BRITISH RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE DEPOTS, WORKS AND STABLING POINTS.
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TOTON TRACTION MAINTENANCE DEPOT (18A/16A/TO) - The Midland Railway opened a depot at Toton in 1870 to house engines to serve the local coalfields. This eventually expanded to three brick-built roundhouses and enormous associated marshalling yards. In March 1959, the allocation was 98 engines, nearly all goods engines, including 55 Class 8F 2-8-0's, and shunting tanks. It closed to steam in December 1965 and was replaced a purpose-built diesel depot with a large allocation of engines from Class 20, 25, 45 and 47. However, by the 1970's the yard was in decline. With the introduction of Merry-go-round trains direct from colliery to power station, and the decline in the use of domestic coal in favour of North Sea gas, rail traffic through the yards was diminishing quickly. The Down Side ceased hump shunting in 1978, followed by the Up Side in 1984. Many of the yards were lifted during the 1970's and 1980's, and in the late 1980's the yards were rationalised to the basic shape seen today. Since the privatisation of the UK rail network, Toton TMD has been operated by DB Cargo UK. As at 2021, it is home to the Class 60 and Class 66 diesel locomotives. Changes in the maintenance of locomotives have also meant that Toton is now the only TMD within DB Cargo UK where heavy maintenance is carried out on locomotives. Toton lost the last of its domestic coal traffic in the mid-2000's and now handles mainly imported coal. Much the the spare space at the depot and in the yards is occupied by stored locos and has been for a number of years. Currently, it is occupied mainly by Class 60 (about 60% of those built) and Class 66, of which a surprisingly high number seem to be out of traffic at any one time. Seen here is a comtemporary view of the depot looking south-east. Most of the activity is centred on the northern end of the depot these days. Note the GBRF Class 60 and the Royal Train coach.