BRITISH RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE DEPOTS, WORKS AND STABLING POINTS.
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STEWARTS LANE LOCOMOTIVE DEPOT (SL) - In 1860, the London, Chatham & Dover Railway built a locoshed in Battersea, a semi-roundhouse, known as Longhedge. This was expanded over the years and demolished in 1881 and replaced by a larger 16-road through shed on the same site, which was officially known as Stewarts Lane. A coaling stage, turntable and wheel drop were provided. The depot was re-organised and a large mechanical coaling plant was added to enable the depot to deal with an increased locomotive allocation after 1932 when Battersea locoshed closed. It suffered from bomb damage during the Second World War, some of which was never repaired. Otherwise it remained largely unchanged until closure to steam in 1963. Thereafter the tracks remained in use for stabling diesel locomotives, although much of the original building was destroyed by fire in 1967. A new carriage shed was built adjacent to the running shed in the late 1950's and equipped with third rail electrification to enable it to service both EMU's and electric locomotives. During the 1960's the former goods shed on the site was also converted to service diesel and electric locomotives, and both remain in use for the Stewarts Lane Traction maintenance depot. The depot currently operates as two separate facilities used by both DB Cargo UK and Govia Thameslink Railway. Seen here is Class 33 'Slim Jim' No.33202 outside the shed in 1988.