Railways around...
This page last updated: 27/05/07
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-'s own diesel depot
The
depot was situated in the fork of the Newcastle-under-Lyme and Etruria
lines about a mile north of Stoke-on-Trent station, the site of the
former NSR carriage sheds. A former three road carriage shed
remaining in use for loco and unit stabling together with the 'new'
shed, which was opened for business in October
1957. Cockshute then became home to a fleet of diesel units including
Metro-Cammell & BRCW built units, some from new. By 1960, the
depot's allocation of units had been supplemented by a small fleet of
shunting locomotives for local duties; these were: D3798
D3799 D3800 D3801 D3802 & D3866. (These became
08631-08635/08699 under TOPS). Stoke's fleet of units found use
on the Crewe - Derby route as well as local lines such as the Cheadle
branch (until 1963) and the 'Potteries loop line' (1964/5) plus some mainline turns. As can be seen, by
the mid-60's, Dr Beeching's axe had fallen upon all
of the local lines
resulting in the loss of those turns. Once the electrification of the mainline was completed further duties
were also lost. As a part of the electrification process, the
three roads closest to the main line, and the two roads situated
between those roads and the NSR carriage shed were wired to
allow the
stabling of electric locos and EMU's. By the late 1960's,
signalling and track
alterations in the Derby area allowed for the combining of the
Lincoln
- Derby & Derby - Crewe routes and thus Stoke's units were
reallocated,
with Stoke's depot now downgraded to that of stabling point only.
The 'new' shed was recorded as in a state of semi-dereliction by August
1973 with only an office for the shed foreman apparently still in use. All
tracks
had also been removed from the 'new' shed by this point.
During the mid 1970's the track at the depot was altered, with several
of the roads shortened
to allow a new access road to be built and
the 'new' shed was then converted into industrial units.
This 30th
March 1980 dated view (left - © 'UD'
) shows clearly the roadway to the 'new' shed after conversion to
industrial units. Above the stabled locos can be seen the roof of
the
NSR carriage shed with the 'new' shed out of shot to the left.
The grassy
mound on the right of shot, was the embankment of the
Newcastle-under-Lyme branch. The motive power line up is typical
of the late 1970's early 80's with, from left to right, 25216,
25153 08390 25292 47322/47366/47377 and just visible above, 86023 which
was stabled on one of the electrified through roads. The 'Gronk'
08390, was air braked only and was regularly to be found at Trentham,
moving MGR coal hoppers through the bunker for loading, returning to
Stoke at regular intervals for crew changes, stabling at Cockshute at
weekends.
Typical Motive power
From the end of steam to mid 1970's, Class 24's were the dominant
motive
power type to be found locally with Classes 25, 40 & 47 also
regularly to be found stabled here. Class 08's from the Crewe
allocation had up to six duties in the Stoke area, and these locos
would often stable here at weekends too. Other types were only
occasional visitors. With the mass withdrawal of Class 24 locos
commencing from August 1975, Crewe gained an allocation of
Class 25's with the arrival of 25306/307/326 & 25327. Others
would
soon follow. Although the Crewe allocation of Class 25's never
reached the same levels as Class 24's, the former type slowly took
over many of the duties in the Stoke area. Crewe was the last
depot to
retain members of Class 24, and the final few lingered on, continuing
to appear at Stoke until 24081 was finally withdrawn in October
1980. The next type to arrive at Stoke were the Class 56's.
Toton based examples of this class had already made occasional
appearances in the area, but the arrival of 56057 at Cockshute during
mid November 1980 saw the commencement of driver training locally with
56057 remaining in the area for 4-5 weeks, seemingly spending most of
this time stabled 'on shed'.. On Friday 2nd January 1981, a Toton
- Cockshute LD movement of 56060+56061+56068+56070 ran. From
Monday 5th, the type took on the local MGR coal turns displacing SSC
fitted Class 47's and for a few months, at least, up to 6 examples of
Class 56 could be found at weekend stabled on Cockshute. However,
Class 47's began to slowly drift back onto there old duties, and by the
end of May 1981 Class 56's were off the local coal turns and were
rarely to be found at Cockshute once again. By 1984, the LMR
gained an allocation of class 31's and Toton Class 20's gained duties
all across the northwest. Driver training on Class 20's by Stoke
crews commenced August 1984 with the arrival at Cockshute of
20198+20182 on the 7th. With the end of the long and bitter
miners dispute during the Spring of 1985, it was pair's of Class 20's
that now took on the local MGR coal turns.
Stoke Cockshute HS (track arrangement).
Rough details of the track arrangement from the main line outwards.
Roads 1-3 were on the same level as the main line, Roads 4-15 were at a lower level.
Roads 1-5 only were electrified.
Roads 1-3 were through roads, each long enough to stable a pair of 4 car EMU's.
There was a brick retaining wall between roads 3 & 4.
Roads 4-5 were each long enough to stable a pair of 4 car EMU's.
Roads 6-8 were the carriage shed roads.
There was a portacabin 'type' building between the carriage shed and road 9.
Road 9.
Modern container used as a store.
Roads 10-12 used to be the diesel depot roads.
Roads 13-15.
The embankment the closed and lifted Newcastle branch.
Track was amended to the above arrangement, mid 1970's and remained so until lifted in 1989.
(A few old photos 1978-82 have been scanned to be added later... but more welcome...)
Does
anyone have track plans of Stoke Cockshute sheds (after the mid
70's) that
they could scan for possible use on a planned web page for this
site. Also scans of photos of the depot from that period (or
earlier) for use or otherwise would be welcome?
Details of locos on shed would also be welcome....
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and UD .