Locomotive Works Depot

The Locomotive Depot and Works at Loughborough is situated north of Central station and just north of the Empress Road Bridge. It is accessed via a path off the north end of the platform past the signalbox and under the bridge. Supervised access is available on most running days.

The shed is the base for all the restoration, repair, maintenance and preparation for running of all the locomotives, both steam and diesel, on the railway. All manner of work is carried out there including the manufacture of boiler stays, nuts, bolts and linkages, the white metalling and making of bearings, the tubing of steam locomotive boilers to the complete stripping down and re-building of complete locomotives and diesel engines. Many locomotives have been restored from scrap yard condition to a standard that fits them for running on the National Network.

The shed has three roads, two equipped with pits for inspection and work underneath the locomotives and has lifting jacks to allow locomotive frames to be lifted enabling wheels to be removed and replaced. At the north end of the shed is a comprehensive machine shop and there is considerable welding equipment ready for use.

Outside the shed further pits are provided to allow for the disposal of locomotives after the working day and for the removal of ash from steam locomotive ash pans. The coal store is outside the shed and staff rooms are provided for all grades of locomotive staff. Concrete pads are provided for boilers under repair and for the base for cranes when undertaking heavy lifts such as when removing and replacing steam locomotive boilers. With locomotives weighing up to 140 tonnes in full working order the shed area is one where care must be taken in moving around.