The mention of "Pit Props"had me thinking back to my days as a young "Fireman" with British Railways[as it was then.] I was based in Windsor Road sidings where we had our office. After we booked on duty,We then had to walk or bum a lift to Cardiff East Dock Shed where our "Steam Engines"were being looked after. This shed closed in about 1958,and was sold to a "Scrap Merchant". Then when the Transition period came about with the introduction of Diesel Power in to South Wales,and Canton Steam Sheds was closed in 1962 for conversion,Most of the Steam Power ended up in East Dock Shed. The Railways Hired the shed back off the Scrappy for an exorbitant sum of money to house these Steam Engines. I had started working with B.R;on the 29th'of January 1962 cleaning the Magnificent "King Class Steam Engines". 6 of these Powerful Beasts were transferred from Bristol and London,to Canton Sheds, to replace the "Pacific Class"that were used on the Cardiff to London Passenger Run. Anyway,I was quickly Promoted from Cleaner to Fireman on my 16th;birthday in October 1962,and was transferred to East Dock Sheds. We had all manner of Trips in the offering. Taking a Train of Coal to Barry Dock,and coming with a Train Of Gunpowder or Bananas,and other mixed freight. The most Dangerous Trips were from Cardiff to Birmingham with a Train of 10 x 100 ton Tanks of Petrol from Cardiff's Tidal Sidings to Birmingham's Soho Pool. We only went as far as Gloucester. This Train would have Three Banking Engines when it got the "Lickey Incline".The Steepest Mainline Gradient in Britain,which was just outside Birmingham. The dangerous Trip in the Cardiff Area though,was the Little train we took from Pengam sidings to St;Mellons Pit Prop Yard. This sidings now long gone,was situated on the Side of the Up Relief Railway line between St;Mellons and Marshfield. The dangerous part of it, as far as we were concerned, was the fact the whole sidings was bursting with Pit Props. They were stacked high and low all over the place. So as a good deal of "Shunting"was involved with our little Tankie Engine, We had to watch our heads when we leaned over the sides. Many of my Fellow firemen and drivers had injuries through having bumped their heads and faces on these big Sticks! The Pit Props were left out in the open to "Weather"them prior to being moved again to the Pits. Never was a young Fireman like myself more relieved to finish one of those shifts! Graham.[worked for B.R;1962-1981] From:- Graham WILLIAMS,of Canton,Cardiff. Glamorgan F.H.S;#551.