Loughborough Top Shed
Encyclopedia
Loughborough Top Shed is a project associated with the Great Central Heritage Railway
, which is a heritage railway
in Leicestershire
. It was set up in 2004 to recover and restore an ex-LMS steam shed from Workington
, Cumbria
to provide undercover accommodation for the growing fleet of locomotives preserved at the railway.
(LNWR) with six-roads for locomotives, but doubled in size by 1890 to a twelve-road shed. From 1923 to 1947 the London Midland and Scottish Railway was custodian of the building, The shed code was changed to 12D from the original 32, but no other known changes were made during this period.
After nationalisation of the four railway companies to form British Railways, the shed became a part of the London Midland Region
and was rebuilt into a ten-road shed for housing diesel multiple unit
s. The roof was shortened slightly, creating a pair of characteristic stone "wing walls" at the sides. The shed closed officially to steam in 1968 and remained in its condition as a wagon repair shop until 1995.
when he discovered the overgrown remains of the shed. The entire building was relatively complete and most of the track had not even been torn up when first feasibility studies went through. What was left of the walls and roof beams were measured, removed and transported brick-by-brick 200 miles south to Swithland Sidings
for reconstruction at the old, abandoned Loughborough
refuse tip northeast of the station and current shed. The project is supported by several groups, companies and individuals, including Network Rail
and monthly rail enthusiast magazines Steam Railway and The Railway Magazine, who have pledged several thousand pounds to the cause since its inception.
Work began in early 2007 to clear Bridge 331 over the Grand Union Canal
, which is required to be removed and then replaced and/or overhauled for this and another long-term concept, "Bridging The Gap
", which aims to turn the two sections of preserved Great Central into a single 18 Mile heritage attraction. If this happens then the current shed would need to be demolished as it intercepts the northern line to Ruddington. An embankment spurring off the mainline would also need construction to support a single sharp-curving track. There is no road access to the site at present so much of the material may need to be transferred by the new spur line. Noise and safety concerns over the lighting and preparation of steam locomotives is another reason behind the new location.
The amount of work going into the project is huge. As well as the old shed several new buildings are also in the design stages, including a three-road carriage works built in the style of the GCR and some stock storage sidings. These would be out of the way of the Workington shed, to ensure it remains the centre of attention. The original ten-road configuration is to be turned into eight, five for the operational steam and three for those undergoing maintenance. Though the size will remain the same the three roads are to allow more workspace around the locos to be provided. At the back is a completely new block, which will become an education centre for school groups and footplate members, and alternative storage facilities for locomotive spares. A DMU platform to allow transport between the station and the shed for open days is possible as well.
and an adventure playground to screen nearby houses from the noise that is likely to be given off from the site.
Great Central Railway (preserved)
The Great Central Railway is a heritage railway split into two adjacent sections, one in Leicestershire and the other Nottinghamshire.The Leicestershire section is currently Britain's only double track mainline heritage railway, with of working double track, period signalling, locomotives and...
, which is a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. It was set up in 2004 to recover and restore an ex-LMS steam shed from Workington
Workington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
to provide undercover accommodation for the growing fleet of locomotives preserved at the railway.
History
The shed was built in 1876 by the London and North Western RailwayLondon 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...
(LNWR) with six-roads for locomotives, but doubled in size by 1890 to a twelve-road shed. From 1923 to 1947 the London Midland and Scottish Railway was custodian of the building, The shed code was changed to 12D from the original 32, but no other known changes were made during this period.
After nationalisation of the four railway companies to form British Railways, the shed became a part of the London Midland Region
London Midland Region of British Railways
The London Midland Region was one of the six regions created on the formation of the nationalised British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales. The region was managed first from buildings adjacent to Euston Station and later from Stanier...
and was rebuilt into a ten-road shed for housing diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s. The roof was shortened slightly, creating a pair of characteristic stone "wing walls" at the sides. The shed closed officially to steam in 1968 and remained in its condition as a wagon repair shop until 1995.
Preservation
In 2004, 5305LA spokesman Tom Tighe was on holiday in the Lake DistrictLake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
when he discovered the overgrown remains of the shed. The entire building was relatively complete and most of the track had not even been torn up when first feasibility studies went through. What was left of the walls and roof beams were measured, removed and transported brick-by-brick 200 miles south to Swithland Sidings
Swithland Sidings
Swithland Sidings is a set of railway sidings on the preserved Great Central Railway, situated just south of Swithland Reservoir and Swithland Viaduct which crosses it....
for reconstruction at the old, abandoned Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
refuse tip northeast of the station and current shed. The project is supported by several groups, companies and individuals, including Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
and monthly rail enthusiast magazines Steam Railway and The Railway Magazine, who have pledged several thousand pounds to the cause since its inception.
Work began in early 2007 to clear Bridge 331 over the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
, which is required to be removed and then replaced and/or overhauled for this and another long-term concept, "Bridging The Gap
Loughborough Gap
The Loughborough Gap is a short, disused section of the former Great Central Main Line in the northeastern corner of Loughborough, England, between the northern and southern sections of the present-day Great Central Railway. The formation originally consisted of an embankment and three bridges: two...
", which aims to turn the two sections of preserved Great Central into a single 18 Mile heritage attraction. If this happens then the current shed would need to be demolished as it intercepts the northern line to Ruddington. An embankment spurring off the mainline would also need construction to support a single sharp-curving track. There is no road access to the site at present so much of the material may need to be transferred by the new spur line. Noise and safety concerns over the lighting and preparation of steam locomotives is another reason behind the new location.
The amount of work going into the project is huge. As well as the old shed several new buildings are also in the design stages, including a three-road carriage works built in the style of the GCR and some stock storage sidings. These would be out of the way of the Workington shed, to ensure it remains the centre of attention. The original ten-road configuration is to be turned into eight, five for the operational steam and three for those undergoing maintenance. Though the size will remain the same the three roads are to allow more workspace around the locos to be provided. At the back is a completely new block, which will become an education centre for school groups and footplate members, and alternative storage facilities for locomotive spares. A DMU platform to allow transport between the station and the shed for open days is possible as well.
Ecology park
Part of the site will be given over to an ecology park which will contain trees and plant life, a campsiteCampsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
and an adventure playground to screen nearby houses from the noise that is likely to be given off from the site.