Southern Steam - Nine Elms MPD

The principal function of Nine Elms Locomotive Depot was to provide and service locomotives for Waterloo railway station. The original motive power depot was opened on the north side of the main line by the London and Southampton Railway on 21 May 1838. It was closed and demolished in 1865. A second larger shed was built in 1849 on a site later occupied by the Nine Elms Goods Depot. This also closed in 1865. A replacement for these sheds was opened in 1865 and demolished in 1876 to make way for the widening of the main line. A brick semi-roundhouse was built in 1876 and demolished in 1909.

A large fifteen road shed was opened in 1885, which later became known as the 'Old Shed'. It was badly damaged during the Second World War and never fully repaired. This was adjoined by a ten-road shed in 1910 which became known as the 'New Shed'.

The depot was demolished in 1967. The site is now a part of the New Covent Garden Market. These scenes were for the most part recorded in the last few months of steam operation on the South Western main line, 1966/67.

1) An overview of the shed, with BR Standard 5s and a South Eastern & Chatham Railwat designed Maunsell Mogul in steam.

2) A refugee from the Southern Region's Central Section - ex-London Brighton & South Coast Railway E4 class 0-6-2T No.32487 shunting a refugee from the Eastern Section, Maunsell V (Schools) Class 4-4-0 No.30913 'Christ's Hospital'

3) Another 'Schools' - No.30925 'Cheltenham', one of the three members of this class to be preserved being turned on the, umm, turntable.

4) Bulleid Light Pacific, 'Battle of Britain' (BoB) Class 4-6-2 No.34057 'Biggin Hill' minus nameplates and clack valve covers on the turntable, as viewed from the flats overlooking the depot.

5) A very grubby rebuilt Bulleid 'West Country' (WC) Class 4-6-2.

6) Another rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific, 'Battle of Britain' (BoB) Class 4-6-2 No.34087 '145 Squadron' also minus nameplates.

7) An unrebuilt Pacific with an Ivatt 2-6-2T.

8) Rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific, 'West Country' (WC) Class 4-6-2 No.34034 'Honiton'

9) The first of the Light Pacifics, No.34001 'Exeter'.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• southern
• steam
• rail
• railway
• region
• 'nine
• elms'
• bulleid
• maunsell
• LSWR
• LBSCR
• SECR
• SR

[45locomotive]

Good pictures but very depressing i was an engine cleaner and fireman here for a few years but am glad i left before this depressing sight of these dilapidated engines and depot itself.These Bullied engines were fairly new in loco terms and could have gone on for a long time with care.

What a waste.

[beowulf3075]

@donjchall - Me too, late 50's early 60's - I used to look at the council flats nearby and felt quite envious that they could see Nine Elms so clearly !

[donjchall]

I used to visit Nine Elms quite often in the 1950's - happy days

[joeninetyjoe]

I lived in Nottingham as a kid and only visited Nine Elms once. It was magical to see all those Spam Cans etc when they'd just been pictures in a book before that. We got kicked out after 10 miniutes (if that) but they were minutes I'll never forget. What is it about steam that captivates?

[tonybell1948]

Great stuff mate,i grew up in the shadow of Exmouth junctions coal tower,mum used to moan every day but to me it was paradise,I still think the Bulleids are the best.

Keep up the good work

[tencents6]

0:12 That engine looks alot like Thomas.

[djburland]

Wow, some of the best None elms film ever seen. Can you imagine living in those flats? Bet the view were great but drying the washing a nightmare!

[siobhan104]

Great stuff!! Nice to see it in colour too. The colour sequence must have been taken in 1967 due to lack of nameplates on the locos. 30913 Christs Hospital, 34057 Biggin Hill,34087 145 Squadron, 34034 Honiton and 34001 was named Exeter.

[bulleideddie]

brings back many memories of visists to Nine Elms shed in 1964/65. Went mostly on a sunday. Only got thrwon out once, that was on a summer saturday, very busy. Took a spotter that we met at Paddingston that had come up from Worcester to Londoin for the day. He had never been to Nine Elms and considred that having got through the gate onto the road leading up to the coal stage he had "bunked the shed".

[baldgit646]

How beautifull the rebuilts look with name plates, and the carriers removed. I always thought the rebuilt light weights looked untidy, with the crest above the nameplate. WHAT A SNOB I AM. Keep the footage coming.