BloodandCustard - SWD Depots

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Southern Region

SWD Depots

South Western Division

Ex-LSWR Drummond M7 class no. 30245 (built April 1897, withdrawn November 1962 but preserved in the National Collection at York) is seen in the yard of this large and famous Depot, which served the passenger trains from Waterloo and freight trains from Nine Elms Goods. It adjoined the latter to the south of the main lines, south of Vauxhall. In the 1950s the Depot had an allocation of nearly 100 steam locomotives of all types and it remained active until the end of steam working into Waterloo in July 1967, after which the New Covent Garden Market was built over the site.

Nine Elms

(70A)

1^st March 1947

Wintry scene in Nine Elms Locomotive Yard, with ex-LSWR Drummond L11 class no.437 (built December 1906, withdrawn April 1952) was latterly used for 'odd jobs' - local goods etc.

Nine Elms Depot was hidden from the main lines out of Waterloo on the Down (east) side south of Vauxhall. It lasted until the End of Steam, being closed on 9the July 1967, then soon demolished and replaced by the New Covent Garden Market. However, in 1946 it had an allocation of 107 steam locomotives - 10 off 4-6-2, 37 off 4-6-0, 17 off 4-4-0, 5 off 2-6-0, 5 off 0-6-0, 1 off 0-8-0T, 10 off 0-6-0T, 19 off 0-4-4T and 3 off 0-4-2T, a motley collection of 18 different classes.

Near the turntable, no.1696 is one of the few Chatham line (pre-1899) locomotives ex-SECR remaining on the SR after the Second World War and then for a short time after Nationalization. The Kirtley LCDR R1 class, no.696 being the first in November 1900, were all built after their designer retired following the 1899 amalgamation with the SECR; it duly became no.A696 after Grouping and no.1696 in 1931. However, was withdrawn under BR in March 1951 before receiving a BR number. From Nine Elms it worked the same duties as its few H and numerous M7 0-4-4T companions.

“I took this rather inferior photograph with my first cheap camera in poor weather”.

The turntable was at the far end of the Yard, the whole Depot being curiously arranged with 'its back towards' the main line from Waterloo. No.459 was a Drummond T14 class 'Paddlebox' 4-6-0 (built June 1912, withdrawn November 1948).

7^th March 1951

A striking view of a Drummond L11 class in its declining years. No.30406 was built September 1906 and withdrawn May 1951 - two months after this.

15^th February 1958

Outside the main shed is SR Maunsell 'King Arthur' class N15 no.30763 'Sir Bors de Ganis'. This was the first of the Maunsell improvements of the Urie 'Arthurs' ordered from North British Locomotive Co. in 1925 and given the names of the lesser-known Knights of the Round Table.

The N15 locomotives became the principal class of 4-6-0s for SR express work between the Wars. No.30763 was built May 1925 and withdrawn October 1960.

Nine Elms Locomotive Depot Yard, south-east of the Shed. The LSWR Drummond T9 class 'Greyhounds' were principal express locomotives before World War I. However, remained active and useful on secondary services well into the 1950s.

No.30338 was built October 1901, withdrawn April 1961.

SR rebuilt Bulleid 'Merchant Navy' Pacific no.35023 'Holland-Afrika Line' was built November 1948, rebuilt February 1957 and withdrawn July 1967.

26^th April 1966

Bulleid 'Battle of Britain' class light pacific 34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair' makes its way back to shed at Nine Elms after working a train into Waterloo Station. This locomotive survived into preservation.

Feltham

(70B)

27^th September 1947

On 27^th September 1947 pre-Nationalisation portrait of Drummond M7 class no.25 (built February 1899, withdrawn as no. 30025 in May 1964). It was one of the few on the allocation of Feltham Depot, which was primarily for freight motive power.

In 1947 Feltham had an allocation of 96 locomotives comprising 37 off 4-6-0, 10 off 4-4-0, 5 off 2-8-0 (ex-WD), 35 off 0-6-0, 4 off 4-8-0T and 5 off 0-4-4T types.

Outside the main Shed on 27^th September 1947 are two of the later (Maunsell) S15 class locomotives, used for many of the main-line freight workings from Feltham Yard. The front one is no.834 (built November 1927, withdrawn November 1964), behind is no.837 (built January 1928, withdrawn September 1965).

Southern Railway normally managed with much fewer 0-6-0 goods locomotives, the principal class on the South Western Section being the Drummond '700' class 0-6-0. Here, on 27^th September 1947, is no.698 (built in April 1897, withdrawn May 1962).

Drummond class K10 no.139 was designated 'mixed-traffic' but more often used for local goods (built Nine Elms October 1902, photographed 27^th September 1947 and withdrawn September 1948). Nick-named ‘Small Hoppers’, the K10 boiler was interchangeable with the M7, 700 & C8 classes.

On 27^th September 1947, no.3167 was an ex-LSWR Adams '0395' class, built in May 1883 but lasting until December 1956 - latterly on light duties. Of a large class, it was one of the few not sent abroad during World War I.

In the Locomotive Yard at Feltham, one of the variety of locomotives was a modern (wartime) example of Bulleid's SR Q1 no.C37, built December 1942 and photographed on 27^th September 1947. After nationalization it became the more conventionally (BR) numbered no.30037 and survived until October 1963.

11^th May 1959

Photographed 11^th May 1959, ex-LSWR Drummond '700' class no.30355 was built June 1897 and withdrawn February 1961.

Ex-LBSCR R. Billinton C2X class no.32438 (built as a C2 April 1893, rebuilt as C2X February 1924, withdrawn December 1961) rests in the Feltham Locomotive Depot yard on 11^th May 1959.

Ex-LSWR Adams class O2 no.30179 was built March 1890 and withdrawn December 1959. Normally employed on branch lines (notably in the Isle of Wight) this one at Feltham was used just for 'odd jobs', no doubt (11^th May 1959).

Adams '395' class no.30567 at Feltham Locomotive Depot on 11^th May 1959, which was built as no.154 in March 1883, later Duplicate no.0154, SR no.3154, then BR no.30567 and survived until September 1959.

11^th May 1959 and no.33016 is one of the strange-looking but powerful Q1 class locomotives introduced by Bulleid in 1942 under wartime austerity for freight traffic, being built as no.C16 in November 1942 and lasting until August 1963.

Feltham

(Marshalling Yard)

1958 & 1959

Feltham Marshalling Yard looking east along the 'Windsor Lines’ towards Clapham Junction. One of the largest marshalling yards in the country, Feltham was purpose-built by the LSWR in 1921-22 to handle almost all the freight traffic to and through London on the Southern Railway Western Section - about 5,500 wagons per day.

On 1st April 1958 locomotive no.30493 (built July 1921, withdrawn December 1959), was one of the Urie G16 class of four 4-8-0Ts specially built for shunting over the humps of the Feltham Up and Down Yards: it is working the Down Yard and passing Feltham East Box, the main line being on the left and the Up Reception lines next to it. All this was completely swept away by January 1969 and is now a Nature Reserve.

Up freight approaching Feltham Marshalling Yard on 1st April 1958, having passed through Feltham station on the ‘Windsor Lines’ to Clapham Junction. The locomotive is Maunsell class S15 no.30839 (built May 1936, withdrawn September 1965).

Seen somewhere in this great Marshalling Yard (built 1922, swept away 1969) on 11^th May 1959 no. 30494 (built August 1921, withdrawn December 1962) is one just four Urie G16 class 4-8-0Ts designed especially for this Yard.

Woking

(Yard)

30^th July 1955

Shunting in the extensive yards west of Woking station, ex-LSWR Adams no.30580 was built as no.506 in December 1885, becoming no.0506 then SR no.3506 and finally BR no.30580, to be withdrawn in April 1957.

Guildford

(70C)

8^th June 1964

Seen from the south end of Guildford station Maunsell S15 class no.30838 was built May 1936 and withdrawn September 1965.

5^th June 1965

From the Farnham Road bridge (with Chalk Tunnel being off to the left) the cramped, unusual roundhouse has few occupants on Saturday, 5^th June 1965.

The locomotive on the centre right is SR (ex-SECR) Maunsell N class no.31816 (built December 1921, withdrawn January 1966).

Guildford

(Station)

1^st April 1958

From the Farnham Road bridge of the southern end of Guildford station. In the foreground is ex-LSWR Drummond '700' class no.30700 (built May 1897, withdrawn November 1962); in the centre is a 1938-built 4 COR electric multiple unit at the rear of an Up Portsmouth - Waterloo service; beyond is SR Bulleid wartime Q1 class no.33019 (built May 1942 as no.C19, withdrawn December 1963).

8^th June 1964

Against platforms 6 & 7 the 12.35pm Redhill - Reading South is headed by SR Maunsell N class no.31862 (built May 1925, withdrawn April 1965.

Ex-GW locomotives were not unusual at Guildford, working from Reading (South) on the ex-SECR line. No.7808 'Cookham Manor' on a stopping train from Redhill to Reading waits against platform 8 for mail to be loaded (built March 1938, withdrawn December 1965 and preserved).

5^th June 1965

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Waiting to depart from platform 2 for Horsham via Shalford Junction & Christ's Hospital this train is being worked by a ‘modern’ LMS-type 2MT ‘Ivatt’ tank engine no.41294 (built October 1951, withdrawn September 1966).
© Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Waiting to depart from platform 2 for Horsham via Shalford Junction & Christ's Hospital this train is being worked by a ‘modern’ LMS-type 2MT ‘Ivatt’ tank engine no.41294 (built October 1951, withdrawn September 1966).

Eastleigh

(Depot)

11^th July 1946

Ex-LSWR Adams 0-4-2 dumped at Eastleigh Locomotive Depot along with some twenty other condemned locomotives, Adams A12 class no.555 (built December1889, withdrawn March 1943) has been dumped at the far end of the Locomotive Yard for months/years, rusting away surrounded by weeds.
© Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Ex-LSWR Adams 0-4-2 dumped at Eastleigh Locomotive Depot along with some twenty other condemned locomotives, Adams A12 class no.555 (built December1889, withdrawn March 1943) has been dumped at the far end of the Locomotive Yard for months/years, rusting away surrounded by weeds.

Ancient ex-LSWR dumped at Eastleigh Locomotive Depot. Adams X6 class 4-4-0 no.666 was built in June 1892 and spent its youth on expresses from Waterloo, later on less demanding duties.

“In the end it was so worn out it had to be withdrawn in June 1943 at the height of World War Two when almost any locomotive that could turn a wheel was needed. Along with many other condemned engines, some of which had been there for years, I photographed it in July 1946 rusting away with weeds growing all round. A year or two later, these 'old crocks' were towed away to West Moors and eventually scrapped - at Eastleigh”.

Unusual diminutive tank engines for work in and around Eastleigh Works and Depot, also in Southampton Docks (and elsewhere). On the left is ex-Plymouth, Devonport & SW Junction 0-6-0T no.756 'A.S. Harris' (built December 1907, withdrawn October 1951); on the right Drummond C14 class 0-4-0T no.744 (built January 1907, withdrawn as BR no.30589 in June 1957).

Eastleigh depot was one of the largest on the SR: in 1946 its allocation was 131 engines of extraordinary variety in age and origin: 17 off 4-6-0, 31 off 4-4-0, 7 off 2-6-0, 19 off 0-6-0, 15 off 0-4-2, 1 of 0-8-0T, 13 off 0-6-0T, 23 off 0-4-4T and 5 off 0-4-0T.

Fresh after repair at Eastleigh Works - but not very smart, ex-LSWR Urie class S15 no.509 (built December 1920, withdrawn July 1963) is prominent in the lines of engines in Eastleigh Locomotive Yard.
© Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

Fresh after repair at Eastleigh Works - but not very smart, ex-LSWR Urie class S15 no.509 (built December 1920, withdrawn July 1963) is prominent in the lines of engines in Eastleigh Locomotive Yard.

One of the only eight SR Maunsell Z class 0-8-0Ts, no.952 (built May 1929, withdrawn November 1962) stands on the preparation roads at Eastleigh Depot in 1946 - pre-Nationalisation. Normally, the Z class were employed in major SR marshalling yards, but during World War Two three (not no.952) worked at Faslane Military Port near Stranraer.

Displaced by Diesel shunters in the 1950s, they were found work at various other places, notably at Exeter where they were ideal for banking trains up from St Davids to Central.

25^th October 1947

Fresh from repair, ex-LSWR Adams G6 no.275 (built March 1898) was nevertheless soon withdrawn in December 1949.

Unique among many locomotives awaiting scrapping at Eastleigh in October 1947 was 'The Master General', an unnumbered 0-4-0T. It had been built by Andrew Barclay in 1910 for the complex lines at the Woolwich Arsenal, sold in 1922 for use on the Mersey Docks & Harbour lines, then to the SR Southampton Docks Department; it was not actually cut up until December 1948.

Ex-LSWR Adams ‘Radial tank’ awaiting Works at Eastleigh. This is one of the five of seventy-one '0415' class designed by Adams in the 1880s for London suburban work, one of three which far outlived the others working the unique Axminster - Lyme Regis branch. No. 3520 was built in December 1885 as no.520 (later no.0520), no.3520 on the SR and withdrawn as BR no.30584 in February 1961.

5^th August 1964
(Open day)

No.30072 is a late survivor of the hundred or so American wartime 'switchers' brought over by the US Army in 1942-43 for subsequent use on the Continent after the Liberation, but before D-Day were employed at Depots or stored in Britain. #

After the War, in 1946 fouteenwere purchased by the SR for use at Southampton Docks, numbered 61-74 (BR 30061-74); no.30072 had been USA Transportation Corps No. 1973, built by Vulcan in 1943: it survived on BR until July 1967 and was the last one. It is now preserved on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

Ex-LSWR Adams class B4, formerly 'Granville' (built December 1893, withdrawn September 1963), had been a Southampton Docks shunter. Here it is being restored for preservation Butlin's Skegness. Beyond can be glimpsed a BR 9F from Saltley LMR.

Built by Stroudley as A class no.62 'Martello' in October 1875, rebuilt to A1X in December 1912, 'Terrier' no.32662 was withdrawn in November 1963, but here it is being prepared for preservation. It was sold to Butlin's at Ayr.

SR Bulleid non-rebuilt Light Pacific no.34019 'Bideford' (built December 1945 as no.21C119, withdrawn March 1967) comes under close scrutiny by young enthusiasts.

With its cab open to the public, sitting in Eastleigh Yard is freshly-repaired rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific no.34037 'Clovelly' (built August 1946 as no.21C137, renumbered March 1949, rebuilt March 1958, withdrawn July 1967) is the subject of numerous young male admirers - who are also swarming round a BR Standard 4-6-0 beyond. In the background is the main office building of the Works.

Allocated to Stoke-on-Trent, BR Standard 4MT no.75016 (built January 1952, withdrawn July 1967) is exposed to enthusiastic inspection.

Pioneer Southern Railway electric locomotive is on display at Eastleigh Works Open Day 5^th August 1964, the second of the SR's 660v 1,470hp Class CC Co-Co electric locomotives, no.20002 built in 1942,

Eastleigh

(Station)

5^th August 1964

Eastleigh station, with a south-bound Special for Salisbury via Southampton probably for Eastleigh Works Open Day (see children).

The locomotive is SR Bulleid Light Pacific no.34092 'City of Wells', built September 1949, withdrawn November 1964 and is now preserved.

Ben Brooksbank

In researching photographs for BloodandCustard webpages many excellent the photographs taken by the late Ben Brooksbank emerged of the Geograph website including these taken at South Westerm Division Depots of the Southern Region.

Ben granted permission to use these photographs under the Creative Commons licence. Sadly, those of us here at BloodandCustard never got to meet Ben (sadly he passed in 2018). However, this page is dedicated in gratitude towards both Ben and his foresight to take these photographs which form part of an important historical record.

Copyright Bloodandcustard

Photographic copyright Ben Brooksbank (CC-by-SA/2.0)

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