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.

Monday, 9 February 2026

Shed Profile - 34A Kings Cross in 1962

34AKings CrossAllocations 1962
Pre Grouping Ownership - Great Northern Railwayopened:1851Sep 1935 - Jan 1950KX
type:A through-road 8TS and a 7TS dead-ended shed.closed:Jun-63Feb 1950 - Jun 196334A
location:Situated in the Kings Cross goods yard, north of the station.
AbbreviationsGNR - Great Northern RailwayBR - British RailwaysNER - North Eastern Railway
EE - English ElectricWD - War Department
Sunday 7 January 196234Atotal:85
V2 2-6-2B1 4-6-0A1 4-6-2A4 4-6-2
60800 ^34A6110736A6012236A Curlew6000334A Andrew K. McCosh
6081434A6110941A6012356C H. A. Ivatt6000834A Dwight D. Eisenhower
6082934E6117934A6014156C Abbotsford6001334A Dom. Of New Zealand
6084134E6120034A6014752B North Eastern6001434A Silver Link
6084534E6128234E6014856C Aboyeur6001734A Silver Fox
6085236A6136434A6015636A Great Central6002134A Wild Swan
6086234A6139334A6016064B Auld Reekie6002634A Miles Beevor
6087134AK2 2-6-0 (GNR)A2/3 4-6-26002934A Woodcock
6089334E61756SB6051650A Hycilla6003434A Lord Faringdon
6089636AK3 2-6-0 (GNR)WD 2-8-09F 2-10-0A3 4-6-2
6089936A6191531B9001534E9203634E6003934A Sandwich
6090234AK1 2-6-09012934E9203734E6004834F Doncaster
6091434E6201536E9021534E9214134E6005034F Persimmon
6091734AL1 2-6-4T9025633B9217436A6005934A Tracery
6092550A6777034A9027034E9217636A6006734A Ladas
6095634E6777934A9045434B9218034E6010634F Flying Fox
6098334A6778634A9065333B9218234E6010734A Royal Lancer
N2 0-6-2T (GNR)6779334A9073034EBR T2 diesel6010934A Hermit
6952334A6779734A0-6-0 dieselsD56016011034A Robert the Devil
6953534A6780034AD3303D3635Deltic T5 dieselBritannia 4-6-2
6953834AD3310D90057003540B Rudyard Kipling
6956834A^ named : Green ArrowSB - stationary boiler7003940B Sir Christopher Wren
Shed Codes31B March33B Tilbury34A Kings Cross34E New England34F Grantham
36A Doncaster36E Retford40B Immingham41A Sheffield Darnall50A York52B Heaton
56C Copley Hill64B Haymarket
Sunday 21 January 196234Atotal:75
V2 2-6-2B1 4-6-0A1 4-6-2A4 4-6-2
6081434A6110941A6011756C Bois Roussel6000834A Dwight D. Eisenhower
6086234A6117934A6012836A Bongrace6001034A Dominion of Canada
6089736A6120034A6014856C Aboyeur6001334A Dom. Of New Zealand
6090234A6136434A6014936A Amadis6001734A Silver Fox
6090750A6139334A6015350A Flamboyant6002134A Wild Swan
6092550A6139434A6015636A Great Central6002234A Mallard
6098334AB16 4-6-0 (NER)A2/3 4-6-26002634A Miles Beevor
L1 2-6-4T6141850A6051434E Chamossaire6002834A Walter K. Whigham
6777034AK2 2-6-0 (GNR)6052336A Sun Castle6002934A Woodcock
6777934A61756SBWD 2-8-09F 2-10-06003034A Golden Fleece
6778634AK1 2-6-09002434E9203634E6003234A Gannet
6779334A6201536E9007534E9203934E6003334A Seagull
6779734A0-6-0 diesels9012934E9214234E6003434A Lord Faringdon
6780034AD3307D37179022334E9214734EA3 4-6-2
N2 0-6-2T (GNR)D3309D37189025334E9218334E6003934A Sandwich
6952334AD3310D37229061834E9218734E6004434A Melton
6953534AD37149065333BDeltic T5 diesel6006534F Knight of Thistle
6953834A9071734ED9017D90186006734A Ladas
6956834ASB - stationary boilerBritannia 4-6-2
7003540B Rudyard Kipling
Shed Codes33B Tilbury34A Kings Cross34E New England34F Grantham36A Doncaster
36E Retford40B Immingham41A Sheffield Darnall50A York56C Copley Hill
Sunday 11 February 196234A10.20am - 10.55amtotal:72
L1 2-6-4TV2 2-6-2A3 4-6-2A4 4-6-2
6777034A6085434A6005634F Centenary6000152A Sir Ronald Matthews
6777934A6085736A6005851A Blair Atholl6000334A Andrew K. McCosh
6778634A6086234A6005934A Tracery6000634A Sir Ralph Wedgwood
6779334A6086934E6006134A Pretty Polly6001034A Dominion of Canada
6779734A6090334A6006634A Merry Hampton6001434A Silver Link
6780034A6093950A6010334A Flying Scotsman6001734A Silver Fox
N2 0-6-2T (GNR)6098334A6010534F Victor Wild6001852A Sparrow Hawk
6952334AB1 4-6-06010934A Hermit6002234A Mallard
6953534A6117934A RWD 2-8-09F 2-10-06003034A Golden Fleece
6953834A6120034A R9001534E9203434E6003334A Seagull
6956834A6136434A9007534E9203534E6003434A Lord Faringdon
6959334A6139434A9012934E9214234EA2* & A2/3 4-6-2
A1 4-6-29015834E9214334E6051250A Steady Aim
6011756C Bois Roussel9023934E9214434E6052336A Sun Castle R
6014650A Peregrine9026934E9218134E60533 *36A Happy Knight
6015636A Great Central9027034E9218234EDeltic T5 diesel0-6-0 diesel
K2 2-6-0 (GNR)9043934E9218334ED9007D9019D3310
61756SB9070334E9218434ED9011
SB - stationary boilerR - Repair Shop9218536C
9219236A
Shed Codes34A Kings Cross34E New England34F Grantham36A Doncaster36C Frodingham
50A York51A Darlington52A Gateshead56C Copley Hill
Sunday 29 April 196234Atotal:64
L1 2-6-4TV2 2-6-2A3 4-6-2A4 4-6-2
6777934A6081434A6004834F Doncaster6001034A Dominion of Canada
6779334A6085434A6005934A Tracery6001434A Silver Link
6779734A6086234A6006534F Knight of Thistle6001534A Quicksilver
6952334A6087036A6006634A Merry Hampton6002234A Mallard
N2 0-6-2T (GNR)6087134A6006734A Ladas6002634A Miles Beevor
6953534A6089334E6007852A Night Hawk6002934A Woodcock
6953834A6089636AWD 2-8-09F 2-10-06003034A Golden Fleece
6956834A6090334A9005534E9203534E6003334A Seagull
6959334A6090634E9009634E9214034EA2/3 4-6-2
B1 4-6-06090836A9015434E9214834E6051550A Sun Stream
6120034A6095034A9021534E9217636A6052036A Owen Tudor
6136434A6096636A9026934E9218936AA1 4-6-2
6139434AK3 2-6-0 (GNR)9050234E0-6-0 diesels6012536A Scottish Union
EE T4 diesels6191440E9070334ED3710D40786015636A Great Central
D246D2749071734ED3715D4083K2 2-6-0 (GNR)
D256D372361756stationary boiler
Shed Codes34A Kings Cross34E New England34F Grantham36A Doncaster40E Colwick
50A York52A Gateshead
Saturday 8 September 196234Atotal:43
K3 2-6-0 (GNR)B1 4-6-0A3 4-6-2A4 4-6-2
6186434E6109734E6003934F Doncaster6000834A Dwight D. Eisenhower
6191234A6117934A6004834F Doncaster6002234A Mallard
V2 2-6-26120034A6006134A Pretty Polly6002934A Woodcock
6083234E6136434E6010334A Flying Scotsman6003034A Golden Fleece
6090234A6139334AA1/1* & A1 4-6-26003334A Seagull
6090634EEE T4 diesels60113 *36A Great NorthernWD 2-8-09F 2-10-0
6091234ED108D1426012536A Scottish Union9009634E9203434E
Deltic T5 dieselD113D1496013636A Alcazar0-6-0 diesels9203634E
D9000D9014D1306013936A Sea EagleD3312D40839204434E
A2/3 4-6-2D3715D40849214834E
6050034E Edward Thompson9218640E
9219836A
Shed Codes34A Kings Cross34E New England34F Grantham36A Doncaster40E Colwick
Sunday 18 November 196234Adiesels not recordedtotal:34
V2 2-6-2A3 4-6-2A4 4-6-2WD 2-8-0
6081434A6004434A Melton6000334A Andrew K. McCosh9003134E
6083750A6005934A Tracery6001734A Silver Fox9007334E
6085434A6006334A Isinglass6002534A Falcon9034934E
6086234A6006734A Ladas6002634A Miles Beevor9F 2-10-0
6087134A6010834E Gay Crusader6002934A Woodcock9203434E
6089550A6011034A Robert the Devil6003034A Golden Fleece9214534E
6090234AA1 4-6-26003334A Seagull9214834E
6090334A6014050A BalmoralB1 4-6-0K3 2-6-0 (GNR)9218234E
6015050A Willbrook6117934A61912SB9218334E
Shed Codes34A Kings Cross34E New England50A Yorkstationary boiler9218834E
Monday 24 December 196234Atotal:45
V2 2-6-2A3 4-6-2A4 4-6-2WD 2-8-0
6082134E6006134A Pretty Polly6001334A Dom. of New Zealand9005034E
6085434A6006534E Knight of Thistle6001652A Silver King9009634E
6086234A6006634A Merry Hampton6001734A Silver Fox9034934E
6087134A6007056B Gladiateur6002234A Mallard9042834E
6094834E6010334A Flying ScotsmanB1 4-6-00-6-0 diesels9F 2-10-0
K3 2-6-0 (GNR)6010534F Victor Wild6107534AD3309D37109203734E
61912SBA1 4-6-26117934AD3311D37129214634E
EE T4 diesels6012650A Sir Vincent Raven6120034AD3312D37229218234E
D81D1686013936A Sea Eagle6133134ED3704D37249218834E
A2/3 4-6-26139334ABR T2 diesels
6050034E Edward Thompson6139434AD5082D5412
Shed Codes34A Kings Cross34E New England36A Doncaster50A York
52A Gateshead56B Ardsley
Note: In 1962, Kings Cross remained the only steam shed on the southern part of the ex Great Northern Railway. The shed at Hornsey had become a stabling point for diesels and a new shed had been opened at Finsbury Park.
Sunday 11 February 196211.35am - 11.52amtotal:30
Hornsey
Brush T3 dieselsBR T2 dieselsBTH T1 diesels0-6-0 diesels
D5602D5645D5050D5055D5058D5065D5069D5094D8239D8242D3706D4084
D5606D5654D5053D5056D5060D5067D5070D5095D8241D8243D3712
D5609D5054D5057D5064D5068D5072BRCW T3 diesel
D6517
Sunday 11 February 196211.10am - 11.22amtotal:25
Finsbury Park
Brush T3 dieselsBRCW T3 dieselBR T2 dieselsEE T1 diesel0-6-0 diesels
D5603D5648D6512D5062D5066D8021D3334D3708D371512112
D5605D5651Deltic T5 dieselsEE T2 dieselBTH T1 dieselD3692D3710D371712131
D5646D5678D9001D9018D5905D8237D3704D3711D3723
See also : Kings Cross in 1961