Traction maintenance depot
Encyclopedia
In the United Kingdom
, a traction maintenance depot, or TMD, is a railway depot where locomotives are serviced and maintained. A traction and rolling stock maintenance depot, or T&RSMD, is a maintenance depot where locomotives, multiple units and rolling stock
are serviced and maintained. Each rail locomotive in the UK is allocated to a depot. Traditionally, locomotives would have normally been maintained at the depot to which they were allocated.
Today, this is still the same for some train operating companies
(TOCs). However, other train operating companies (such as Freightliner) have general codes with no specific location, whilst others (such as Southeastern
) allocate entire class of trains to specific depots, but maintain their trains at any depots, including those which have no trains allocated to them.
A small depot with minor facilities where locomotives are merely stored is often known as a stabling point
in the UK.
At one time they were known as motive power depot
s. Such depots, particularly in the days of steam locomotives, would have more facilities than the modern stabling point, but not carry out major repairs.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a traction maintenance depot, or TMD, is a railway depot where locomotives are serviced and maintained. A traction and rolling stock maintenance depot, or T&RSMD, is a maintenance depot where locomotives, multiple units and rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
are serviced and maintained. Each rail locomotive in the UK is allocated to a depot. Traditionally, locomotives would have normally been maintained at the depot to which they were allocated.
Today, this is still the same for some train operating companies
Train operating company
The term train operating company is used in the United Kingdom to describe the various businesses operating passenger trains on the railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand...
(TOCs). However, other train operating companies (such as Freightliner) have general codes with no specific location, whilst others (such as Southeastern
Southeastern (train operating company)
London & South Eastern Railway Limited, trading as Southeastern is a train operating company in south-east England. On 1 April 2006 it became the franchisee for the new Integrated Kent Franchise , replacing the publicly owned South Eastern Trains on the former South East Franchise...
) allocate entire class of trains to specific depots, but maintain their trains at any depots, including those which have no trains allocated to them.
A small depot with minor facilities where locomotives are merely stored is often known as a stabling point
Stabling point
A stabling point, in UK railway parlance, is a small traction maintenance depot where locomotives are parked whilst awaiting their next turn of duty. A stabling point may be fitted with a fuelling point and other minor maintenance facilities. A good example of this was Newports Godfrey road...
in the UK.
At one time they were known as motive power depot
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...
s. Such depots, particularly in the days of steam locomotives, would have more facilities than the modern stabling point, but not carry out major repairs.
See also
- RoundhouseRoundhouseA 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...
- List of British Rail TOPS depot codes