The shed has been in the ownership of five companies through its life. It was built by the London and North Western Railway which became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway at the grouping in 1923. This in turn became part of British Railways at Nationalisation in 1948 and went into private ownership in the mid 1990s as part of the privatization process first under Railtrack and then its successor Network Rail. The modern day Great Central Railway is therefore the sixth owner of the building!
The following breakdown is presented chronologically:
London and North Western Railway. (1876 – 1922)
The shed was built in 1876 as a six road shed then doubled in size to12 roads in 1890. It was given the shed code, 32.
London Midland and Scottish Railways (1923 – 1947)
There were no structural alterations to the building during this period. The following changes did take place: In 1935 the shed code was changed to 12D and around the end of the 1930s a Cowan and Sheldons turntable was installed behind the main building.
British Railways: London Midland Region (1948 – 1995)
This was the period of most dramatic change. During the 1950s it was rebuilt to house the new Diesel Multiple Units. Initially stabled there were the “Derby Lightweights” (one of the very earliest DMUs). During the rebuilding the shed lost two roads (therefore becoming the ten road structure that has been recovered) and the roof was dramatically changed. The LNWR “north light” design was removed and the current metalwork and glass were installed. It was then the turn of the shed code to change. In October 1955, 12D became 12C, then 11B in February 1958 and 12F in May 1960. Two years later in September 1962 it reverted back to its old code, 12D!
A coaling stage (LMS No. 2 design) and ash handling plant (LMS standard pattern) were installed.
The shed closed for steam in Jan 1968 and continued to be used as a wagon repair shop until the early 1990s.
Railtrack and Network Rail (1996-2004)
The shed had fallen into disrepair and suffered from vandalism. Effectively no maintenance or repair work was carried out on the structure. Certainly under Network Rail there were no rail movements on site. The building was dismantled and transported to storage pending re-erection in 2005.
To be continued…!
With thanks to the Cumbrian Railway Assn.