Bank Hall Locomotive Depot in 1948: two ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire engines outside the smaller through Shed: ex-L&Y 1F 0-6-0T No. 11535, fitted with dumb buffers and swinging spark-arrestor for working in the Docks; behind it is Class 30 6F 0-8-0 No. 12782. (Beyond can be glimpsed an 8F 2-8-0 with the unusual combination of 'M' as well as the BR initial '4' added to its number). Photo: 20 June 1848 by Ben Brooksbank, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.

Recording Locomotive Sightings 1943 - 1968
A generation of enthusiasts recorded the movements of locomotives around the railway system. These records of visits to locomotive depots have been collected and carefully analysed to provide an overall portrait for the period 1943 to 1968. During that period of steam's final years, there was a marked change from the pre-grouping types that still found work at a few depots, to the modern BR designs that worked until the end in 1968. The handling of freight and passenger services was a major undertaking from town and cities, ports, coal mines and factories. All of it traversed the labyrinth of lines that criss-crossed the country. There were numerous 'sheds' spread throughout the length and breadth of the land that provided and serviced the vast army of steam locomotives (20,000 in 1948). Here is just a taste of that history.

Sunday 31 May 2015

Bletchley & subsheds 1946 - 1965

A LNWR class 2P 0-6-2T No. 6917 about to leave Leighton Buzzard on 2nd October 1948 for Dunstable.  
Photo: Ben Brooksbank Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0

Bletchley
Pre Grouping Ownership - London & North Western Railwayopened:1851Sep 1935 - Jan 19502B
type:A brick-built 6TS dead-ended shed.closed:Jul-65Feb 1950 - 19524A
location:At the west side of the line, at the north end of Bletchley station.
1952 - July 19651E
AbbreviationsA - AspinallF - FowlerFb - FairburnH - HughesI - Ivatt
J - JohnsonSt - StanierWb - WebbLNWR - London & North Western Railway
LMS - London, Midland & Scottish RailwayGER - Great Eastern RailwayPOW - Prince of Wales
NLR - North London RailwayMR - Midland RailwayBR - British RailwaysWD - War Department
Sunday 19 May 19462Btotal:57
cl 1P 2-4-2T (Wb)cl 4P 4-4-0 (3 cyl)Prince of Wales 4-6-0cl 6F 0-8-0 G1cl 7F 0-8-0 G2a
66042B11533E25673*2B Lusitania88942B89252B
cl 2P 0-6-2T (Wb)cl 5MT 4-6-0256942B258182B89152A89522B
69362B50241A257222B258452B89312B90072B
cl 2F 0-6-2T (Wb)51912C257912Bcl 3F 0-6-0T89352B90705B
77422B53142Bcl 3F 0-6-0 (A)72882B90915C91272B
77732Bcl 2F 0-6-0 (Wb)120862B72982B91002Bcl 7F 0-8-0 G2
cl 4P 2-6-4T (St)283502B121072B74522B91281A94012B
24422B285502B123222B75212B91382B94062B
24582B285552Bcl 4F 0-6-0cl 7F 0-8-0 (F)91732B94092B
25912B286012B43442C958015B91792B94162B
26042Bcl 2F 0-6-0T (NLR)cl 8F 2-8-092012B94462A
26101A27517*6C en route to Bow Works830915C92292A94522A
Shed Codes1A Willesden2A Rugby2B Bletchley2C Northampton3E Monument Lane
5B Crewe South5C Stafford6C Birkenhead15B Kettering15C Leicester Midland
Saturday 11 October 19472Btotal:40
cl 2F 0-6-2T (Wb)Jubilee 4-6-0cl 4F 0-6-0cl 6F 0-8-0 G1cl 7F 0-8-0 G2a
77732B56061B Falkland Islands40722B89132B89252B
cl 4P 2-6-4T (St)cl 5MT 4-6-0cl 4P 4-6-0 POW425018A90492A89512B
24461C50252B256942B44472B90762B89522B
24493Dcl 8F 2-8-0258272B44552A91732B90072B
25912B86291Acl 3F 0-6-0 (J)45492B91945C90612A
cl 2F 0-6-2T (Wb)cl 3F 0-6-0T336715Acl 3F 0-6-0 (A)92012B90802D
278302B72982Bcl 4F 0-6-0 (F)120862B92082B91272B
74522B38412B121052B93502Dcl 7F 0-8-0 G2
121072B93722B94162B
93912B
Shed Codes1A Willesden1B Camden1C Watford2A Rugby2B Bletchley
2D Coventry3D Aston5C Stafford15A Wellingborough18A Toton
Saturday 15 July 19504Atotal:28
cl 2P 4-4-0 (J/F)cl 4MT 2-6-4T (St)cl 5MT 4-6-0cl 8F 2-8-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 7F 0-8-0 G2
4045010C425914A450574A4813318A89514A94064A
cl 1P 2-4-2T (Wb)426594A451304A820218A490144A494434A
66832C426664A453144A485262B90704A94504A
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (F)cl 5MT 2-6-0 (H/F)cl 2F 0-6-2T (Wb)864717A491391Acl 6F 0-8-0 G1
423034A427789A589264Acl 4F 0-6-092924A491544A
cl 4MT 2-6-0443522B492874A
M30044A444474A
Shed Codes1A Willesden2B Nuneaton2C Northampton4A Bletchley9A Longsight
10C Preston17A Derby18A Toton
Allocation - September 1950 (59)cl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)LMS1cl 4MT 2-6-4T (F)LMS2
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (St)LMS7cl 4MT 2-6-0LMS6cl 4F 0-6-0 (F)MR1
cl 4F 0-6-0LMS1cl 5MT 4-6-0LMS7cl 1P 2-4-2T (Wb)LNWR1
cl 3F 0-6-0TLMS4cl 7F 0-8-0 G2aLMS14cl 7F 0-8-0 G2LNWR5
cl 2F 0-6-2T (Wb)LNWR3cl 6F 0-8-0 G1LNWR7
Sunday 2 August 19531E5.45pm - 5.55pmtotal:47
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (Fb)cl 4MT 2-6-4T (St)BR 4MT 4-6-0cl 5MT 4-6-0cl 8F 2-8-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2a
420611E425821E750301E447162A485351E490051E
420621E426591E750331E447711E4869015B491221A
421201C426691Ecl 4F 0-6-0 (F)447738A486931E491551E
421551Ecl 5MT 2-6-0 (H/F)438411E449161Ecl 3F 0-6-0T492122B
BR 4MT 2-6-4T427471Acl 4F 0-6-0451351E472881E492891E
800391E429311A443521E451912E472981E493101E
800401Ecl 4MT 2-6-0443641E453141E474521Ecl 6F 0-8-0 G1
800421E430021E4436621B453245D475211E489511E
800431E430031Ecl 1P 2-4-2T (Wb)B1 4-6-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2490491E
430051E466011E6112131A494431E
Shed Codes1A Willesden1C Watford1E Bletchley2A Rugby2B Nuneaton
2E Northampton5D Stoke-on-Trent8A Edge Hill15B Kettering21B Bescot31A Cambridge
Sunday 19 September 19541Etotal:40
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (F)BR 4MT 2-6-4TBR 4MT 4-6-0cl 5MT 4-6-0cl 8F 2-8-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2a
423891C800401E750311E449092A4828115A490051E
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (St)800421E750321E450641A485501E490088B
426591E800431E750331E450912E486011A492891E
cl 5MT 2-6-0 (H/F)800811E750351Ecl 4F 0-6-0487232Bcl 7F 0-8-0 G2
428701A800821E750371E443521Ecl 4F 0-6-0 (F)494431E
428879A800831E750381E443641E438411Ecl 6F 0-8-0 G1
cl 2F 0-6-2T (Wb)800841E750391E444471Ecl 3F 0-6-0T490491E
588871E800851ED16 4-4-0 (GER)445931E475211E0-6-0 diesel
6258531A13051
Shed Codes1A Willesden1C Watford1E Bletchley2A Rugby2B Nuneaton
8B Warrington9A Longsight15A Wellingborough31A Cambridge
Sunday 26 May 19571Etotal:51
cl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)BR 4MT 2-6-4Tcl 5MT 4-6-0cl 8F 2-8-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 4F 0-6-0
412221E800391E4494024B4820784G488981E440721E
BR 2MT 2-6-2T800401E450041E483452B489531E443641E
840021E800411E450201E4837615A490051E444471E
840041E800421E451951E485351E491801A445931E
BR 4MT 4-6-0800811E453071E485441E492891Ecl 4F 0-6-0 (F)
750361E800821E453311E486321A493101E438411E
750371E800831E453881E486881Ecl 7F 0-8-0 G2BR 9F 2-10-0
750521E800851E453922E487541E494152D9202315A
0-6-0 dieselscl 3F 0-6-0T453931EWD 2-8-0494431E9207718A
1204912053475001E9064838Acl 6F 0-8-0 G1
492871E
Shed Codes1A Willesden1E Bletchley2B Nuneaton2D Coventry2E Northampton
15A Wellingborough18A Toton24B Rose Grove38A Colwick84G Shrewsbury
Sunday 7 September 19581Etotal:36
cl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)BR 4MT 2-6-4Tcl 5MT 4-6-0cl 8F 2-8-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 4F 0-6-0
412221E800431E450201E4853018A488981E443701E
412751E800651C452895A485441E492891E443971E
BR 2MT 2-6-2T800821E452922E485491Ecl 7F 0-8-0 G2444471E
840041E800831E453071E485501E494402Bcl 3F 0-6-0T
BR 4MT 4-6-0800841E453311E486462A494431E475001E
750371E800851E453881E486881EBR 9F 2-10-00-6-0 diesels
750521Ecl 5F 2-6-0 (H/F)9202915A1207012073
428121A9210715A
Shed Codes1A Willesden1C Watford1E Bletchley2A Rugby2B Nuneaton
2E Northampton5A Crewe North15A Wellingborough18A Toton
Allocation - March 1959 (54)cl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)LMS2cl 4MT 2-6-4T (St)LMS1
cl 4F 0-6-0 (F)MR1cl 4F 0-6-0LMS5cl 5MT 4-6-0LMS7
cl 3F 0-6-0TLMS2cl 8F 2-8-0LMS9cl 7F 0-8-0LMS9
cl 7F 0-8-0 (B-C)LNWR3BR 4MT 4-6-0BR5BR 4MT 2-6-4TBR8
BR 2MT 2-6-2TBR2
Sunday 22 March 19591E12noon - 12.25pmtotal:53
cl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)cl 3MT 2-6-2T (F)cl 5MT 4-6-0cl 4F 0-6-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 8F 2-8-0
412221E40002WW S450201E440721E490611E S482071E
412751Ecl 4MT 2-6-4T (St)450912E440762E490941E485491E
BR 2MT 2-6-2T424671E451495B443641E491221A485501E
840041EBR 4MT 2-6-4T451841E443701E492452A485592A
BR 4MT 4-6-0800391E451912E443971E492891E S486101E
750301E800411E4520524Bcl 3F 0-6-0T493101E487291A
750361E800421E453881E475001Ecl 7F 0-8-0 G2487541E
750371E800821E453931E475211E494031EWD 2-8-0
750521E800841EB1 4-6-0cl 6F 0-8-0 G1494501E9016140E
cl 4F 0-6-0 (F)800851E6120331A491442B S0-6-0 dieselsBR 9F 2-10-0
438411E SS - stored493502BD2039120739216315B
Shed Codes1A Willesden1E Bletchley2A Rugby2B Nuneaton5B Crewe South
15B Kettering24B Rose Grove31A Cambridge40E ColwickWW Wolverton Wks
Sunday 30 April 19611E11am - 11.25amtotal:40
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (Fb)BR 4MT 4-6-0cl 5MT 4-6-0cl 4F 0-6-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 8F 2-8-0
420661E750361E448632A440721E W489531E4837415A
420711E750371E450891E443641E490611E4853818A
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (F)750381E451911A443971E490931E485441E
423511Ecl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)452921E444471E493101E486101E
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (St)412751E453311Ecl 3F 0-6-0Tcl 7F 0-8-0 G2486881E
425861EBR 2MT 2-6-2T453931E47500WW494431EBR T2 diesels
cl 3MT 2-6-2T (F)840021E0-6-0 diesels475211EBR 9F 2-10-0D5019D5082
40002WW W1207312074cl 6F 0-8-0 G19202115AD5030D5083
W - withdrawn492871E
Shed Codes1A Willesden1E Bletchley2A Rugby15A Wellingborough18A Toton
Sunday 9 September 19621E11.30am - 11.45amtotal:45
cl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)cl 4MT 2-6-4T (St)cl 5MT 4-6-0cl 8F 2-8-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 7F 0-8-0 G2
412221E4257933C W*450201E484081E489531E W494431E W
BR 2MT 2-6-2T425861E450371E484461E490611E WEE T4 diesel
840021E SBR 4MT 4-6-0450891E485491E490931ED295
840041E S750131E452221E486101E490941E SBR T2 diesels
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (Fb)750141E452881A486461E493101E WD5008D5135
421061E750391E453311E486881Ecl 6F 0-8-0 G1D5015D5144
422271E750511Ecl 3F 0-6-0T487291E492871E SD5023D5145
Jubilee 4-6-047348WW Wcl 5MT 2-6-0 (St)BR 9F 2-10-00-6-0 diesels
457235A Fearless47500WW429725B9208215A1207312074
Shed Codes1A Willesden1E Bletchley5A Crewe North5B Crewe South15A Wellingborough
33C ShoeburynessWW Wolverton Wks* withdrawn whilst en route from Bangor to Shoeburyness
Sunday 15 September 19631Etotal:42
cl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)BR 4MT 4-6-0cl 5MT 4-6-0cl 8F 2-8-0EE T4 diesel
412221E750131E4492624E4819817A486466CD228
BR 2MT 2-6-2T750281E450641E482031E486561EBR T2 diesels
840021E750381E452921E4831318A486571ED5000D5022
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (Fb)750541E453311E484271E486881ED5017D5144
421051E750561E453791E485341E4871921DD5019
421061E453931E485441E4875915B0-6-0 diesel
422331ERoyal Scot 4-6-0485501EBR 9F 2-10-0D3796
cl 3F 0-6-0T46120*6G Royal Inniskilling Fusilier485541E9215618A
476061E* loco withdrawn486101E9215818B
Shed Codes1E Bletchley6C Birkenhead6G Llandudno Jct.15B Kettering17A Derby
18A Toton18B Westhouses21D Aston24E Blackpool
Sunday 12 July 19641Etotal:38
cl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)cl 5MT 4-6-0Jubilee 4-6-0cl 3F 0-6-0TEE T4 diesels
412221E453491H456721A Anson47451WWD292D316
BR 2MT 2-6-2T454302Jcl 8F 2-8-0475211EBR T2 diesels
840021EBR 5MT 4-6-0480771E485491E476061ED5000D5073
cl 4MT 2-6-4T (Fb)730041E481341A485501E0-6-0 dieselsD5018D5077
421051E730141E484081E486261E1207312074D5032
421061E730391E484271E486881EBrush T2 diesels
BR 4MT 4-6-0730401E485441E487468AD5574D5619
750131E730671E4854515C
Shed Codes1A Willesden1E Bletchley1H Northampton2J Aston8A Edge Hill
15C KetteringWW Wolverton Wks
Allocation - April 1965 (34)cl 4MT 2-6-0LMS3cl 5MT 4-6-0LMS7
cl 3F 0-6-0TLMS4cl 8F 2-8-0LMS17BR 4MT 4-6-0BR3
Saturday 29 May 19651Etotal:29diesels not recorded
BR 2MT 2-6-2TBR 4MT 4-6-0cl 5MT 4-6-0cl 8F 2-8-0cl 3F 0-6-0T
840021E W750131E448371E480771E486261E47435WW
cl 4MT 2-6-0750551E448388A483601E486561E47500WW
431221EBR 5MT 4-6-0448701E484401H486881E475211E
BR 4MT 2-6-0730482D450271G485341E487571E476061E
760351A450651F485491E4875915CBR 9F 2-10-0
453519K485501E921292D
454052J
Shed Codes1A Willesden1E Bletchley1H Northampton2D Banbury2J Aston
8A Edge Hill9K Bolton15C KetteringWW Wolverton Wks
Bletchley shed was closed on 15th July 1965.
Leighton Buzzard
Pre Grouping Ownership - London & North Western Railwayopened:1859Bletchley subshed
type:A brick-built 2TS through-road shed.closed:Nov-62
location:On the east side of the line, south of the station.
AbbreviationsI - IvattWb - WebbBR - British Railways
Monday 1 August 1938Wednesday 19 December 1945Wednesday 9 May 1951
total:5total:3total:3
cl 6F 0-8-0 G1cl 7F 0-8-0 G2cl 6F 0-8-0 G1cl 7F 0-8-0 G2cl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)cl 6F 0-8-0 G1
90432B94062B89292C94272B412754A492874A
91932B94242Bcl 1P 2-4-2T (Wb)cl 7F 0-8-0 G2a
cl 2F 0-6-2T (Wb)66742B490144A
77632B
Sunday 21 February 1954Sunday 22 July 1956Sunday 7 September 1958
total:4total:7total:6
BR 4MT 2-6-4Tcl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)cl 7F 0-8-0 G2BR 4MT 2-6-4Tcl 7F 0-8-0 G2a
800411E488981E412751E494431E800411E489531E
cl 6F 0-8-0 G1493101Ecl 7F 0-8-0 G2a494471Ecl 6F 0-8-0 G1490941E
492871E488981E494501E492871E493101E
493301Ecl 6F 0-8-0 G1493301E
492871E
Sunday 26 March 1961Sunday 3 June 1962Shed Codes
total:5total:51E, 2B, 4A Bletchley
cl 8F 2-8-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 2MT 2-6-2T (I)cl 7F 0-8-0 G2a2C, 2E Northampton
482692E490931E412891E490931E
485491E491301Ecl 8F 2-8-0491061E
BR 2MT 2-6-2T486571Ecl 6F 0-8-0 G1
840021E492871E
Leighton Buzzard shed was closed on 5th November 1962.
Oxford (LMS)
Pre Grouping Ownership - London & North Western Railwayopened:1882Bletchley subshed
type:A bric- built 2TS dead-ended shed.closed:Dec-50
location:On the east side of the line, north of Rewley Road station.
AbbreviationsA - AspinallJ - JohnsonSt - StanierWb - WebbWh - Whale
POW - Prince of Wales
Sunday 27 September 1936Sunday 19 September 1937Sunday 1 May 1938
total:6total:6total:6
cl 4F 0-6-0cl 3F 0-6-0Tcl 2P 4-4-0 (J)cl 3F 0-6-0Tcl 4P 2-6-4T (St)cl 3F 0-6-0T
40797521554752124652B75212B
cl 2P 4-4-0 (Wh)cl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 4P 2-6-4T (St)cl 6F 0-8-0 G1cl 2P 0-6-2T (Wb)cl 6F 0-8-0 (Wb)
5292 Medussa90292600922969308927
cl 1P 2-4-2T (Wb)cl 3F 0-6-0 (A)cl 1P 2-4-2T (Wb)cl 7F 0-8-0 G2cl 7F 0-8-0 G2acl 7F 0-8-0 G2
6699120866699943793392C94292D
Shed Codes2B Bletchley2C Northampton2D Coventry
Sunday 17 February 1946Sunday 30 July 1950
total:7Shed Codestotal:7Shed Codes
cl 2P 0-6-2T (Wb)cl 6F 0-8-0 G12A Rugbycl 4P 2-6-4T (St)cl 6F 0-8-0 (Wb)2B Nuneaton
69122B90492A2B Bletchley426664A492874A4A Bletchley
cl 8F 2-8-092082B2C Northamptoncl 4MT 2-6-0cl 7F 0-8-0 G2a5C Stafford
833415Acl 7F 0-8-0 G2a15A WellingboroughM30054A491585C15A Wellingborough
POW 4-6-089522Bcl 8F 2-8-0493682B
256942Bcl 7F 0-8-0 G24816715A
94262C
Oxford LMS shed was closed on 3rd December 1950.
Wolverton Works
Pre Grouping Ownership - London & North Western Railwayopened:1874
locos maintained at Bletchley.
type:A timber-built 1TS through-road shed in the Works complex.closed:c1990photograph
Sunday 28 March 1954Sunday 9 September 1962Sunday 17 September 1967
total:4total:4total:9
cl 2F 0-6-2T (Wb)cl 2F 0-6-0ST (Wb)cl 3F 0-6-0TBR 0-6-0 dieselsNB 0-4-0 diesels
588871ECD3WW47294WWD2129D2301D2709D2903
CD7WW47318WWD3228D2732D2904
CD8WW47385WWD2733D2905
475211E
Updated and revised - October 2021.