Blog

The 'Most Missed' Buildings in Elstree & Borehamwood, Part 6

Just a couple of  'Most Missed' buildings left in our list.  Thanks for all your comments and suggestions and for your feedback on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. Any building you feel we have forgotten? Let us know on
Museum blog email: info@elstree-museum.org.uk
Facebook : www.facebook.com/EBWmuseum
Twitter : @EBWMuseumHerts
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ebwm2007/

Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works

The planned tube-train depot and repair centre for the Northern Line was already well under construction at the outbreak of World War 2.  When the Northern Heights Extension was cancelled in 1939, the buildings were turned into an aircraft parts factory. After the war the area was still owned by London Transport and it was decided in the early 1950s to enlarge the buildings and create the largest bus overhaul works in the world on the 53 acre site. The Works eventually included its own canteen, social club, hostel, power station, and the famous 'tilt test' area. Buses could be stripped right down, examined and repaired and rebuilt. It was officially opened on 31 October 1956 with a staff of 1,800.

The post-war standardisation and huge size of the London Transport fleet allowed maintenance along modern production line principles, with work being carried out on a number of buses at once. Several mechanics could focus on specific parts of the vehicle rather than a single mechanic working on a single bus at a time.

However, in as little as 30 years, financial pressures led to a decline in bus maintenance standards, and the scope for overhaul of vehicles was reduced. LT's Bus Works Restructuring Programme 1983-4 was followed in October 1985 by the decision to discontinue the practice of completely overhauling each bus every four or five years. Coupled with a shrinking fleet and the arrival of numerous types of non-standard bus not suited to the Aldenham concept, made it increasingly uneconomic, and closure of the Works in November 1986 was inevitable.

The site was acquired by property developer Slough Estates and stood mostly empty except for occasional storage of cars on the vast site until being demolished in July 1996 to make way for Centennial Park.

For more information and photos please visit our current Exhibition Off The Rails - The Line That Never Was. Photos copyright Steve Fennell and Tom Chinnery.