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 DEPARTMENTAL & ENGINEERING DEPOTS

ASHFORD LOCOMOTIVE & WAGON WORKS 
Location: (Loco Works): Centred on TR01854156. On the south side of the Folkestone line, east of Ashford Station.  (Wagon Works): Centred on TRO1454140 on the west side of the 
Hastings line, south of Ashford Station. 
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotives stabled at the site of the former Ashford SER shed located at TRO1744177. The facilities included engine pits and a coal stage. 
LOCO WORKS; 
 Locomotive Allocation and Details. 
 31280 Shunting in the works [June 1962-December 1963]DS235 Shunting in the works [December 1962-1963]
DS237 Shunting in the works [December 1963-September 1967]   DS238 Shunting in the works [October 1963-September 1967]  
DS239 Shunting in the works. Used as a snow plough during the winter of 1963/4 and also as a stationary boiler. [June 17th, 1962-December 1966] 
DS240 Shunting in the works and used as a snow plough during the winter of 1963/4. Utilized in the Locomotive Works as a stationary boiler from September 1964 until December 1965 and then moved to the Kimberley Sidings in the Wagon Works to supply steam to the sawmill until 1967 [June 1962-1967
 


The Loco Works Stabling Point viewed on September 22nd, 1963,
showing the coal stage and water tank. 
WT Stubbs Collection



WAGON WORKS;   
Locomotive Allocation and Details. (see above).

 

 

 
 
USA Class 0-6-0 Tanks No's DS237 & DS238 parked between duties at the Loco Works Stabling Point on October 8th, 1966
Sid Nash Collection




 

SE&CR Class C 0-6-0s i No. DS240 in the process of being cut up at Ashford Works
 

               
SE&CR Class C 0-6-0 No. DS240 in use as a stationery boiled in Kimberley Sidings on October 8th, 1966.
Sid Nash Collection 
 

 

 


SE&CR Class C 0-6-0 No.DS239 Sid Nash Collection





No.DS235 at ????

 

BARASSIE WAGON WORKS
Location: Centred on NS32903210 on the east side of the line, one mile north of Troon Station.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
88 [June 1962-February 1964] Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the works.

 
 


 
 
 
No.88 at Hurlford MPD Richard Day Collection
 
 
BEDFORD ENGINEER'S DEPOT
Location: On the west side of the Hitchin line, south of Bedford Midland Station. The yard was probably opened at some stage by the MR and the shed was still in use in 2009, housing PW Machines.
Facilities: The loco stabled in the Depot building located at TL04304950 and converted from the ex-MR Bedford Engine Shed, a 2TS dead-ended structure with a slated gable style roof which closed in 1886. It was serviced at Bedford MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
ED3 Shunting at the sidings at Kempston Road Junction and on engineering trains [February 1964-1965, 1965-September 1967 
(Spent most of the time in it’s second spell here stored OOU at the adjacent Bedford MPD)]
 
 
 
 

 
 

The much-altered former MR shed on June 7th 1987. By this time it had been reduced from a 2TS structure to a one road shed and was used to house the yard’s permanent way machine.
RG King Courtesy ESS



BEESTON SLEEPER DEPOT
 Location: Centred on SKS4003696 on the west side of the line, north of Beeston Station. Opened by the MR and in operation by 1886 the yard was engaged in the preparation and creosoting of sleepers. A 3ft Gauge line was installed to serve the pressure impregnation system and the site closed in 1965. The yard was subsequently utilized as a Freightliner Depot until April 1987 when it was taken over by the S&T Department. In 2006 the area was occupied by a commercial estate

Facilities: The locos stabled in the works area. The Standard gauge locos were serviced at Nottingham MPD as required, whilst the 3ft gauge engines were serviced on-site by fitters from the depot.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
Standard Gauge;
ED1 [1948-September 14th, 1951 & 1960-1962]
ED2 [Periods between February 1949 & 1965]
ED3 [1965]
ED5 [Periods between July 1949 and July 1965]
ED6 [Periods between July 1949 and March 1965] 
and other ED Series shunters as required. 
Used for shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard
3ft Gauge; 1 [1955-1958] 10 [1948-1955]. 1902 ?
ED10 [March 1st, 1958-February 1965]
Utilized to push narrow gauge bolsters, loaded with new sleepers around the creosote works and into the pressure impregnation chambers. 

 

 Visiting" Departmental Locomotive No.ED3 at Beeston Sleeper Depot on October 2nd, 1963. A section of the 3ft gauge system can be seen in the foreground. 
Dave Cousins
 
 
 
 
 
 
3ft Gauge 4wDM Loco No.ED10 [Ruston & Hornsby No.411322 at Beeston Sleeper Depot on May 17th 1961

 
 
3ft Gauge 4wDM Loco No.ED10 [Ruston & Hornsby No.411322 of 1958] at Beeston Sleeper Depot

 



Visiting" Departmental Locomotive No.ED3 at Beeston Sleeper Depot on October 2nd, 1963.
Dave Cousins


 
 
Visiting" Departmental Locomotive No.ED3 at Beeston Sleeper Depot on October 2nd, 1963 crossing a section of the 3ft gauge system.
Dave Cousins
 

 

3ft Gauge 4wDM Loco No.ED10 [Ruston & Hornsby No.411322 of 1958] parked at the south end of Beeston Sleeper Depot on May 17th, 1961.
Allan Sommerfield


 
BETTESHANGER COLLIERY
Location: Centred on TR33705290 at the end of a spur off the west side of the Deal to Sandwich line. Opened by Pearson & Dorman Long in 1924, Betteshanger was the last, and largest, colliery in Kent. It was the only pit to strike during WWII and was the sole remaining colliery in Kent when it closed in 1989. The site remained undeveloped for some years until, as part of a regeneration scheme, it was incorporated into a Country Park in 2006. This was not regarded as a Departmental Depot but the Departmental Locomotive was hired out to this location.
Facilities: NOT KNOWN but there was at least a servicing area and probably one of the buildings was utilized as an engine shed.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
DS235 [April-May 1963] Shunting throughout the colliery site
 
 
 

 
 
 


 
 
BIRKENHEAD CENTRAL
Location: North east of Birkenhead Central Station.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled on a siding beside the tunnel mouth on the north side of the line.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
MER3 Unknown, but probably shunting and propelling engineer’s trains in the district [1948-June 1950]
 
 

Former GER Class J66 0-6-0T No. MER3 parked at its Stabling Point at the north end of Birkenhead Central Station. 
Allan Sommerfield
 
BOSTON SLEEPER DEPOT
Location: On the east side of the line, north of Boston Station. Opened on February 14th, 1904 by the GNR the depot had an extensive narrow gauge system and a capacity for some 470,000 sleepers. The site suffered from a serious fire on April 14th, 1959 which damaged a number of buildings as well as destroying large stocks of timber. The depot closed in about May 1964 and is still standing, although in a derelict condition.
Facilities: A brick built 1TS dead-ended shed with a slated gable-style roof, located at TF31194610, was provided for the standard gauge locos by the LNER in the 1940s. Additional facilities included a water tank and after the building closed in the 1950s the locos stabled in the yard. Servicing and repairing of the standard gauge locos took place at Boston MPD as required.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
Standard Gauge;
6 [1948-c1950] 
7 [1948-November 1961]
40 [November 1961-May 1964]
Used for shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard. 
2ft 3¾in Gauge; 
747 [1948-]
202005 [1948-February 1967]
Utilized to push narrow gauge bolsters, loaded with new sleepers around the creosote works and into the pressure impregnation chambers.
 
 

 

 

 



The abandoned Sleeper Depot on September 30th, 1982.
L Perrin
 
 

Departmental Locomotive No.7 stabled inside Boston MPD

 

BRIDGWATER DOCK
 Location: Centred on ST29703750 at the west end of the Bridgwater Dock branch.
Facilities: A through road 1TS shed, located at the west end of the dock at ST29503738, was provided for the locomotive but after it collapsed in a storm in c1950 the loco stabled in the dock area and was serviced at Taunton MPD as required. Bridgwater Dock opened in 1841 to coincide with the completion of the Canal link to Taunton and the arrival of the Bristol to Exeter Railway. IK Brunel was subsequently responsible for the design of the telescopic bridge across the river which allowed railway traffic to cross the river whilst still permitting the passage of tall masted ships. The quality of the railway system in the dock area was poor and of extremely lightweight construction which severely restricted the class of locomotive that could be utilized here. The basic simplicity of the Simplex type of petrol engined shunter was well suited and No.15 arrived in 1932. The dock finally closed in 1969 when the local Cellophane plant converted from coal to fuel oil and one of the original buildings, Ware’s Warehouse still survived in 2006. 
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
15 Shunting in the dock area [1948-February 1951] (The loco was "officially" transferred to Taunton Engineer’s Yard in 1949 but it was 
observed at Bridgwater in September 1950 and it is highly unlikely that it moved prior to withdrawal in February of the following year)
 

 

 

A Victorian view of Bridgwater Dock

 
 
 


No.15 at Bridgwater Dock in June 1948 Richard Day Collection



 View of Bridgwater MPD.

 
 
BRIGHTON WORKS
Location: Centred on TO30960532 on the east side of the line, north of Brighton Station. The works were opened in 1840 by the London & Brighton Railway and first built locos in 1852. They were closed by BR and run down over a period between 1958 and 1962. The site was subsequently cleared and found use as a temporary car park until it was redeveloped with housing and commercial premises.
Facilities: The loco stabled on a spur in the works area at TQ30920534, and the facilities included an engine pit. The loco was serviced at Brighton MPD as required
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
DS377 Shunting the works area [1948-January 1959]
 
 
 

 
 
 
LB&SCR Class A1X 0-6-0T No.377S engaged in shunting duties at Brighton Works in March 1958.
AJ Wills Collection


 

LB&SCR Class A1X 0-6-0T No.377S at Brighton Works in the yellow livery that was applied to it in 1946 and retained until January 1959 when the loco returned to Capital Stock as No.32635. 
HC Casserley

 
BROAD CLYST SLEEPER DEPOT
Location: Centred on SX99259522 on the north side of the line, at the east end of Broad Clyst Station. In 1896 a single siding, on the north side of the line, was allocated for Engineer’s use by the L&SWR and this was expanded into a small yard by the SR in September 1929. Following boundary changes at the end of 1962 the depot transferred to the WR and was closed in 1963. By December 12th, 1965 the sidings were totally out of use.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotives stabled in the Yard.
 Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
 49S [1948-September 1959]
DS1169 [September 1959-1963] (NB. It was noted as still here in 
September 1964 shunting in the yard)

 
The unique 4WD shunter No.49 at Broad Clyst Engineer’s Yard in BR days. Built by the SR at Exmouth Junction Works in 1940, the petrol driven locomotive 
had been constructed on a redundant ex-SE&CR carriage bogie and, amongst a host of oddities, fitted with a corrugated iron roof.


 
No.49 shunting stock at Broad Clyst Engineer’s Yard on August 31st, 1958. Unlike other regions on BR the Southern did not have a separate Departmental 
Locomotive number series and prior to 1948 such locomotives just had the suffix "s". In BR days this was altered to a prefix of "DS" however, and for some obscure reason, those locomotives and vehicles repainted west of Salisbury retained the "s" suffix. No.49 never carried either nomenclature and it is assumed that it was listed by the Southern Railway as a unit from the "Plant and Machinery Stock" register.
Hence 49 was never given it’s allocated BR Number of DS49. MEJ Dart.
 

No.DS1169 at Broad Clyst Engineer’s Yard on August 11th, 1964. By now the yard had been officially closed for a year and the shunter was awaiting transfer to 
Taunton Engineer’s Yard. 
Richard Day Collection.
 
 
CAMBRIDGE ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on TL47606000 at Chesterton Jct. on the west side of the Ely line, 2 miles north of Cambridge Station. 
The first two engineer’s facilities were established by the GER. Located at TL46355769, the yard adjacent to the MPD was known as the Tank House Sidings and consisted primarily of workshops and stores with a small railway system linking the buildings. Departmental Locomotives were not employed here as any shunting was carried out by the shed pilot. The Cambridge District Engineer’s Yard at Chesterton Junction was built alongside the March line and was concerned with permanent way maintenance. With the advent of long welded rails an additional PW facility, Chesterton Junction Engineer’s Yard, was built by BR on the north east side. The site was originally marshland and from 1948 spoil wagons, with waste drawn from all over the Eastern area, were employed to fill it in to provide the hard standing area on which to lay the sidings. It eventually opened in 1954 and remained in regular use until about 1995.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotives stabled in the yard. Following the opening of Cambridge (CA) nearby, diesel Departmental Locomotives were serviced at the shed as required.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
Standard Gauge;
21 [March 1956-July 1960]
39 [November 1958-April 1963]
42 [July 1952-July 1960]
91 [October 1958-]
92 [1959-]
Shunting & manœuvring materials and wagons around the yards
2ft Gauge;
85049 Manœuvring materials at Chesterton Junction Engineer’s Yard [1956-1986]
NB. It was reported that, at some stage, No.81 was transferred to this location from 
Peterborough Engineer’s Yard but the locomotive was never seen here and it is to 
be assumed that the move was never effected.

District Engineer's Yard.


 

 

 
 
Chesterton Junction Engineer's Yard.    
 
 
 



No 91 at Chesterton Junction in 1960. 
Derek Barham.
 
 

No 92 at Chesterton Junction in 1960.
Derek Barham

 



Class 08 0-6-0 No.08258 in Cambridge District Engineer’s Yard on September 18th, 1982. 
Derek Barham 
 



Class Y1 Sentinel Departmental Locomotive No.39 at Chesterton Junction.
GW Sharp

 


After Departmental Locomotives ceased operating here, two Cambridge Diesel Depot [CA] Capital Stock 
Class 08 0-6-0 Shunters were assigned and this view shows No.08108 parked at the yard between duties. 
Martin Bray
 

CASTLETON ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on SD87701000 on the north side of Castleton North Junction. The yard was opened by the L&YR and it became the principal rail welding depot for BR in the 1980s.
Facilities: The locos were maintained at Newton Heath MPD and stabled in the yard area until a 1TS dead ended shed, located at SD87981012 was built in 1950.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
 ED1 [1955-1960]
ED5 [Periods between July 1949 and July 1965]
ED6 [Periods between July 1949 and March 1966] 
and other ED Series Shunters
 


Departmental Locomotive No.ED6 shunting at Castleton PW Depot on October 1st, 1959 
Alec Swain

Departmental Locomotive No.ED5 at Castleton PW Depot in 1955
 


 
Departmental Locomotive No.ED5 at Castleton PW Depot.
 Eric Ashton Collection
 
CREWE OLD WORKS; Centred on SJ70895555. In the fork of the Chester & Warrington lines, north of Crewe Station. 
CREWE NEW WORKS; Centred on SJ69705580. On both sides of the Cheshire line, west of Crewe Station.
The works were opened in 1843 by the Grand Junction Railway in the fork of the Chester and Warrington lines, north of Crewe Station and expanded by the L&NWR when an additional site was obtained alongside of the Chester line. It eventually became the principal locomotive builders on the LMS, occupying a site some 1½ miles long and covering 137 acres. Crewe Works was still operational in 2008, although on a much-reduced site, principally around the Erecting Shop. The area on the south side of the line was taken over for the Crewe Electric Depot [CE], east of the erecting shop by the A5076 and the easternmost extremity by the Crewe Heritage Centre. Facilities: Locomotives stabled at two main locations within the complex; 
1. OLD WORKS; Two roads on the site of the former GJR 4TS shed at SJ70905542, in the fork of the Chester and Warrington lines
2. STONE YARD BANK; Sidings approx located at SJ69805575 outside of the steelworks on the main works site.
Any servicing was carried out at Crewe North MPD.
47649 [March 1966-September 1966] 47658 [February 1962-September 1966] 47661 [November 1961-September 1966] 47862 [1948-October 1956] 47865 [1948-November 1953]
 51412 [1948-September 1962] 51444 [1948-August 1961] 51446 [1948-March 1962] 52212 [July 1953-August 1958] 52218 [July 1953-April 1962] 52225 [May 1958-September 1959]
52312 [December 1953-July 1962] 52345 [October 1953-August 1958] 52429 [December 1957-January 1958]52441 [April 1953-August 1962]52459 [October 1953-December 1961]
52464 [February 1953-April 1961] 52517 [April 1953--May 1958] 58321 [1948-July 1953] 58323 [1948-April 1953] 58326 [1948-April 1953] 58328 [1948-March 1953] 58332 [1948-September 1953] 58336 [1948-July 1953] 58343 [1948-September 1953] 58347 [1948-March 1953] 58857 [June-August 1953]
Shunting throughout the works. 58271 was loaned to the Chief M&EE’s Department between May & June 1957 -  Specific duties unknown

Old Works


 


New Works
 

Ex-LNWR Class 0-6-0ST [Special Tank] No.3323 at Crewe Works - one of the five remnants of this class that 
lingered on into BR days in Departmental Service (The other four were utilized at Wolverton Works). 
HC Casserley
 

The majority of the tasks around the works were carried out by ex-LMS Jinty 0-6-0Ts drawn from Capital Stock 
and this view of No.47658 shows it stabled with a classmate at Stabling Point No.2, a siding in the vicinity of the steelworks. This loco was seconded to Departmental duties in February 1962 and withdrawn in September 1966. 
 

 
Following the demise of steam, Crewe Works internal shunting duties were carried out by Capital Stock Class 08 0-6-0 
Diesel Shunters from Crewe Diesel Depot and No.08123 is seen here on June 26th, 1983. 
Martin Bray
 



 Departmental Loco No.ZM9 at Crewe Works Smithy.

 
 
CREWE M&EE DEPARTMENT (Loco: 58271 - on loan during 1957)
Location: NOT KNOWN. Facilities: NOT KNOWN.
Where was this locomotive stabled within the Crewe complex?
 
CROFT SPA ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: See GENEVA YARD for details
 
 
 
 
 


Possibly also utilized as a Crane Shed at some point, the Engine Shed at Croft Store Yard viewed on June 14th, 1969. It was used 
until June 1961 when the Class Y1 Sentinel No.54 was withdrawn and the subsequently allocated diesel shunters stabled in the yards.
WT Stubbs

 
 
Class Y1 Sentinel No.54 at ????
 
 

 
CROFTON PW DEPOT
Location: Centred on SE36751705 on a spur from the Wakefield to Pontefract (Monkhill) freight only line, 2.5 miles south east of Wakefield Kirkgate Station. 
The yard was probably opened by the LNER and closed by BR during the 1970s when part of it was officially listed as a Stabling Point (Sub to Healey Mills Diesel Depot). Whilst most of the yard was abandoned, the northern part was occupied by the Crofton Diesel Depot [Bombardier], located at SE36751910 and opened in February 2001.
Facilities: The loco stabled in the yard and was serviced at Ardsley MPD until October 1965 and subsequently at Healey Mills Diesel Depot.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
 85 Used for shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard [Oct 1960-April 1969 (Stored OOU)]

 
Departmental Locomotive No.85 stored out of use at Crofton PW Depot on April 18th, 1970. 
Richard Day Collection

 

 


Departmental Locomotive No.85 at Ardsley Depot 

 
DARLINGTON NORTH ROAD WORKS
Location: On the east side of the line, north of Darlington North Road Station. 
Opened in 1863 by the Stockton & Darlington Railway and enlarged by BR in 1954, the site became the largest employer in the town. Principally a Locomotive Works, it was gradually run down and closed in 1966 with a large part of the site being utilized by a supermarket
Facilities; Full servicing facilities were available and the loco was stabled at the Paint Shop at Stooperdale Junction when not required. 
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
1699 Coupled to a Dynamometer Car and used for road testing new and rebuilt engines. 
Capital Stock Class J72, J77 & J94 0-6-0T Locomotives allocated to Darlington MPD were used as Works Shunters.


North Road Works
 
 

 



Paint Shop


The only LNER Class B16 4-6-0 to survive into BR days, No.1699 was withdrawn from service by the LNER as No.761 
and transferred to Departmental Stock in September 1934. The superheater was removed and it was used at 
Darlington North Road Works as a counter-pressure loco for testing purposes. BR.

 
 
 

Darlington North Road Works in the 1930s with the unique LNER 4-6-4 No.10000 in the centre of the yard.





 No.56 at North Road Works in February 1964
 

 
 
No.87 at Darlington MPD on 7th October 1967
 
 
DERBY LOCOMOTIVE WORKS (Loco: 41509)
Location: NOT KNOWN. Facilities: NOT KNOWN.
MAP REQUIRED
Where was this locomotive stabled within the Derby Works complex?

 
ED6 at Derby MPD on February 12th 1961.
Frank Hornby
 
 
 
 

No.ED4 at Derby on March 27th 1960.

 
 
DERBY RAILWAY TECHNICAL CENTRE
Location: At SK36743470 on the south side of the Nottingham line, east of Derby Midland Station.
Built by BR to centralize all its research and development activities from across the country, it opened in May 1964 and consisted of a number of laboratories and office blocks as well as the research test hall. Following the demise of BR it closed and most of the buildings were let out as the RTC Business Park.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled within the yard area.
MICKLEOVER TEST TRACK 
Location; On the east side of the line, at the south end of Mickleover Station.
The Mickleover Test Track was established on a section of the former GNR Grantham to Burton line. The line had closed in 1967 and the Test Track ran the 5¼ miles between Egginton Junction and Mickleover with a maximum line speed of 65 miles/hr and was equipped with facilities to introduce track defects for test purposes. A run round loop was provided at both the Egginton and Mickleover ends of the line and there was an additional siding at Mickleover approximately 660ft long with platform level loading available at the buffer stop end. There were two further sidings leading into a 2TS train shed which was approximately 160ft long. There was a permanent building at the Mickleover Depot incorporating a laboratory, mess room and control office. The depot was the normal base for the Train Control Project test vehicles 'Hermes', 'Mercury', the 2-car Battery Railcar and a Clayton locomotive. The line was closed and lifted in 1990 following the announcement of the building of the A50 M1 to M6 link road and at the Mickleover end the station buildings survive as a private residence but the cutting which leads east from the station under Station Road and up to the western portal of Mickleover Tunnel has now been completely filled in.
Facilities; The loco stabled at the depot, a corrugated sheeting clad, steel framed 2TS dead ended building with a gable style roof and located at SK30643579.
OLD DALBY RAILWAY RESEARCH CENTRE
Location; Centred on SK67972398. On east side of the line, at the south end of Old Dalby Station.
The 13¾ miles long Test Track runs between Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire and Edwalton on the southern outskirts of Nottingham. It originally formed part of the MR route from Nottingham to Kettering and following closure in 1968 the Research Division of British Rail was searching for a suitable site to evaluate the gas turbine-powered experimental Advanced Passenger Train (APT-E), which was being built at the time. The line was considered to be ideal, having a number of suitable topographical features such as curves, cuttings and tunnels on the route. By 1971 it had been singled and re-aligned and was re-opened as BR Research Division's test track with the control centre situated on the former station site at Old Dalby, approximately halfway along the line. The line closed in early 2000 and, following a major upgrade and 25kVA electrification it re-opened on July 7th, 2001 to test Alstom’s Class 390 Pendolino. Subsequently known as the Alstom Midlands Test Centre (AMTC), the HQ moved from the original Old Dalby site to Asfordby.
Facilities; The loco stabled in the yard.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
97201 Hauling test Trains for Tribology Department at RTC [December 1978-]
97801 RSD Yard Pilot & Remote Control Loco at Mickleover [March 21st, 1978-] 
D832 [March 1973-September 1979] 
D7076 [August 1974- OOU 1980]
D7096 [August 1974- OOU 1980]
Track stabilisation trials to test the effectiveness of tamping and track buckling tests were carried out at Old       
Derby RTC           Dalby and D832, D7076 & D7096 were used as dead loads and placed at either side of the buckling point to   
                            steady the track.

 


Mickleover Test Track
 

 


Old Dalby Research Centre
 

 

No.60015 in the company of an unidentified sister loco about to depart RTC for the Mickleover Test Track
Courtesy of Dave Coxon.
 

Looking a bit worse for wear, Warship Class 43 No.832 Onslaught stands in the yard at the RTC shortly 
after arrival in March 1973. It was subsequently sent to Old Dalby Research Centre and was the last of the 
class to be withdrawn in 1972. The loco has since been preserved. 
Courtesy of Dave Coxon.
 

 

A view of Mickleover Test Track Depot in the early 1980's showing the ground frame (in the cabin on the right),
 the running line (right) and the Long Siding (left). In the large shed in the distance (right) is the battery railcar
 'Gemini' and on the left the Train Control Group's test coach 'Hermes' 
The base of the original signal box remains on the left and in the background is the former GNR station building. 
The track in this area was later removed and a small wind tunnel for testing scale models was built. This was used 
to test a model of the prototype APT-E and some of the remains plus the control office were still extant in 2004. 
Courtesy of Dave Coxon.

 


The workshop at Old Dalby, viewed from the south eastern side, in the snow of December 1999. 
Courtesy of Dave Coxon.

 



No.D7096 stored at Old Dalby in a very dilapidated state.
J Tuffs Courtesy of Dave Coxon.
 

 

 

A picture of the results of one of the buckling tests on a special length of track installed at the 
rear of the Control Centre at Old Dalby. One of the Hymeks is visible in the distance, the other is 
behind the camera, and the poles in the four foot were means of assessing the lateral movement. 
Courtesy of Dave Coxon.

 
 
DIDCOT PROVENDER STORES
Location: Centred on SU52159080 on the north side of the Swindon line, at the west end of Didcot Station.
Built by the GWR and utilized during WWII as a military stores depot. The adjacent Didcot Station became Didcot Parkway
in the 1980s and the site of the stores became a car park.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotives stabled within the depot and was serviced at Didcot MPD when required.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
 23 [1948-c1954]
26 [1948-c1954]
& Class 97/6 PWM Series shunters
Used for shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard
 
Simplex No.23, one of the two of this type that was allocated to Didcot Provender Stores.
 AAG

 
DINSDALE RAIL WELDING DEPOT
Location: Centred on NZ34601370 in the fork of the Darlington North Road and Geneva Junction lines, east of Dinsdale Station.
Opened in 1958 the site was utilized for the welding of new 60ft rails into 300ft lengths ready for installation. As a result of the decision to concentrate such production at Castleton PW Depot it closed in 1988 and was redeveloped with housing.
Facilities: The locos stabled in the yard area and were serviced at Darlington MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
82 [1958-]
89 [January 1964-November 1967]
Used for shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard.

 



Looking west along Dinsdale Rail Welding Depot with one of the two Departmental Locomotives, No.82, in view. 
BR.
 
 
 


Departmental Locomotive No.89 at Dinsdale Rail Welding Depot in July 1964. 
Richard Day Collection
 

 
 

Departmental Locomotive No.89 parked at Dinsdale Rail Welding Depot.

 

DITTON CREOSOTE WORKS/SLEEPER DEPOT
Location: Centred on SJ48308480 on the north side of the line at the west end of Ditton Junction Station.
The works were established by the LMS, modernized by BR in 1949 and closed by 1990. The main building still stood in 2004
Facilities: A 1TS through road shed, located at SJ48188492 was provided for the loco which was maintained on-site by fitters from Speke Junction MPD
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
ED2 [Periods between February 1949 & 1965]
ED6 [March 1965-April 1966]
and other ED Series Shunters as required. 
Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard
 
 
 
 
 
Departmental Locomotive No.ED2, the “resident” shunter at Ditton Creosote Works for 16 years.
 
 


 
 
Departmental Locomotive No.ED2 at Derby Roundhouse on April 30th 1961.
Alec Swain - The Transport Treasury
 
 
DONCASTER LOCOMOTIVE WORKS
Location: Centred on SE56900310 on the west side of Doncaster Station. 
It was opened in 1853 by the GNR as a maintenance depot and replaced similar facilities at Boston and Peterborough. New locomotive build commenced in 1886 and it rapidly expanded to include carriage and wagon construction. The carriage work ceased in 1962.
Facilities: Departmental Locomotives stabled in the sidings adjacent to the works entrance at SE57070290 and at other points throughout the site. 
Additional servicing was carried out at Doncaster MPD
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
1 [May 1952-February 1958]                 2 [May 1952-March1956]            2 [2nd] [March 1956-February 1961]    9 [February 1958-February 1961]         10 [February 1961-May 1965]      
11 [February 1961-May 1965]              12 [September 1962-May 1965]    13 [September 1962-May 1965]         14 [September 1962-September 1965]
15 [September 1962-May 1965]           16 [September 1962-May 1965]     68319 [1948-June 23rd, 1950]           68782 [1948-June 23rd, 1950] 
 Shunting throughout the works. In the 1960s the locos also shunted the adjacent Carriage Works and were heavily utilized in manœuvring redundant steam locomotives in the scrap  yard.  


 

 


The Stabling Point at the entrance to Doncaster Locomotive Works in August 1963. 
AW Martin

 
A trio of Class J50 0-6-0T locos parked on a siding in Doncaster Locomotive Works. 
These were part of the batch re-allocated to Departmental Duties in the early 1960s.

 

Class J52 0-6-0T No.2 at Doncaster Locomotive Works on April 24th, 1957. It had originally been BR No.68858 and was the second loco of the class to carry No.2. 
Richard Day Collection
 
 
DONCASTER WAGON WORKS
 Location: On the south side of the line, south east of Doncaster Station.
Facilities: A timber-built 1TS through road shed with a pitched roof was provided for the shunter. It was located at SE58550085 at the south end of the site, and the facilities included a coal stage. The works were opened by the GNR in 1889 and closed by BR in 1965. The buildings still stood, in commercial use, in 2009.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
5 [February 1948-November 1958]
8134 [January-February 1948]
Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard
 
 
 
 

The 1TS timber built Engine Shed at Doncaster Wagon Works on October 19th, 1937. 
WA Camwell
 

DURNSFORD ROAD POWER STATION
Location: At TO25667239 on the west side of the line between Earlsfield and Wimbledon Stations. 
Durnsford Road opened in 1915 and provided power for the L&SWR electrified lines until the early 1960s when electricity was then drawn from the National Grid and it became redundant.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled at the adjacent Durnsford Road EMU Depot. 
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
DS74 Shunting wagons in the Power Station [1948-July 1965]   
 

 

 

The 3rd-rail 750Vdc Departmental Locomotive No.DS74 stabling at
Durnsford Road EMU Depot in February 1957.
Dick Riley
 

 
 

DS74 working on the ramped approach to Durnsford Road Power Station on March 2nd, 1957. 
Dick Riley
 
 

DS74 working at Durnsford Road Power Station
 

 
EARLESTOWN WAGON WORKS
 MAP REQUIRED
Location:
Facilities:

View of Earlestown Wagon works


 
EASTLEIGH CARRIAGE WORKS
Location: On the east side of Eastleigh & Bishopstoke Station.
Facilities; The locos stabled in the works timber yard at SU46051860 and were serviced at the adjacent Eastleigh MPD as required.
Locomotive Allocation [Carriage Works] & Duties;
 343S Shunting in the works [1948-1953] 
DS600 Shunting duties at the timber yard [1948-January 1963] 
 

 
 
 
 
 
EASTLEIGH LOCOMOTIVE WORKS
Location: Centred on SU45911830, on the west side of the Gosport line, south of Eastleigh Station.
The L&SWR first utilized the site in 1891 as a Carriage and Wagon Works when the operation was removed from Nine Elms and in 1903 it also absorbed the repair work from Southampton. The site was expanded to the south of the Gosport line when locomotive building was transferred from Nine Elms in 1910 and it became the principal works for the SR, building over 300 locomotives by 1947. In 1962 the Carriage Works were sold and all activities transferred to the Locomotive Works until 1968 when new carriage build was moved to Derby and York, and locomotive build to Crewe. The Carriage Works site was subsequently utilized as a Commercial Park and maintenance and repair work at the Loco Works finally ceased on March 31st, 2006.
It was taken over by Knights Rail Services for repair, refurbishment and storage of locomotives and coaching stock.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotives stabled in the works yard and were serviced at the adjacent Eastleigh MPD. (SU4518.3/1).
Locomotive Allocation [Locomotive Works] & Duties;
DS234 Shunting stock in works [August 1966-March 1967] 
DS3191 Stationary boiler at the rear of the Boiler Shop [1948-November 1951]
 


ETHERLEY TIP ENGINEER'S YARD
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard. 
Facilities; The loco stabled in the yard area and was serviced at Darlington Diesel Depot.
Locomotive Allocation [Locomotive Works] & Duties;
08161 Shunter at Tip Yard
No. 87 Shunter at Geneva Yard
 
 
Departmental Locomotive No.87 at Etherley Tip Engineer’s Yard on April 27th, 1967. 
This loco was officially allocated to Geneva Yard for its entire existence so may have been covering for a temporarily absent No.56. 
Roy Hennefer

 

 
 
No.87 at ????
 
 
No.08161 at Etherley Tip


 

View of Shunting at Etherley Tip
 

FAVERDALE WAGON WORKS
Location: Centred on NZ27701650 on the north side of the Barnard Castle line, west of Darlington North Road Station.
The works were opened in 1923 by the LNER and occupied 60 acres. They closed in 1962 and the site and buildings used for an Industrial Estate.
Facilities: A 1TS through road shed, located at NZ27921651, was provided for the locos which were serviced at Darlington MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
51 [1948-October 31st, 1956]
57 [October 31st, 1956-February 1961]
88 [February 1961-June 1962]
Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the Works

 
FAZAKERLEY ENGINEER'S DEPOT
Location: Centred on SJ38349777 in the fork of the Ford and Fazakerley lines at Fazakerley Junction.
The Carriage & Wagon Works were converted from Simonswood Engine Shed which closed when Aintree MPD opened in 1886 and it was probably about this time that the adjacent Signal Works were also opened. The C&W Works were rebuilt in 1901 and both sites were closed by BR, probably in the 1970s. The buildings remained standing, in a derelict condition, for a number of years but the area has since been landscaped.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled within the works area, and at weekends (or when not required) was housed at the nearby Aintree MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
ED7 [August 1955-February 1964] 
and other ED Series shunters 
Shunting and manœuvring materials at both the Signal and Carriage & Wagon Works.





 
0-4-0 Departmental Locomotive No.ED7 parked at Aintree MPD, just after delivery on August 22nd, 1955.
Brian Morrison

 

FOLKESTONE WARREN ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on TR25103800, on the south side of the line, east of Warren Halt. 
The yard was established, probably by the SR, to maintain the short stretch of the line and repair the sea defences and any landslip damage.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
DS1169 Shunting the yard and propelling engineer’s trains. It was also used at Dover as required [December 1948-September 1959]



 


The diminutive Diesel 4WD Departmental Locomotive No.DS1169 at Folkestone Warren Engineer’s Yard on June 17th, 1951. 
Les Elsey

 

GENEVA YARD
Location: Centred on NZ29551300, in the triangle of the York, Saltburn and Geneva Curve lines south of Darlington Bank Top Station.
Originally a tip served by sidings Geneva Yard [also known as the Central Reclamation Depot] was constructed during late 1931 by the LNER and occupied some 21 acres. Under the control of the York Civil Engineers Dept, it was spilt into 12 separate areas to segregate materials and specialized in collecting re-usable track components and reforming them into panels of serviceable track. The yard closed in 1966.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled within the yard. 
Croft Store Yard was a storage and assembly depot for the Darlington District PW Department and was mainly responsible for points and crossings. It may have opened in the 1920s when a 2ft gauge system was installed but this was dispensed with prior to nationalization. The yard closed in April 1969.
The site of the yards was subsequently cleared and landscaped under the Railside Revival Project.
Facilities; The loco either stabled in the yard or utilized a timber built 1TS dead ended shed with a slated gable style roof located at NZ29411314. A coal stage was installed outside of the shed entrance. The diesel locomotives were serviced at Darlington Diesel Depot
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
54 [1948-June 1961]
82 [-April 1969]
87 [June 1961-April 1969 (Stored OOU)]
Shunting and manœuvring materials throughout the yards

 
 
A general view of Geneva Yard, looking west on July 10th, 1958. 
BR


 

HAYES CREOSOTING/SLEEPER DEPOT
The depot was opened by the GWR in 1935. The closure date is not known but the whole site was subsequently cleared and used for a commercial park.
Location: Centred on TQ 10507923, on the south side of the line, east of Hayes Station.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotives stabled within the yard.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
2ft Gauge;

PWM1024 [1948-1951]
PWM1622 [1948-February 1951]
PWM1650 [1948-February 1951]
PWM1779 [1948-February 1951]
PWM1780 [1948-February 1951]
Manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard
 
 

Hayes Creosoting Depot, shortly after opening in 1935
The Engineer Magazine
 
HITHER GREEN ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on T039357425, on the east side of the line, at the south end of Hither Green Station.
Probably opened by the SR as a PW yard it was still active in 2006. Three roads of the adjacent Hither Green MPD were taken over for engineer’s use in 1967 and the remaining eastern half was demolished in 1994.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled at Hither Green MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
DS1173 Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard [1948-March 1967*]
*NB. It was transferred to Capital Stock in March 1967 but probably remained in use here until transferred to Ashford Chart Leacon on March 31st, 1968
 


 


Drewry 0-6-0 Shunter No.DS1173 stabled in the shed yard at Hither Green MPD on April 27th, 1958. 
Peter Groom

 

 


Drewry 0-6-0 Shunter No.DS1173 at Hither Green on March 3rd 1963



HOLYHEAD BREAKWATER
Location: On the south side of the line at Soldier's Point.
The short line was built in 1848 by the Admiralty [at 7ft gauge] to transport rocks from the quarry at Holyhead Mountain to the breakwater. It was changed to standard gauge in 1911 but by the 1970s stone was no longer extracted from the quarry and the line had been lifted. The blocks were being imported from the Penrhyn Slate Quarry by road and the remainder of the track closed in 1980 with all operations being carried out by road vehicles.
This was not regarded as a Departmental Depot but the Departmental Locomotive was hired out to this location.
Facilities: A stone built 2TS dead ended shed with a slated gable-style roof, located at SH23528357, and a water tank were provided for the loco. 
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
ED6 [March 1966-September 1967]
01001 [June 1967-September 1979 (Stored OOU)]
01002 [June 1967-March 1981 (OOU from 1980)]
Propelling stone trains

 
 
 
One of the two last-surviving Capital Stock Class 01 0-4-0 locos that ended their days at Holyhead Breakwater, 
No.01001 is seen inside the shed on July 23rd, 1974. 
AM Clarke


No.01002 parked between duties on April 15th, 1979. By now it was the only one of the pair still operational. 
Dave Plimmer

 

A general view of Holyhead Breakwater on April 16th, 1980, just before the railway operations ceased. 
The track at the bottom of the picture used to continue along to the Holyhead Mountain Quarry but some 
years previously had been lifted with only this short section retained as a head shunt. The two locomotives, 
Nos 01001 and 01002, were stored inside the shed on the right and the track passing along the side of it ran 
along the whole length of the breakwater on the lower level and, in previous times, on the higher level too. 
                           After official withdrawal the two locomotives did not return to the mainland but were cut up in the shed yard. 
                           Dave Plimmer

 

HOOKAGATE RAIL WELDING DEPOT
Location: Centred on SJ46530955 on the south side of the Welshpool line, three miles west of Shrewsbury.
Having demolished a number of dwellings, the yard was opened by the War Department in 1941 as exchange sidings between the GWR and the numerous Army Depots in the area. The WD closed its railway system in 1959 and the Rail Welding Depot was opened in the same year by the WR. The yard comprised of nine sidings, each of about half a mile in length, and was designed to receive 60ft long rails, weld them together into lengths of up to 900ft and then load them onto bogies for transhipment to PAD yards in the WR. The yard closed in May 1986 and all the lines were lifted.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled on a siding at SJ46420952 within the yard and was serviced at Shrewsbury MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
97654 [1959-November 1964]
and other Class 97/6 PWM Series Shunters
D3510 [September 1967-October 1968]. Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard

 
A classic period view of Hookagate Rail Welding Depot with Diesel 0-6-0 Shunter No.PWM654 
propelling a bogie bolster wagon in May 1962. Almost of as much interest are the two road vehicles 
in the foreground, both products of the now-closed Austin Factory in Longbridge, Birmingham - A Mini and an A35 Van! 
DG Smith
 
 
HORWICH WORKS
Location: On the east side of the Horwich Branch.
The works were opened in 1886 by the L&YR and the final steam locomotive built at Horwich, a Class 4 2-6-0, was completed in November 1957. Class 08 0-6-0 Diesel Shunters were constructed between 1953 and 1962 and after that it became a Wagon Repair Works and a facility to overhaul emus. It was run down by BR and closed in 1983, with some of the buildings being utilized in an industrial estate established on the site.
Facilities: (Standard Gauge): The Departmental Locomotives were originally housed with Capital Stock engines in Horwich Engine Shed, a brick-built 2-road through building with a northlight pattern roof located at the north west end of the site at SD63711089. After the shed was closed and converted into a store by the LMS in July 1928. The locos stabled in the yard of the former Horwich Shed at SD63651095, and the facilities included engine pits, coal stage and water columns
Facilities: (Narrow Gauge): A brick-built 3-road dead ended shed with a slated gable-style roof was constructed at the south east end of the site. It was located at SD64011060 and adjoined one of the main workshops. Following the withdrawal of the steam Departmental Locomotive in 1962 the shed was converted to a store and the diesel locomotive stabled in the open. 
 Standard Gauge Shed
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
Standard Gauge;
11304 [1948-December 1961] 11305 [1948-September 1964] 11324 [1948-October 1963] 11368 [1948-November 1963] 11394 [1948-May 1960]  47164 [November 1963-May 1964]  
47165 [November 1963-May 1964] 47402 [May 1960-December 1962] 47429 [March 1961-October 1965] 47449 [January 1963-March 1963] 47549    [March 1963-July 1964] 
47550 [January 1962-March 1964] 51429 [February 1952-May 1957 & September 1957- March 1961] 51496 [March-April 1953] 52161 [December 1957-March 1958] 52275 [April & May 1958].
                            Utilized for shunting throughout the works    
 
Narrow Gauge Shed        
1ft 6in Gauge;
Wren [1948-June 1961] ZM9 [1948-1957] ZM32 [September 1957 March 1964] Moving materials around the works




No.11394, One of the five L&YR Barton Wright 0-6-0ST locomotives allocated to Horwich Works as Departmental Locos 
and retaining their former LMS numbers. This view shows the engine standing at the Standard Gauge Stabling Point. 
HC Casserley

 

 
The Narrow Gauge Engine Shed on June 17th, 1962, on this occasion housing the tiny diesel shunter No.ZM32. 
WT Stubbs
 

 

ZM9 in the yard at Horwich Works in BR days. It was built in 1930 as No.5519 Crewe and was the first diesel 
locomotive ever built for the LMS. It was used on the internal system at Crewe Works until it was abandoned 
in 1932 and stored there until 1935 when it was moved to Horwich. It was withdrawn in October 1957 and scrapped in 1958. 
Richard Day Collection

 


ZM32 & Wren outside of the Narrow Gauge Engine Shed in March 1961. By now the steam locomotive was just reserved 
as the stand-by engine and was withdrawn the following June. 
Ian G Holt




ZM32, withdrawn and dumped out in the wilds on the abandoned works narrow gauge system on April 10th, 1964.
Richard Day Collection

 
 
 
View of Horwich Works Engine Shed



 
View of Horwich Works Engine Shed

 
HULL CHALK LANE STORE YARD
Location: Centred on TA0662790 on the west side of the line, north of Hull Dairycoates MPD.
A small yard was in use here in NER days but this was subsequently expanded when the site of an adjacent brickworks was taken over. It was composed of sixteen sidings, some of which were almost 300 yards long, and utilized for the storage of rails and other PW materials. The yard closed in the late 1960s and some of the site was subsequently used for housing.
Facilities: The loco stabled in the yard area or may have utilized the Store Shed, located at TA06712783, on occasions and was serviced at Hull Dairycoates MPD as required.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
56 Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard [March 1955-1963]
 
 
 
 
BR 4WD Departmental Locomotive No.56 outside of the Store Shed at Hull Chalk Lane Yard. 
It took over from a Capital Stock Sentinel Steam Shunter based at nearby Hull Dairycoates MPD in March 1955 and worked the yard until 1963. 
Mike Lake

 
HUNSLET EAST ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on SE31703230, in Hunslet Goods Yard.
The yard was opened by the GNR on July 3rd, 1899 and closed in the 1960s. The site was utilized for industrial development.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
85 Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard [July 1959-Oct 1960]


 
 

 
Departmental Locomotive No.85 in Ardsley MPD on July 16th, 1963.

 

KINGS LYNN (Loco: 24) 
 Location: NOT KNOWN. Facilities: NOT KNOWN.
Where was the Class B1 used on carriage heating and allocated to Kings Lynn serviced?? 
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
24 (B1)




LANCING CARRIAGE WORKS
Location: On the south side of the Worthing line, west of Lancing Station. 
Opened by the LB&SCR in 1912, the site covered some 64 acres. In 1927 the SR introduced an "assembly line" system of manufacture and during the pre-WWII period it became the main Carriage Works for the railway. It was closed by BR on June 28th, 1965 and the site utilized for the Churchill Industrial Estate.
Facilities; A corrugated iron clad 1TS through road shed with a corrugated iron pitched roof was provided by the SR in June 1929 for the locos. Located at TQ17680385, it was rebuilt by BR in corrugated asbestos on a steel frame.

Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
DS235 [May 1963-June 28th, 1965]
DS236 [April 1963-June 28th, 1965]
DS515 [1948-October 1953]
DS680 [1948-February 1963]
DS681 [August 1953-June 1963]
                           Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the works.
 

ENGINE SHED



The Engine Shed at Lancing Carriage Works on
March 30th, 1959 with Nos DS681 and DS680 in residence. 
Allan Sommerfield



 
LENTON ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on SK56303900, on the north side of the line, 0. 75 miles west of Nottingham Midland Station. 
The yard was opened by the MR, sometime after 1900, and closed by BR in the 1960s. The site was subsequently utilized for a retail park.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled within the works area and was serviced at Nottingham MPD as required.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
ED3 [March 1949-June 1964] 
and other ED Series Shunters 
Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard.


 
 


"Resident " Departmental Locomotive No.ED3 at Lenton Engineer’s Yard on June 13th, 1956.
Richard Day Collection
 


LOWESTOFT ENGINEER'S YARD
This was split into two sites: 
Opened in 1845 as the workshops of Peto’s Lowestoft Railway & Harbour Co. it was absorbed as part of the GER in 1862. The harbour was principally engaged in exporting shingle dredged from the local coastline and the works processed imported timber and manufactured sleepers until the opening of the Sleeper Depot. Later, the LNER installed a concrete works on the site of the former sawmill. Dredging ceased in 1958 and the concrete depot closed in 1985. From then until total closure in 1988 it was used for acceptance and maintenance of CE plant and the site was subsequently cleared for redevelopment
Harbour Works
Location: On the south side of Commercial Road, just south of Lowestoft Station.
Facilities: A small one-road engine shed, located at TM54609274, was constructed at the west end of the repair depot. In addition to the engine shed (which carried out repairs to the Departmental Locomotives allocated both to Lowestoft and to Norwich Engineer's Yard) there was also a stabling facility consisting of a siding at TM54709277. 
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
37 [1948-January 1956]   38 [January 1st, 1950-February 1959]   39 [1948-April 3rd, 1951]
40 [July 11th, 1948-May 1964]   41 [1948-March 1963]   42 [1948-July 1952]
91 [June-October 1958]   92 [July 1958-1959]   Shunting the works site and goods yard. Propelling trains along the 1¼ miles to and from the Dredging site to the Harbour until 1958. 
 (NB. Any of these may have also been employed at the Sleeper Depot)
 
No.41 at ???? 
 

Lowestoft Sleeper/Concrete Depot:
Location: On the south side of the line, west of Lowestoft Station.
Facilities: A small two-road dead-ended repair depot with a gable-style roof was provided by 1929 to accommodate the narrow gauge engines and spare standard gauge locomotive whilst the engine on duty stabled in the open. This was located at the west end of the site at TM53099313, but in the 1950s it was replaced with a corrugated sheet-clad two-road dead ended shed sited nearer the depot buildings at TM53199305. The facilities included a coal stage. 
 
 
 


Class Y3 0-4-0T Sentinel Departmental Locomotive No.41 working at 
Lowestoft Sleeper Depot in July 1954. 
Paul Day Collection
 
Class Y3 0-4-0T Sentinel Departmental Locomotive No.40, one of the 
Harbour Works batch, at Lowestoft Sleeper Depot. 
Dr IC Allen


 
View of Lowestoft Concrete Depot on July 3rd 1983
 
 
LOW FELL ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on NZ24806100, on the west side of the line, 2.5 miles south of Newcastle Station.
The yard may have been opened by the NER but it was definitely in use prior to WWII. By 2006 most of the track had been lifted.
Facilities: The loco stabled in the yard and was serviced at Gateshead MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
83 Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons in the yard [1959-May 1970]
 
 
 
 
 
 


Departmental Locomotive No.83 at Low Fell Engineer’s Yard


Gateshead-allocated Class 08 0-6-0 Shunter No.08671 at Low Fell Engineer’s Yard on August 27th, 1988. 
Martin Bray

MELDON QUARRY
Location: On the south side of the line, west of Okehampton Station.
Facilities: A wooden framed one-road dead ended shed clad in corrugated iron with a corrugated iron gable-style pitched roof was provided by the SR. It was located at SX56699258 and rebuilt
in early BR days in concrete blocks with a flat roof, whilst at some stage the entrance to the depot was reversed.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
Standard Gauge;
500S [1948-November 1949]
DS234 [January 1963-August 1966]
DS682 [November 1960-December 1962]
DS3152 [June 1950-August 1960]
08394 [November 1966-November 1967] 
Manœuvring materials from the screening plant to the sidings and assembling trains
2ft Gauge;
1832 [1948-c1950] 1833 [1948-c1950] 187073 [1948-c1950]  Manœuvring materials
 


 L&SWR Adams Class G6 0-6-0T No.DS3152 standing at the rebuilt Engine Shed at Meldon Quarry on June 1st, 1959. 
Sid Nash

 




 

 

L&SWR Adams Class G6 0-6-0T No.DS3152 at Meldon Quarry in June 1959. 
AJ Wills Collection




L&SWR Adams Class G6 0-6-0T No.DS3152 just after its arrival at Meldon Quarry on 
June 24th, 1950 and in the original style of Departmental livery and nomenclature. 
AJ Wills Collection
 

MICKLEOVER TEST TRACK DEPOT 
(see DERBY RAILWAY TECHNICAL CENTRE)
 

NEWLAND PAD YARD
Location: Centred on SO79034940, on the west side of the line, north of Malvern Link Station.
Newland Sidings were first brought into use on June 18th, 1943 and the Pre-Assembly Depot was established here in August 1954. It was utilized for the construction and loading onto bogies of pre-assembled track panels and consisted of 5 sidings. The yard closed in the 1980s, by December 1982 all the sidings had been lifted, and the site was used for the storage of fairground equipment and mobile homes.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard, usually adjacent to the Foreman's Office at S079194957 and was serviced at Worcester Depot (S08555.112)
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
97650 (PWM650) [-November 1982] 
97654 (PWM654) [November 1964-] 
and other Class 97/6 PWM Series Shunters
Shunting in the yard and on-site during track laying operations.

 




Departmental Loco No.PWM650 stabled deep amongst the foliage at Newland PAD Yard on June 3rd, 1978 
Richard Day Collection

Departmental Locomotive No.PWM654 shunting at Newland PAD Yard on February 7th, 1965. 
RN Pritchard

 

NORTHAMPTON ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: On the south side of the line, at the west end of Bridge Street Station.
The Store Shed was originally opened as Northampton Far Cotton Shed by the L&NWR in 1855. Located at SP75325952 it was a 3TS brick built structure with a gable style roof and after it closed in October 1881, was further employed as a Carriage Shed. When this ceased is not known but by 1925 the site had been taken over by the Permanent Way Engineers. It was believed to be still in use as recently as 1998 but by 2006 the building stood derelict and the yard closed.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard and may have been accommodated within the Stores Building, located at SP75325952, on occasions.
Probably serviced at Northampton MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
ED4 [June 1949-February 1964] 
and other ED Series Shunters



Northampton Engineers Yard
 
 
 
NORWICH ENGINEER'S YARD
 Location: In the triangle of the Norwich Thorpe to Yarmouth and London lines and the Wensum Curve, east of Norwich Thorpe Station. 
The Engineer’s Yard and store was probably opened by the GER and the site was used for the storage and assembly of permanent way trains for the area. It closed in 1982 and the entire triangle site was utilized for Norwich Crown Point TMD with the Engineer’s Yard sidings used for carriage storage.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
39 Assembling and marshalling permanent way trains [April 3rd, 1951-March 1955]

 

 

OAKAMOOR WORKS

Location: On the east side of a spur line at the north end of Oakamoor Station.
Owned by Thomas Bolton & Sons Ltd, the Copper Works opened in 1792 and were connected to the rail system in 1856. The sidings were worked by Departmental Locomotives from the outset and BEL 2 was delivered new to the site in 1917. The works finally closed in 1963 and the buildings demolished in September.
Facilities: A timber built 1TS dead ended shed with a lean-to style roof was provided for the loco. This was located at SK05424474, on the opposite side of the spur to the works.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
BEL 2 Manoeuvring wagons of tubes and wire from out of the mill and pushing trucks of coal slack into the power house. Also some light shunting at Oakamoor Station. [1948-June 1963]
 





The timber built 1TS Engine Shed at Oakamoor Works on July 10th, 1959.
Allan Sommerfield Collection
 
 
BEL 2 at Oakamoor Works on May 11th, 1951 and still in LMS crimson lake livery
Richard Day Collection/FW Shuttleworth

 

OLD DALBY TEST TRACK DEPOT
(see DERBY RAILWAY TECHNICAL CENTRE)

 
PETERBOROUGH ENGINEER’S DEPOT
Location: Centred on TL18609920, on the east side of the line, north of Peterborough North Station.
Opening & Closing dates are not known.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotives stabled in the yard, and at weekends (or when not required) it was housed at the nearby New England MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
6 [1950-November 1955]
8 [September 29th, 1955-January 1959]
81 [June 1958-July 1967]*
Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard
                            *NB. It was reported that, at some stage, No.81 was transferred from here to Cambridge Engineer’s Yard but the locomotive was never seen at that location and it is to
                           be assumed that the move was never effected.
Peterborough Engineer’s Yard-allocated Barclay Diesel 0-4-0 Departmental Locomotive
No.81 stabled between duties at New England MPD on April 24th, 1960.
Norman Preedy

 
 
 
No.81 at Peterborough East Yard


POLMADIE DEPOT (Locos PO1 and 97802)
MAP REQUIRED
Location: On the north side of the Carstairs line, west of Rutherglen Station.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotives stabled in the yard.

 
POPLAR (WEST INDIA) DOCK
Location: At the west end of Poplar (MR) Coal Depot.
The West India Dock Coal Yard was opened by the MR in 1914 and closed by BR in 1964. It was not physically connected to the railway system and the only access was via a hydraulic wagon hoist. BEL 1, with its reduced height of 9ft and lightweight construction, was specifically designed to be accommodated by this lift and was delivered new upon the opening of the yard. On September 14th, 1961 ED1 was transferred here temporarily to cover for BEL 1 whilst away at Derby Works. ED1 was too large for the wagon hoist and the Plaistow MPD breakdown crane was employed to lower it in and out of the yard. It was also too large to pass through the hoist when manœuvring wagons and a capstan had to be used to draw arriving wagons off the lift.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive was housed in an unusual depot located at TQ37288069 consisting of a single track running between a set of brick arches supporting the sidings adjacent to West India Dock Station (ER)
Locomotive Allocation; & Duties;
BEL1 [1948-September 1964]
 ED1 [September 14th, 1951-January 1952]
Shunting the Coal Yard


The engine stabling facility at Poplar certainly rates as one of the more ingenious ones.
The picture below shows the supporting piers with the locomotive stabling area beyond
 [BEL 1 was actually "on shed" on this occasion hidden within the gloom] and, in the view
above, the Battery Departmental Locomotive is parked in its shed on June 7th, 1953. Allan Sommerfield



 
 
BEL1 at Bank Signal Box on 5th May 1952

 
ED1 at Derby Works on March 26th, 1955 It was around about this
time that the locomotive was re-allocated to Castleton PW Depot.
Richard Day Collection



 
RADYR PAD YARD
Location: Centred on ST13807999, on the south side of the line, east of Penarth Junction Station.
The Pre-Assembly Depot opened in 1959 and was utilized for the construction and loading onto bogies of pre-assembled track panels. By the 1990s the yard was still in use by PW Engineers but mainly as a track reclamation depot. It closed in December 1993.
Facilities: Initially the Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard or at the adjacent Radyr MPD and went to Cardiff Canton MPD) for servicing. By 1992 a one-road stone-built shed with a slate roof had been provided for the engine. Does anyone have any details about this building?
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
97651 (PWM651) [September 1959-June 1984, July 1990-April 1993]
 97653 [c1982, c1985-c1989]
and other Class 97/6 PWM Series shunters
Shunting in the yard and on-site during track laying operations
 

 
 



Departmental Locomotive No.PWM651 shunting at Radyr PAD Yard on July 27th, 1968.
 
 


Departmental Locomotive No.97653 at Radyr Yard.
CJ Marsden
 
Cardiff Canton-allocated Class 08 0-6-0 Shunter No.08779 in Radyr Yard on April 18th, 1987.
Martin Bray

 

 


 No.PWM653 at Radyr Yard


 

RANSKILL WAGON WORKS
Location: Centred on SK67158675, on the east side of the line, north of Retford Station.
Constructed in 1941 as a wartime measure, the Ranskill Royal Ordnance Factory produced solventless cordite and this necessitated its location in a relatively remote position and 883 acres of land were requisitioned, of which the plant occupied some 385. Following the cessation of hostilities the factory closed in July 1945 and a lease was granted to the LNER for use of the rail sidings and the ancillary buildings which occupied the north west portion of the site as a works for wagon and carriage repairs. The works closed in c1959, the track was removed by 1967 and responsibility for the site passed from the Ministry of Defence back to the local authority, Nottinghamshire County Council. The Council returned as much of the land back to farming as possible, but some of the works area became part of a land fill scheme and by 1985 most of the remainder was incorporated into the Daneshill Lakes Nature Reserve.
Facilities: A timber built 1TS dead ended shed, located near the entrance to the site at SK66908707, and a coal stage was provided for the locomotive.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
3 [September 3rd, 1951-November 1959]
4 [February 3rd, 1948-June 1959]
Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard

 


No.3 outside of the 1TS engine shed at Ranskill Wagon Works in July 1957


 
READING DEPOT (RG) & ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: In the fork of the Newbury and Swindon lines, west of Reading General Station.
ENGINEER’S YARD; Three sidings were brought into use by the PW Department in March 1972 to replace Theale Engineer’s Yard.
READING DIESEL DEPOT; A purpose built 3TS dead ended shed constructed in brick and corrugated sheeting with a single pitch gable roof, located at SU70437398 and opened in 1961. A 2TS extension was built on the south side in 1964 and the building was further enlarged in 1993.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard, to the east of the depot, or at the adjacent Reading MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties
Class 97/6 PWM Series shunters
97804 [1984-1986 (In store OOU)]
Shunting in the yard and on-site during track laying operations.



 
Department Locomotive No.PWM653 in the yard at Reading Diesel Depot on August 21st, 1972.
Peter Groom

 

 

No.97804 on display at Reading Diesel Depot.


                            


No.97650 at Reading Engineers Yard on June 26th 1989.
Graeme Wade

 

READING SIGNAL WORKS
Location: On the north side of Reading (GWR) Station.
Facilities: The loco stabled at the east end of the yard adjacent to the level crossing at SU71757387 and was serviced as required at Reading Diesel Depot.
The Signal Works were constructed by the GWR between 1859 and 1865 and were further expanded by 1872. They produced most of the signalling equipment used by the Great Western Railway and were closed by BR in 1984. The site was subsequently used for commercial development.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
27 [1948-July 1960]
97020 [January 1957-April 1981]
97804 [1959-1984]
Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard
 



 WD Departmental Locomotive No.20 parked at the Reading Signal Works
Stabling Point on May 21st, 1976. This siding was adjacent to the west side of Vastern Road.
AAG Delicata

No.97804 engaged in shunting duties in Reading Signal Works just before withdrawal, on February 10th, 1984.
Richard Day Collection

 

REDBRIDGE SLEEPER DEPOT
Location: On the south side of Redbridge Station.
Situated by Redbridge Wharf and ideally located to receive sea-borne timber, the L&SWR opened the depot in 1879. It was gradually expanded by both the SR and BR and occupied some 42 acres before closing on March 3rd, 1989.
Facilities: A stone built pump house with a gable style slated roof, located at the west end of the site at SU37151354, was converted into a 1TS dead ended shed for the loco.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
77S [1948-1958]
DS233 [October 1962-March 1967]
Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard.

The ex-Rail Motor L&SWR Class C14 0-4-0 No.77S at Redbridge Sleeper Depot




USA Class 0-6-0 Departmental Locomotive No.DS233 outside of the . Engine Shed
Sid Nash Collection




 Eastleigh-allocated Class 08 0-6-0 Diesel Shunter No.08030 at Redbridge Sleeper Depot on April 4th, 1980.
Martin Bray

No.3024 shunts the Redbridge Yard on May 22nd.1957.
H C Casserley
 
 


 
 
 

Two views of Redbridge Sleeper Depot on 21st August 1985



 


Views of Redbridge Sleeper Depot from the 1930's and September 12th 1958


 

RUGBY TESTING STATION
 Location: At SP51637591, on the north side of the line, east of Rugby Station.
The Locomotive Testing Station was the idea of Sir Nigel Gresley, CME of the LNER. Building started in 1936 as a joint project with the LMS, but was stopped during WWII and finally opened by BR in 1948. The plant consisted of a main testing area containing the rolling road and measuring equipment with a locomotive preparation area/workshop in a lean-to extension on the north side. Although the testing of Steam and Diesel locomotives ended in 1965 the station did not officially close until 1970. The building was demolished in 1984.
Facilities: The loco was serviced at Rugby MPD as required.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
1699 Attached to a Dynamometer Car and used as a counter pressure locomotive for road testing of other locomotives. [1948-May 1951]


 


LNER Class D49/2 4-4-0 No.62764 The Garth on the rolling road at Rugby Testing Station.
Warwickshire Railways
 
 



Brand new BR Standard Class 7P 4-6-2 No.70005 John Milton at Rugby Testing Station on May 18th, 1951.
AJ Wills Collection

 
SANDOWN ENGINEER'S SIDING
Location: On the west side of Sandown Station.
A Diesel Shunter was retained for engineer’s use on the island after steam locomotion ceased on December 31st, 1966 and passenger services taken over by emus. At first this was a Capital Stock locomotive, D2554, but in 1981 it was transferred to Departmental Stock as No.97803. With Ryde EMU Depot at the north end of the system a suitable location was required to stable the locomotive when working at the south and the siding at SZ59278445, on the west side of Sandown Station was seconded.
Facilities: Other than a length of track upon which to stable the loco and train, none were required as Sandown Engineer’s Siding was, in effect, an outstation of Ryde Depot.
The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the siding at SZ59278445.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
 97803 [February 1981-September 1983]
97805 [April 1984-February 1987]
97807 [June 1988-February 1989 (Stored OOU at RY until June 1998)]
Engineering tasks along the line. 97807 was specifically used for modernization works

 
 

 Class 05 0-6-0 Departmental Diesel Shunter No.97803 at Sandown Engineer’s Siding on June 13th,
1982. Brian Morrison
 
 
 
 
Three views of the Departmental shunters at the location;
No.05001 at the south end of the siding
 




No.D2554 in the siding in September 1968


 

No.D2554 parked in the siding on May 26th, 1970
 
 
SHALFORD ENGINEERS YARD
Location: Centred on TQ01104719, North of the line, east of Shalford Station. A nine-road marshalling yard opened here in October 1941 to handle war-time traffic but after 1945 saw little use, handling mail vans, until 1958 when it was utilized as a temporary stabling point to accommodate locomotives whilst the turntable at Guildford MPD was under repair. During 1965/7 it was employed as a PW Depot in connection with the Bournemouth Electrification Scheme. The yard closed on May 8th, 1967 and the lines lifted.
Facilities: The loco stabled in the yard.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
 DS209 Shunting in the yard and on-site during track work [November 1966-February 1967] (Also utilized at Woking Engineer’s Yard [Up Side])

 
SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on SU40681180, in the middle of Southampton New Docks.
The Engineers Yard, laid out just to the west of the carriage warming shed opposite 104 Berth, evolved during the works for the New (West) Docks which were completed in 1934.
The yard closed in 1977 and was demolished.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
DS400 Engineering work, transporting internal maintenance materials around the docks and a daily trip with a rubbish train from the George V Graving Dock to Eastern Docks. [1948-1957]

Former WD Departmental Diesel 0-4-0 Shunter No.400S between duties at Southampton Docks Engineer’s Yard.
Richard Day Collection


Former WD Departmental Diesel 0-4-0 Shunter No.400S at Southampton Docks Engineer’s Yard.

 


View of Southampton Docks Engineer’s Yard.
 Dave Marden
 
View of Southampton Docks Engineer’s Yard.
 Dave Marden

 



 
Aerial View of Southampton Docks Engineer’s Yard.
 
 

 SOUTHAMPTON TOWN QUAY
Location: Between the East and West Docks.
The Town Quay was part of the Southampton Harbour Board [rather than British Transport Docks Board which owned and ran East and West Docks] and thus did not form a part of the
docks estate. Tracks on the quay were originally accessed from a tramway from Terminus Station running along Platform Road but this was removed prior to WWII when a rail line, on a slightly more southerly route, was constructed to link the East (Old) and West (New) Docks. This re-alignment necessitated some very sharp curves and tight clearances on the tracks leading onto the Town Quay.
Facilities: A corrugated iron two-road dead ended shed with a slated gable style pitched roof located at TQ38418451.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
77S Shunting the quay and forming a daily train of wagons loaded with imported timber [1958-February 1959]
(The very tight clearances necessitated the employment of a small locomotive and when the regular Class C14 No.30588 was
withdrawn, the replacement Drewry diesel shunter experienced operating difficulties. To counter this 77S was seconded from
Redbridge Sleeper Depot until a suitably adapted diesel shunter was available from Capital Stock)





 

 

View of Southampton Town Quay (Undated).

 

 


View of Southampton Town Quay (Undated).

 



The ex-Rail Motor L&SWR Class C14 0-4-0 No.77S simmering between duties at Southampton Town Quay on January 31st, 1959
 
 
STRATFORD WORKS
Location: On the west side of the Cambridge line, north of Stratford Station.
Opened by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1841, Stratford Works was sited on the east side of the Cambridge line. Over the ensuing years it became the major workshops for the Great Eastern Railway and, as demand for locomotives and rolling stock expanded, quickly encroached onto land on the west side. It was developed in a very haphazard manner, intermingling with the large running sheds, and never modernized to any great extent right into BR days. The Erecting Shop closed to steam repairs in 1957, being subsequently utilized for diesel maintenance as Stratford Repair Depot [SR], but the rest of the works, including the original portion on the east side of the Cambridge line continued to deal with steam traction until it ended in September 1962. Dieselization enabled a wholesale rationalization of the site and it was effectively reduced to the Repair Depot and adjoining Diesel Shed. It remained in this form until closure on March 31st, 1991 and was then let for commercial use prior to demolition in September 2002. By 2006 the St Pancras to Channel Tunnel rail link had been constructed across the site and the remainder was awaiting redevelopment, some of it as part of the London Olympics site.
Facilities; A corrugated iron 2TS dead ended shed with a slated gable style roof and located at TQ38418451 was provided for the locos
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
31 [June 30th, 1952-November 1959]   32 [1948-September 1962]    33 [1948-December 1963]    34 [June 27th, 1948-October 1952]    35 [1948-November 1952]
36 [September 15th, 1952-January 1959]    43 [December 1958-August 1959]    44 [August 1959-September 1962]    45 [November 1959-September 1962]
8081 [January-April 1948]    8135 [January-February 1948]    68667 [1948-May 1952]    68669 [1948-October 1950]  and other ex-Capital Stock Locos
Shunting throughout the works





Departmental 0-6-0 Shunters Nos 32 and 33 at Stratford Works Engine Shed




Departmental No.33 at Stratford Works Engine Shed
 
 

Sadly, many of the Departmental Locomotives based on the old Great Eastern system ended up here for scrapping and this
view shows Class Y3 Sentinel 0-4-0T locos Nos 21 & 42, both from Cambridge Engineer’s Yard, awaiting cutting up on August 2nd, 1960.
GW Sharpe
 
 
 
 
LNER 0-6-0 Crane Tank No.8660 at Stratford Works Engine Shed

 
STRATFORD DEPOT (SF)
Location: On the west side of the Cambridge line, north of Stratford Station.
Opened by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1841, Stratford Works was sited on the east side of the Cambridge line. Over the ensuing years it became the major workshops for the Great Eastern Railway and, as demand for locomotives and rolling stock expanded, quickly encroached onto land on the west side. It was developed in a very haphazard manner, intermingling with the large running sheds, and never modernized to any great extent right into BR days. The Erecting Shop closed to steam repairs in 1957, being subsequently utilized for diesel maintenance as Stratford Repair Depot [SR], but the rest of the works, including the original portion on the east side of the Cambridge line continued to deal with steam traction until it ended in September 1962. Dieselization enabled a wholesale rationalization of the site and it was effectively reduced to the Repair Depot and adjoining Diesel Shed. It remained in this form until closure on March 31st, 1991 and was then let for commercial use prior to demolition in September 2002. By 2006 the St Pancras to Channel Tunnel rail link had been constructed across the site and the remainder was awaiting redevelopment, some of it as part of the London Olympics site.
Facilities; The MPD closed to steam in September 1962 and the locomotive was serviced at TQ38298475 on a redundant siding near to the "New" Shed. It was coaled by hand from a coal wagon and the water was obtained from pipework installed to fill the Diesel Locomotive train heating boilers.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
B1 No.28
 


 
 
 
SUDBROOK DEPOT
Location: At the Pumping Station, at the end of a spur on the south side of the Gloucester line, about three miles east of Severn Tunnel Junction.
The Pumping Station was built by the GWR in 1886 to remove water from the Severn Tunnel and following the closure of Severn Tunnel Junction Diesel Depot on October 10th, 1987 this location was selected as the most conveniently situated to site a shed for the Locomotive and emergency train comprising of five vans and wagons.
Facilities; A 1TS through road shed constructed in corrugated sheeting on a steel frame with a corrugated sheeting clad single pitched roof and located at ST50668744 was provided for the loco.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
97806 Emergency Locomotive for the Severn Tunnel [1988-1998]



97806 in Sudbrook Pumping Station Yard.
 
 


 
97806 in Sudbrook Pumping Station Yard on October 8th 1987.




 
SWANSEA DOCKS ENGINEER'S YARD
Map and details required.
Location: Not known. Facilities: Not known

 
SWINDON COCKLEBURY ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on SU15358543, on the north side of the line, east of Swindon Station.
The sidings were installed in 1901 by the GWR but when they were first utilized by the PW Engineer’s Department is not known. The yard closed at some time after 1970 and the lines were lifted with Great Western Way covering most of the site.
Facilities; The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard and was serviced at Swindon Depot (SW)
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
Class 97/6 PWM Series shunters
 


 
SWINDON NEWBURN ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on SU13858440, on the south side of the Bristol line, west of Swindon Station.
The yard opened as a Pre-Assembly Depot on February 2nd, 1970 and was utilized for the construction and loading onto bogies of pre-assembled track panels. Part of the site was involved in the recovery of redundant track and designated as the Newburn Central Reclamation Depot. The yard closed on August 1st, 1982 and the lines were lifted.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard and was serviced at Swindon Depot (SW)
 Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
Class 97/6 PWM Series shunters
 Shunting in the yard and on-site during track laying operations.
 


Departmental Loco No.PWM650 shunting in Swindon Newburn PAD Yard on June 30th, 1971
AJ Booth
 
Departmental Locomotive No.PWM650 shunting at Swindon Newburn PAD Yard on December 9th 1972.
 
Departmental Locomotive No.PWM650 shunting at Swindon Newburn PAD Yard on April 4th 1982.

 
TAUNTON FAIRWATER PAD YARD
Location: Centred on ST21302563 on the south side of the line, west of Taunton Station. 
The Pre-Assembly Depot opened in 1960 and was utilized for the construction and loading onto bogies of pre-assembled track panels. It consisted of 7 sidings and closed as a PAD in April 1986. Subsequently wagons were stored at the yard
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled within the yard, usually at the east end at ST21502559. 
 Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
 D2133 [July-November 1966],  97652 (PWM652) [1964-April 1986] 
and other Class 97/6 PWM Series Shunters shunting the PAD Yard and on-site during track laying.
 

 
Departmental 0-6-0 Shunter No.PWM652 at the Stabling Point in Fairwater PAD Yard on March 8th, 1969.
I Thomas.
 


No.PWM652 approaching the east end of Fairwater PAD Yard in July 1978. 
Richard Day Collection

 



No.PWM652 at Fairwater PAD Yard on February 22nd 1982.

 

TAUNTON CONCRETE WORKS YARD                                                                                                                                                                                                            Location: On the north side of the line, east of Taunton Station. 

Built as a concrete works by the GWR. After the use of Departmental Locomotives ceased at this site, PW Machines were stabled here from c1987 until it closed on March 31st, 1992. The site was redeveloped with housing.
Facilities; A timber built 1TS dead ended shed, located at ST23202545, was provided for the loco by the GWR and this was subsequently rebuilt in concrete blocks. Later the building was dispensed with and locos stabled in the yard.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties; 
24 [1948-July 1960] 
27 [Intermittently between 1948 & c1952]
DS1169 [1964-1965], 
97652 [September 1959-1964] 
and other Class 97/6 PWM Series Shunters
Shunting the concrete works and yard. 97652 was also utilized at Fairwater PAD Yard

 
 
 
No.23 at Taunton Engineers Yard.
 
THEALE ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on SU63507050, on the north side of the Reading to Bristol line, west of Theale Station.
The site was an old waste tip and gravel pit operated by the BR Engineering Section and there was a 2ft gauge internal railway system. By 1959 it had been expanded to a PAD yard, with a fan of 13 sidings but by 1970 the yard had been reduced to just two tracks utilized by stone traffic and in March 1972 it closed totally. The site was subsequently occupied with stone and oil terminals.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard and was serviced at Reading Depot. as required
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
Standard Gauge;
 97653 (PWM653) [1959-April 1991] and other Class 97/6 PWM Series Shunters Shunting the PAD Yard and on-site during track laying.
  2ft Gauge;  PWM1780 [February 1951-1952] Manœuvring materials.

 

 
Departmental 0-6-0 Locomotive No.PWM653 in Theale Engineer’s Yard on April 7th, 1968.
R Waywell





Departmental 0-6-0 Locomotive No.PWM653 in Theale Engineer’s Yard.



 

Departmental 0-6-0 Locomotive No.PWM653 in Theale Engineer’s Yard.


 
WEST HARTLEPOOL CREOSOTE DEPOT
Location: Centred on NZ51153420, on the south side of the East Hartlepool Station to Cemetery Junction line, west of East Hartlepool Station.
The depot was opened by the NER and after closure by BR the site was utilized for road improvements, with the A1048 and a large roundabout subsequently occupying most of the area.
Facilities: The loco stabled in the yard and was serviced at West Hartlepool MPD.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
52 [June 1950-April 1961]
86 [April 1961-]
15097 [May 1949-June 1950]
Shunting and manœuvring materials and wagons around the yard.
 
 
No.11104 was unique on BR. It was purchased for Departmental use in June 1950 and was the sole example of an FC Hibbert "Planet" type shunter to be used on the system. Not having been bought as a Capital Stock locomotive it was also incorrectly numbered and did not receive a Departmental one until given No.52 in May 1953. This view, probably an "official" photograph shows it, as No.11104 and in immaculate condition, pushing sleepers into one of the creosoting drums at West Hartlepool Creosote Depot.
Richard Day Collection
 

 



No.52 at West Hartlepool Creosote Depot in April 1955
 
 

The other shunter in use at West Hartlepool Creosote Depot was No.86 which took over from No.52 in April 1961. It is seen here at York MPD on March 1st, 1969 when officially allocated to York Engineer’s Yard

 
WOKING ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on SU99905828 on the north side of the line, 250 yards west of Woking Station.
The yard was installed in the early 1960s and during 1965/7 was employed as an Engineer’s Permanent Way Depot to accommodate PW works trains engaged in the Bournemouth Electrification Scheme. After closure most of the site was utilized for a superstore. Prior to the arrival of No.52, Capital Stock locomotives were used but there were problems in manning and the availability of sufficiently powerful shunting locomotives.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard and was serviced on-site.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
52 [1966-March 1967]
DS209 [November 1966-February 1967] (Also utilized at Shalford Engineer’s Yard in this period)
Shunting in the yard and on-site during engineering works.

 

WOLVERTON WORKS
Location: On the west side of Wolverton Station.
Opened on September 17th, 1838 by the London & Birmingham Railway, Wolverton Works built locos until 1877 and from then on it became the foremost carriage works on the LMS. It was gradually run down from 1963 when it became responsible for repairs only and most of the site was eventually redeveloped but part of it was retained for railway use as a private repair depot.
Facilities: A timber built one through road shed with a slated gable style roof, located at SP81824159 and at the north end of the site, was provided by the L&NWR in 1874 for the Standard Gauge Departmental Locomotives.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
CD3 [1948-August 1959]  CD6 [1948-May 1959]  CD7 [1948-November 1959]  CD8 [1948-1957]  1311G [1948-1978]
40002 [May 1957-November 1959]  40006 [February 1959-April 1961]  47319 [July 1962-August 1962]  47385 [July 1962-May 196447396 [March 1963-October 1966]  47435 [October 1965-May 1966]  
47451 [August 1963-September 1965]  47478 [September 1959-July 1962] 47479 [September 1959-July 1962] 47500 [September 1959-April 1960]  47659 [February-March 1962]  47665 [February-March 1962]
Utilized for shunting in the works.
 
 
 


L&NWR Webb 0-6-0ST Departmental Locomotive No.CD6, stabled at Wolverton Works.
RM Casserley
 

The interior of the shed on March 28th, 1987 with Willesden-based Class 08 0-6-0 Diesel Shunter No.08484 stabled between duties
Martin Bray
 



The Engine Shed at Wolverton Works on September 27th, 1986.
ME Alderman




Bletchley-allocated Class 08 0-6-0 Diesel Loco No.08011 in use as a Works Shunter at Wolverton Works on September 8th, 1982.
Martin Bray

 

YEOVIL JUNCTION ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on ST57101428, on the north side of the line, at the east end of Yeovil Junction Station.
The Engineer’s Yard was in use in SR days and was expanded eastwards for employment as a Pre-Assembly Depot in 1959. This was utilized for the construction and loading onto bogies of pre-assembled track panels and the yard was removed by 1994.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive stabled in the yard.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties;
49 Shunting the Engineer’s Yard [November-December 1948]
DS1169 Shunting the PAD & Engineer’s Yards and on-site during track laying [1965-March 1972]
(Capital Stock locos from Yeovil Town MPD were used from December 1948 until the shed closed in 1965)
 

YORK CONCRETE DEPOT
Location: At SE592, 95192, in the goods yard on the north side of the goods line, on the west side of York Station.
The depot was opened by the LNER in c1930 and closed in November 1988. The main building still stood in 2004.
Facilities: The Departmental Locomotive utilised the engine shed in York Engineer's Yard.
The two sites were adjacent and within a few hundred yards of each other with the Concrete Depot east of the Engineer’s Yard
Locomotive Allocation & Duties [Both Locations];
52 [April 1961-1966]
 53 [1948-March 1959]
84 [March 1959-April 1969 (OOU)]
86 [-April 1969 (OOU)]


 

No.86 at York Concrete Depot
 

YORK ENGINEER'S YARD
Location: Centred on SE58705212, on the south side of the Newcastle line, west of York Station.
Also known as Leeman Road Yard, it was opened by the LNER in c1930. It lasted through BR days but the closing date is not known.
Facilities: A corrugated iron one through road shed, located at the west end of the site at SE58555215, was provided from the outset to house the Departmental Locomotive.
Locomotive Allocation & Duties [Both Locations];
52 [April 1961-1966]
53 [1948-March 1959]
84 [March 1959-April 1969 (OOU)]
86 [-April 1969 (OOU)]


Diesel Shunter No.52 at York Engineer’s Yard on September 2nd, 1961.
The 1TS corrugated iron engine shed can be seen behind the locomotive.
Richard Day Collection




Departmental Locomotive No.84 soon after its delivery to York Engineer’s Yard in February 1959.
N Skinner

 

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