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At their meeting in July, 1929, the Health Committee considered the
following letter from the Locomotive Running Superintendent:—
"Hornsey Engine Shed"
"Referring to your letter of the 6th instant, enclosing copy of Resolutions of
your Council and of certain Recommendations made by Dr. Owens, the contracts
in connection with the provision of the new coaling plant for this depot
are on the point of being let. This plant is constructed of ferroconcrete and takes
approximately seven months to erect. It will, I anticipate, be from nine months
to a year before the whole of the alterations and improvements it is proposed
to carry out at Hornsey are completed.
"With regard to Dr. Owen's recommendations,
(1) Careful Firing:—
We are at the present time using fire lighters at Hornsey for lighting up
loco. boilers, and with this method of fire lighting the procedure mentioned
in Dr. Owen's notes is largely followed:—
(2) Independent Blast:—
The use of an independent blower for raising steam in locomotives is not
advisable and is not resorted to except in cases of emergency owing to the
damage which may be caused to the tubes of the engines by the use of such
apparatus.
(3) Use of Hot Water:—
I am quite in agreement with this paragraph. The cost of such a plant is,
however, considerable and whilst its advantages are undoubted it is difficult
to justify the expenditure. The matter will, nevertheless, be borne in mind.
(4) Oil-Lighters:—
I have no information respecting this method of fire lighting but will take
an opportunity of speaking to the Great Western people and asking for
details.
(5) Coke:—
I am afraid this is impracticable. The time taken to raise steam with coke
alone would be so excessive as to make it impossible to adopt such a method".
The new coalhopper was in operation by September, 1931.
On the 23rd May, 1938 "Notice of Offence" under the Public Health
Act, 1936, was sent to the Railway Company informing them of the
emission of black smoke from certain engines for a period of eight minutes
in the morning and six minutes in the afternoon of that date. The Chief
Legal Adviser replied, on the 26th May, that the matter was receiving his
attention.
During the war no complaints were received and it was not until
August, 1950 that this matter again came into prominence. On the 14th
August, 1950, a complaint of smoke nuisance from the engine sheds was
received from a resident in Wightman Road. At about the same time one
of the local papers reported that nearly 200 people had signed a petition
calling upon British Railways to abate the nuisance. The petition also
dealt with noise from loud speakers directing night work, and the glare
from bright lights erected above the roof tops which shone into the bedrooms.
The engine sheds were visited by the sanitary inspector on the
23rd September and during an interview with the Deputy Depot Superintendent
the following facts were ascertained:—
(i) The total capacity of the sidings is approximately 80 engines.
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