BRITISH RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE DEPOTS, WORKS AND STABLING POINTS.
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HEALEY MILLS LOCOMOTIVE DEPOT (56B/HM) - In June 1966, a new depot for diesel locomotives was built here adjacent to large, new marshalling yard. It was the first built by the Eastern Region of British Rail that was not associated with, or had replaced, an existing steam shed, although it was coded 56B under Wakefield Shed, which then closed in 1967. Allocation of locomotives at Healey Mills numbered around 70 throughout the 1970's, but had risen slightly to 77 by 1982. This was composed of Classes 03, 08, 37, 40, 47 and class 56. Due to the loss of traffic and the closure of the hump yard, the depot was downgraded from a Traction Maintenance Depot (TMD) into a traction servicing depot. It lost its allocation of mainline locomotives and its shunters were sent to Leeds Holbeck. This picture dates from the late 1980's, I suspect, and shows locos of Classes 08, 15, 25, 40 and 45 with a Class 31 on the far right, the only one in traffic at a guess, all of the others withdrawn, especially the Class 15 which must have been one of the carriage heating units. I remember visiting there in an organised group with a permit in the early '70's and being told to clear off in no uncertain terms. As the only point of access was the bridge in this picture, there was no other way in. In the end, they allowed the organiser to walk round and get us all a list. I never did get round there. Seen here in 1968 is Class 40 EE Type 4 1-Co-Co-1 DE No.D276, 40076 under TOPS, withdrawn in April 1983.