Camden motive power depot
Encyclopedia
Camden Motive Power Depot was a railway motive power depot
, close to Chalk Farm
, Camden
in London
, England from 1837 until 1966, servicing express passenger locomotives using Euston Railway Station
. It was closed following the electrification of the West Coast Main Line
and largely demolished. However, part of the original facility has been preserved as The Roundhouse
centre for the performing arts.
The London and Birmingham Railway
opened a locomotive servicing facility at Chalk Farm
near to the present site in 1837, which was replaced in 1847 by two further buildings on either side of the West Coast Main Line
. On the north side was a roundhouse
intended for freight locomotives, and on the south side was a larger depot for passenger locomotives using Euston railway station
. The roundhouse was closed in 1871 and replaced by the Willesden motive power depot. Its building was converted into a storage warehouse and in time became The Roundhouse
centre for the performing arts.
The passenger depot was enlarged by the London and North Western Railway
in 1920 and then rebuilt by the London Midland and Scottish Railway in 1932. The Depot was closed to steam locomotives by British Railways in September 1963 and briefly used as a diesel depot until 1966, when it was demolished and replaced by sidings.
Under the LMSR and BR the depot had the shed code 1B.
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
, close to Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm is an area of north London, England. It lies directly to the north of Camden Town and its underground station is the closest tube station to the nearby, upmarket neighbourhood of Primrose Hill....
, Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England from 1837 until 1966, servicing express passenger locomotives using Euston Railway Station
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
. It was closed following the electrification of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
and largely demolished. However, part of the original facility has been preserved as The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...
centre for the performing arts.
History
London and Birmingham Railway
The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway ....
opened a locomotive servicing facility at Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm
Chalk Farm is an area of north London, England. It lies directly to the north of Camden Town and its underground station is the closest tube station to the nearby, upmarket neighbourhood of Primrose Hill....
near to the present site in 1837, which was replaced in 1847 by two further buildings on either side of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
. On the north side was a roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
intended for freight locomotives, and on the south side was a larger depot for passenger locomotives using Euston railway station
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
. The roundhouse was closed in 1871 and replaced by the Willesden motive power depot. Its building was converted into a storage warehouse and in time became The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...
centre for the performing arts.
The passenger depot was enlarged by the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
in 1920 and then rebuilt by the London Midland and Scottish Railway in 1932. The Depot was closed to steam locomotives by British Railways in September 1963 and briefly used as a diesel depot until 1966, when it was demolished and replaced by sidings.
Under the LMSR and BR the depot had the shed code 1B.