Stockingford Shed

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street

Stockingford shed came into existence in February 1902 when the Midland Railway (MR) purchased a piece of land adjacent to the station's down platform. The shed was built using timber for the frame and cladding and had three roads designed to accommodate nine 0-6-0 locomotives. The shed was equipped with an ash pit, coaling stage, turntable and large water tank. A sub-shed of the MR's shed at Wigston until grouping in 1923, responsibility for Stockingford was transferred to the London North Western Railway's (LNWR) Nuneaton shed on the Trent Valley line. The locomotives based at Stockingford primarily catered for the goods yard, Stockingford branch and colliery workings. They were almost exclusively MR 0-6-0 locomotives although some ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) 0-6-0 locomotives were transferred to the shed. The L&YR locomotives' only booking was the trip workings along the branch. All L&YR locomotives were fitted to be driven on the left-hand and were favorites of the men for shunting at the pit top and travelling tender first up the branch with a load of empties.

As an economy measure, the London Midland Scottish Railway (LMSR) closed Stockingford shed on 5th November 1932 with the locomotives and men being transferred 'down the Valley' to the LNWR depot at Nuneaton. Despite the closure, locomotives were still stabled at Stockingford up to the end of the Second World War, as traffic demands made it expedient to do so. Peter Lee in his article on the shed in British Railways Journal No 9 - Autumn 1985, noted that during the Second World Nuneaton's LNWR shed was so frequently overcrowded that Stockingford would be partially re-opened in order to relieve pressure on the main shed.

The LMS and its successor, British Railways, undertook to film various aspects of operating steam locomotives and other railway operations. We have provided below links to some of the films related to shed operation that we know exist. Films on other aspects of railway operations can be viewed via our Video and Film Clip section.

	"Wash and Brush Up" 1953 Shows the procedures that a steam engine goes through as part of its regular maintenance cycle. The locomotive being featured in the film is a British Railways Standard Class 5MT 4-6-0 No 73020 at 6D Chester (Midland shed. (25 minutes 19 seconds)
	LMS On the Shed - Part One of Two Various shots of an engine being prepared and serviced ready for its next trip. Includes actions and responsibilities of crew. (9 minutes 44 seconds)
	LMS On the Shed - Part Two of Two Various shots of an engine being prepared and serviced ready for its next trip. Includes actions and responsibilities of crew. (9 minutes 31 seconds)

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Ref: mrs116 WA Camwell External view of Stockingford's now long closed shed showing the large water tank supported by brick walls

Ref: mrs402 MJ Lee An external view of the Stockingford's abandoned shed with doors rotten and open and all lines removed

Ref: mrs403 Alan Cook Collection Looking towards the front of the three-road shed with much of the fabric of the building now gone

Ref: mrs399 AW Flowers Ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 3110 stands on the middle road of Stockingford shed shortly before the shed closed

Ref: mrs117 AW Flowers Ex-MR 1F 0-6-0 No 2780 stands adjacent to the coal line after being serviced for the following day's work