RW writes:
In the 1930s where the new part of Oakington School is now and the playing field, was an engine yard and large shed owned by the Papworth brothers, Cyril and Harold. Besides using the machines on their own farms, they were contractors and had at least two sets of Fowler ploughing engines and several thrashing engines. Schoolchildren during breaks would play around the engines unmolested. It was exciting when the tubes of an engine were cleaned using the steam pressure from an adjacent engine. The front of the boiler would be opened and a tube attached to the engine in steam would be inserted at the smoke box end. When the steam was turned on, a vast cloud of soot and steam would be ejected from the boiler of the engine being cleaned.
Men who operated the engines had been schoolchildren while Miss Chandler was Headmistress and had no doubt been often caned. They seemed to take a delight in leaving an engine under steam close to the school room window and letting the steam blow off. Children would be quite unable to hear what Miss Chandler was saying and she would go out and remonstrate with the engine drivers but to no effect!
If you have any information or photos of the engine yard, please leave a comment below.
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