Karen Harrison Mural

The mural you see before you depicts Karen Harrison, a woman who fundamentally altered the landscape of the British rail industry. In 1977, she applied for a position as a train driver under the name K Harrison, leading recruiters to assume she was a man. When she arrived for her interview, her gender caused such a shock that she had to fight for her right to even be considered for the job. She qualified in 1979, becoming one of the first female train drivers in the United Kingdom. Her career path was marked by severe harassment, including the defacement of her personal locker and colleagues refusing to work with her, yet she persisted to become a vocal campaigner for women and minorities within the rail unions. The artwork was created by the street artist Akse, and while it was originally intended as a temporary installation for a recruitment campaign, public support ensured it became a permanent fixture here at Euston.