Firing Days: Reminiscences of a Great Western Fireman by Harold Gasson

Last Updated on April 23, 2026

Firing Days: Reminiscences of a Great Western Fireman by Harold Gasson.

This Book is an attempt to re-capture the happy days of Steam. I vas fortunate enough to serve with a most Honourable Company f Gentlemen

– the Enginemen and Shed Staff of Didcot

Locomotive Department.

During the 1939-45 War, Didcot, as a Main Line Shed in the London Division, was in a unique position. The locomotives of all he other Companies, including the U.S.A. Army Transportation Corps, were serviced and worked by Didcot Enginemen. After working these ‘foreign locomotives’ we were delighted to find that a fact was confirmed, we were indeed working on “God’s Wonderful Railway”

The locomotives of Messrs. Webb, Churchward, Collett, and Hawksworth were the finest in the world.

Didcot Locomotive Shed is now a living Steam Museum, but it is with pleasure I find that the Great Western Preservation Society have re-captured the atmosphere of a past age, even to including

6106 Tank, an original locomotive stationed at Didcot during my cleaning and firing days.

H.H. Gasson. 1973

This book was previously for sale at Margot’s Books. The shop is now closed — this post is kept as an archive record only.