the feedback received was amazing.

The depot worked with industry partners and sponsors whilst generating incredible cross company co-operation to secure a never before seen line-up of steam locomotives through to the latest IET and incorporating a Family packed day setting a bench mark for Rail Open Days.

As lots of the exhibits were very much working locomotives, the planning to bring these all together meant having to overcome the operational demands of the rolling stock and the complicated logistics of finding routes around the numerous engineering works. This was a challenge that took precise planning and expertise. In the days leading up to the Open Day, several special convoys of locomotives were spotted around the country generating a massive amount of interest on social media.

The Chosen Charity Place2be helps children suffering with mental illness and provides emotional and therapeutic services in primary and secondary schools, there are many local schools close to Old Oak Common which is why we decided to support the local community in remembering our depot’s history and teaching that history to the local children

The team made a huge effort in gathering together almost all of the surviving ex OOC senior managers to perform the naming ceremony of HST power car 43093 in honour of ‘Old Oak Common Depot 1976-2018’, Clive Burrows sounded the horn as GWR unveiled the power car to a frenzy of snaps by the rail enthusiasts who made the effort to attend this very unique one time only event.

A class 180 Adelante which had a unique wrap created by PTM Design was also unveiled.

The one day event was a huge success which was supported by the whole of GWR giving resources and time to ensure everything went as smoothly as possible.

Feedback on Social Media was astonishing and full of praise for such a well-organised event, In all over £50,000 was raised for Place2be, representing a huge addition to this year’s fundraising target.“