Ipswich engine shed
Encyclopedia
Ipswich engine shed was an engine shed
located in Ipswich
in Suffolk
in the UK on the Great Eastern Main Line
located just south of Stoke tunnel and the current Ipswich railway station
. Locomotives accessed the site from Halifax Junction which was also the junction for the Griffin Wharf branch of Ipswich docks. The depot opened in 1846 and closed in 1968 although the site remained in railway use for a further thirty years. In British Rail
days it was allocated the code 32B.
and was briefly at the end of line prior to the opening of Stoke tunnel later in the same year. In 1854 the EUR was taken over by the Eastern Counties Railway
and in 1860 the new Ipswich railway station
opened. and which time a carriage and wagon works was established on the site of the old station.
was formed in 1862 by the amalgamation of several East Anglian Railways.
At the end of 1922 the shed at Ipswich had an allocation of 131 locomotives being the third biggest shed on the Great Eastern behind Stratford (555) and Cambridge (178) sheds. The allocation consisted of:
came into existence in 1923.
Whilst Great Eastern types provided the majority of the types allocated to Ipswich shed, newer LNE types and engines from other LNER constituent companies were allocated.
Ipswich shed was host to visiting Southern Railway
Battle of Britain class 4-6-2 locomotives before the introduction of the Britannia class in the early 1950s.
The shed was completely rebuilt in 1954 into a concrete 6 track straight through road shed. In 1955 the locomotive allocation totalling 79 locomotives was as follows:
The 0-6-0T engines were generally used for shunting and local trip work. J15, J39 and J17 were freight locomotives. All other locomotives were primarily passenger but it was not unknown for some of them to work freight trains as well. The Ivatt designed 2MT 2-6-2T no 41200 was allocated to the shed for tests on local branches including the Aldeburgh Branch Line. Later that year the first Diesel Multiple Unit
s worked in the area and no other members of this class were allocated.
In 1958 Ipswich received its first allocation of mainline diesels.
5 March 1960 - last steam working from Ipswich shed headed by J15 0-6-0 no 65389 which worked the last freight train to Snape.
However a pair of B1 4-6-0s (61057 numbered departmental 17 and 61252 numbered 22) were retained as a carriage heating units. No 17 operated between 1965 and succeeding No 22 which had undertaken the role since December 1963.
In November 1963 Class 15 no 8221 crashed through the buffer stops and into Croft Street.
The following diesel classes were allocated to Ipswich engine shed.
In 1963 the diesel allocation at Ipswich consisted of 55 locomotives which broke down thus:
The class 03,04,05 and DY1/1 locomotives were all shunting engines. The class 15 engines were generally employed on local freight workings whilst class 24 and class 31s were employed on mixed traffic (i.e. both freight and passenger workings).
. Maintenance of the remaining shunter fleet was undertaken at Colchester.
A number of withdrawn British Rail Class 15
locomotives were stored on site during the 1970s.
During the early 1980s the site was used as the electrification depot for the extension of the overhead wiring from Colchester to Harwich. Ipswich (May 1985) and Norwich.
The site was used for the celebration of 150 years of the Eastern Union Railway
in 1996.
After closure of the depot the Carriage and Wagon Works continued for many years closing in 2001? (check). Class 37
locomotive 37379 was named 'Ipswich WRD, Quality Approved' in recognition of the work the depot undertook.
The site today is occupied by a new housing estate.
In common with most steam engine sheds the maintnenance and running of a large fleet of locomotives was a busy task. It is estimated that the number of drivers and firemen at the depot was in the region of 260. These were supported by 118 administrative and technical staff at the site.
Details and stories of Ipswich enginemen can be found in the 1998 book "Ipswich Engines and Ipswich Men" published by the local Over Stoke History Group.
page.
John Barnard's son William Barnard (driver) and Stanley Keeble (fireman) were killed in a collision at Colchester in 1913.
The Ipswich based driver of B1 4-6-0 61057 locomotive was involved in a rear end collision in foggy conditions in Witham on 7 March 1950. The driver was seriously injured and the fireman W 'spot' Haggar was killed.
Class 15 locomotive 8221 overran the buffer stops and ended up in Croft Street in 1963. It was rescued by one of Ipswich's B1 departmental steam locomotives no 22.
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
located in Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
in the UK on the Great Eastern Main Line
Great Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
located just south of Stoke tunnel and the current Ipswich railway station
Ipswich railway station
Ipswich railway station is a railway station serving the town of Ipswich in Suffolk, England. The station is located on the Great Eastern Main Line 68¾ miles east of London Liverpool Street towards Norwich...
. Locomotives accessed the site from Halifax Junction which was also the junction for the Griffin Wharf branch of Ipswich docks. The depot opened in 1846 and closed in 1968 although the site remained in railway use for a further thirty years. In British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
days it was allocated the code 32B.
Opening and early years
Locomotive activity started on the depot site with the opening of the original Ipswich station at Croft Street and Station St in 1846 by the Eastern Union RailwayEastern Union Railway
The Eastern Union Railway was an early English railway, initially sanctioned by Act of Parliament on 19 July 1844, with authorised capital of £200,000 to build from Ipswich to Colchester. Further Acts of 21 July 1845 and 26 June 1846 authorised further increases in capital of £50,000 and £20,000...
and was briefly at the end of line prior to the opening of Stoke tunnel later in the same year. In 1854 the EUR was taken over by the Eastern Counties Railway
Eastern Counties Railway
The Eastern Counties Railway was an early English railway company incorporated in 1836. It was intended to link London with Ipswich via Colchester, and then on to Norwich and Yarmouth. Construction began in late March 1837 on the first nine miles, at the London end of the line.Construction was...
and in 1860 the new Ipswich railway station
Ipswich railway station
Ipswich railway station is a railway station serving the town of Ipswich in Suffolk, England. The station is located on the Great Eastern Main Line 68¾ miles east of London Liverpool Street towards Norwich...
opened. and which time a carriage and wagon works was established on the site of the old station.
Great Eastern
The Great Eastern RailwayGreat Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
was formed in 1862 by the amalgamation of several East Anglian Railways.
At the end of 1922 the shed at Ipswich had an allocation of 131 locomotives being the third biggest shed on the Great Eastern behind Stratford (555) and Cambridge (178) sheds. The allocation consisted of:
| Class (LNER classification) | Wheel Arrangement | Number allocated |
|---|---|---|
| B12 | 4-6-0 | 22 |
| D13 | 4-4-0 | 5 |
| D14 | 4-4-0 | 3 |
| D15 | 4-4-0 | 16 |
| E4 | 2-4-0 | 14 |
| F3 | 2-4-2T | 9 |
| F4 | 2-4-2T | 1 |
| F5 | 2-4-2T | 2 |
| J14 | 0-6-0 | 1 |
| J15 | 0-6-0 | 32 |
| J65 | 0-6-0T | 5 |
| J66 | 0-6-0T | 7 |
| J67 | 0-6-0T | 4 |
| J69 | 0-6-0T | 3 |
| J70 | 0-6-0T Tram | 7 |
London North Eastern years
The London and North Eastern RailwayLondon and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
came into existence in 1923.
Whilst Great Eastern types provided the majority of the types allocated to Ipswich shed, newer LNE types and engines from other LNER constituent companies were allocated.
- B1 4-6-0
- B17 4-6-0
- C12 4-4-2T Ivatt Great Northern locomotive some of which were used on Felixstowe Branch LineFelixstowe Branch LineThe Felixstowe Branch Line is a railway line from Ipswich to Felixstowe in Suffolk. The line follows the East Suffolk Line from Ipswich to Westerfield, and then diverges to the south. Passenger services are operated by National Express East Anglia...
- C14 4-4-2T Robinson/GC - From 1936. Three of which allocated to Felixstowe shed the other two to Ipswich. Included 6123, 6128 & 6130
- L1 2-6-4T
- N5 0-6-2T Parker/M,S & L - 5913 allocated to Ipswich in 1938
- N7 0-6-2T
BR Years
In the early years of British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
Ipswich shed was host to visiting Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
Battle of Britain class 4-6-2 locomotives before the introduction of the Britannia class in the early 1950s.
The shed was completely rebuilt in 1954 into a concrete 6 track straight through road shed. In 1955 the locomotive allocation totalling 79 locomotives was as follows:
| Class | Wheel Arrangement | Number Allocated |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | 4-6-0 | 11 |
| B12 | 4-6-0 | 8 |
| B17 | 4-6-0 | 10 |
| D15 | 4-4-0 | 2 |
| F3 | 2-4-2T | 1 |
| F6 | 2-4-2T | 3 |
| J15 | 0-6-0 | 10 |
| J17 | 0-6-0 | 2 |
| J39 | 0-6-0 | 16 |
| J65 | 0-6-0T | 1 |
| J66 | 0-6-0T | 3 |
| J67/J69 | 0-6-0T | 3 |
| L1 | 2-6-4T | 7 |
| N7 | 0-6-2T | 2 |
| 2MT | 2-6-2T | 1 |
The 0-6-0T engines were generally used for shunting and local trip work. J15, J39 and J17 were freight locomotives. All other locomotives were primarily passenger but it was not unknown for some of them to work freight trains as well. The Ivatt designed 2MT 2-6-2T no 41200 was allocated to the shed for tests on local branches including the Aldeburgh Branch Line. Later that year the first Diesel Multiple Unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s worked in the area and no other members of this class were allocated.
In 1958 Ipswich received its first allocation of mainline diesels.
5 March 1960 - last steam working from Ipswich shed headed by J15 0-6-0 no 65389 which worked the last freight train to Snape.
However a pair of B1 4-6-0s (61057 numbered departmental 17 and 61252 numbered 22) were retained as a carriage heating units. No 17 operated between 1965 and succeeding No 22 which had undertaken the role since December 1963.
In November 1963 Class 15 no 8221 crashed through the buffer stops and into Croft Street.
The following diesel classes were allocated to Ipswich engine shed.
- British Rail Class D1/1British Rail Class D1/1British Rail Class D1/1 was a class of locomotive commissioned by British Rail in England. It was a diesel locomotive in the pre-TOPS period built by the Hunslet Engine Company with a Gardner 6L3 engine....
- British Rail Class 03British Rail Class 03The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
- British Rail Class 04British Rail Class 04The British Rail Class 04 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunting locomotive class was built between 1952 and 1962 and was the basis for the later Class 03 built in the British Railways workshops. The Class 04 locomotives were supplied by the Drewry Car Co., which at the time had no manufacturing...
- British Rail Class 05British Rail Class 05The British Rail Class 05 is a class of 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters built by Hunslet Engine Company from 1955 to 1961. They were used on the Eastern and Scottish Regions of British Railways. Initially they were numbered 11136-11176 and, later, D2550-D2619....
- British Rail Class 15British Rail Class 15The British Rail Class 15 diesel locomotives, also known as the BTH Type 1, were designed by British Thomson-Houston, and built by the Yorkshire Engine Company and the Clayton Equipment Company, between 1957 and 1961.- Design history :...
- British Rail Class 21British Rail Class 21The British Rail Class 21 was a type of Type 2 diesel-electric locomotive built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow for British Railways in 1958-1960....
- British Rail Class 24British Rail Class 24The British Rail Class 24 diesel locomotives, also known as the Sulzer Type 2, were built from 1958 to 1961. One hundred and fifty-one of these locomotives were built at Derby, Crewe and Darlington, the first twenty of them as part of the British Rail 1955 Modernisation Plan. This class was used as...
- British Rail Class 31British Rail Class 31The British Rail Class 31 diesel locomotives, also known as the Brush Type 2 and originally as Class 30, were built by Brush Traction from 1957-62.- Description :...
In 1963 the diesel allocation at Ipswich consisted of 55 locomotives which broke down thus:
| BR Class | Wheel arrangement | Number allocated |
|---|---|---|
| 03 | 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical | 4 |
| 04 | 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical | 1 |
| 05 | 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical | 4 |
| DY1/1 | 0-4-0 Diesel Mechanical | 3 |
| 15 | Bo-Bo Diesel Electric | 9 |
| 24 | Bo-Bo Diesel Electric | 12 |
| 31 | AIA-AIA Diesel Electric | 22 |
The class 03,04,05 and DY1/1 locomotives were all shunting engines. The class 15 engines were generally employed on local freight workings whilst class 24 and class 31s were employed on mixed traffic (i.e. both freight and passenger workings).
Closure
The depot was closed on 1968 with fuelling facilities for locomotives being provided at Ipswich railway stationIpswich railway station
Ipswich railway station is a railway station serving the town of Ipswich in Suffolk, England. The station is located on the Great Eastern Main Line 68¾ miles east of London Liverpool Street towards Norwich...
. Maintenance of the remaining shunter fleet was undertaken at Colchester.
A number of withdrawn British Rail Class 15
British Rail Class 15
The British Rail Class 15 diesel locomotives, also known as the BTH Type 1, were designed by British Thomson-Houston, and built by the Yorkshire Engine Company and the Clayton Equipment Company, between 1957 and 1961.- Design history :...
locomotives were stored on site during the 1970s.
During the early 1980s the site was used as the electrification depot for the extension of the overhead wiring from Colchester to Harwich. Ipswich (May 1985) and Norwich.
The site was used for the celebration of 150 years of the Eastern Union Railway
Eastern Union Railway
The Eastern Union Railway was an early English railway, initially sanctioned by Act of Parliament on 19 July 1844, with authorised capital of £200,000 to build from Ipswich to Colchester. Further Acts of 21 July 1845 and 26 June 1846 authorised further increases in capital of £50,000 and £20,000...
in 1996.
After closure of the depot the Carriage and Wagon Works continued for many years closing in 2001? (check). Class 37
Class 37
Class 37 may refer to:*British Rail Class 37, a British diesel locomotive* DRG Class 37, a class of German steam locomotives with 2-6-0 wheel arrangements operated by the Deutsche Reichsbahn:** Class 37.0-1: Prussian P 6** Class 37.1-2: PKP Class Oi1...
locomotive 37379 was named 'Ipswich WRD, Quality Approved' in recognition of the work the depot undertook.
The site today is occupied by a new housing estate.
Operations
During BR days Ipswich shed was in the Norwich division and was allocated the code 32B. It had a number of sub-sheds including Felixstowe, Framlingham, Aldeburgh and Laxfield.Staffing
After signing on and before signing off engine crew would often have to walk to or from Ipswich station before commencing duty or finishing their duties. This must have meant some shifts must have not been very productive in terms of time worked.In common with most steam engine sheds the maintnenance and running of a large fleet of locomotives was a busy task. It is estimated that the number of drivers and firemen at the depot was in the region of 260. These were supported by 118 administrative and technical staff at the site.
Details and stories of Ipswich enginemen can be found in the 1998 book "Ipswich Engines and Ipswich Men" published by the local Over Stoke History Group.
Routes worked
The following routes were worked by Ipswich men. These may have varied from year to year and are not specific to any one era.Main Lines
- London to Norwich on the Great Eastern Main LineGreat Eastern Main LineThe Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
- London to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft on the East Suffolk LineEast Suffolk LineThe East Suffolk Line is an un-electrified secondary railway line running between Ipswich and Lowestoft in Suffolk, England. The traffic along the route consists of passenger services operated by National Express East Anglia, while nuclear flask trains for the Sizewell nuclear power stations are...
- Mayflower LineMayflower LineThe Mayflower Line is a branch railway line from Manningtree to Harwich in the county of Essex in England. Passenger services are operated by National Express East Anglia...
to Harwich - Ipswich to Ely LineIpswich to Ely LineThe Ipswich to Ely Line is a railway line linking East Anglia to the English Midlands via Ely. There is also a branch line to . Passenger services are operated by National Express East Anglia...
to Cambridge - Ipswich - Doncaster (Parkeston boat train which started running in 1885 to Doncaster and in 1892 to York).
- Ipswich - Manchester (later route of Parkeston Boat train named North Country Continental)
Branch Lines
- Felixstowe Branch LineFelixstowe Branch LineThe Felixstowe Branch Line is a railway line from Ipswich to Felixstowe in Suffolk. The line follows the East Suffolk Line from Ipswich to Westerfield, and then diverges to the south. Passenger services are operated by National Express East Anglia...
- Aldeburgh Branch Line
- Hadleigh RailwayHadleigh RailwayThe Hadleigh Railway was a long single track branch railway line in Suffolk, England that ran from Bentley Junction on the Great Eastern Main Line to Hadleigh via two intermediate stations, and .-History:...
- Mid-Suffolk Light RailwayMid-Suffolk Light RailwayThe Mid-Suffolk Light Railway is a heritage railway in Suffolk, which in its heyday it was a branch line which ran for just from Haughley to Laxfield, Suffolk. The line became part of the London and North Eastern Railway in 1924 and the last trains ran on 26 July 1952...
- Framlingham BranchFramlingham BranchThe Framlingham Branch was a six mile long single track branch railway line that ran from Wickham Market railway station on the East Suffolk Line to via three intermediate stations, , , and .-Opening:...
- Mellis - Eye
- Snape branch
Shunt turns
A shunt turn is where a shunting locomotive is allocated to shunting a yard or set of sidings. Some shunt turns required 'trip' working between yards or sidings.1943
- Ipswich Upper Yard (2 turns)
- Ipswich Lower Yard
- Ipswich Grffin Wharf/Upper Yard
- Ipswich Docks (4 turns) - all allocated to tram engines (J70 class)
1968 (shortly after closure)
- Ipswich Upper Yard (2 turns)
- Ipswich Lower Yard
- Ipswich Cliff Quay (Docks)
- Ipswich Wagon Shops (former depot)
Incidents
Ipswich men John Barnard (driver) and William Macdonald (fireman) were killed in the 'Westerfield Junction boiler explosion' on 25 September 1900. Further information on that accident can be found on the Westerfield railway stationWesterfield railway station
Westerfield is a railway station in Westerfield Suffolk, England. The station is a junction of the Felixstowe Branch Line to Felixstowe, and the East Suffolk Line to Lowestoft 6 km east of Ipswich. Westerfield is a small village north of Ipswich and the station is situated on the south side...
page.
John Barnard's son William Barnard (driver) and Stanley Keeble (fireman) were killed in a collision at Colchester in 1913.
The Ipswich based driver of B1 4-6-0 61057 locomotive was involved in a rear end collision in foggy conditions in Witham on 7 March 1950. The driver was seriously injured and the fireman W 'spot' Haggar was killed.
Class 15 locomotive 8221 overran the buffer stops and ended up in Croft Street in 1963. It was rescued by one of Ipswich's B1 departmental steam locomotives no 22.