GWR King class 4-6-0 No 6009 King Charles II on the approach to Old Oak Common East on the Down Main. Kensal Green gasworks is seen to the rear of the ECS fly overpasses. This is a Down express from Paddington in October 1932. The clerestory coach in the background has a carriage board denoting it being a Paddington to Weston Super Mare train. The flyover and skew girder bridge in the background was built in 1911/2 to remove the conflicting lines into Paddington. It carried a double track from Old Oak to Ladbroke Bridge box, allowing empty carriage and light engine movements to be kept separate from the main running lines; it was singled in 1967. Kensal Green gasworks was opened in 1845 by the Western Gas Company; it was rebuilt in the 1930s and after closure in 1970 most of the site was cleared and a Sainsbury’s supermarket built on the eastern portion in 1989.

Peter Kerslake adds "6009" King Charles II" had the distinction of being the only member of the thirty strong "King" class to spend the whole of its working lifetime allocated to just a single Motive Power Depot,
namely Old Oak Common, heading there from being built at Swindon in April 1928 until withdrawal in Septeember 1962".

Photo: Colling Turner/Rail Archive Stephenson