depot information




[BK]	*Bristol Barton Hill T&RSMD* - DB Schenker
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Allocation - None Usual Classes - Class 08/66/67, Class 220/221 DMU Vantage Points - Barton Hill depot can be fully seen by trains passing on the Bristol to South Wales and North lines by Bristol East Junction. Leave Temple Meads via the booking hall and go through the sliding doors in front of you. To your right you will see some steps. Go down these and follow the path right through the car park until you see some blue board. Follow the blue board on your right until you see a footbridge. Cross the footbridge and continue to the end of the path. At the end of the path turn right and continue along Avon Street towards the railway bridge. Just before the railway bridge take the road on the left which is Oxford Street and continue straight on until you come to the junction with Midland Road and go straight across along Days Road. `Depot entrance is a couple of hundred yards along on the right. A fair amount in the yard may be seen from the vicinity of the entrance. More may be seen with binoculars from the Spine Road over bridge (the main dual carriageway at the end of Days Road past the depot entrance) but be warned you will have to park in Days Road and walk and the Spine Road over bridge is really "No Pedestrians”` Depot Permits - Not Issued. Nearest Station - Bristol Temple Meads Aerial Photo and Map of the Area
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[BZ]	*St Blazey* *T&RSMD* - DB Schenker
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Allocation - None Usual Classes - Class 08/09/66 Vantage Points - From Par station... On foot: turn right out of the station gate keeping the station building on your right, and follow the footpath alongside the track, about 500 yards to the road. Keep going when you reach the road and turn right under the railway bridge. After you cross a stream turn right onto a public footpath (just before the level crossing) with the stream on your right. This brings you to the Par – Newquay branch line which the footpath crosses. To the left at this point is a steel bridge which leads into the depot but be aware that EWS does not appreciate trespassers: this is very much an active depot! You can see the refuelling point and the storage sidings to the left, and the main yard to the right and in front of you. Retrace your steps to the road and turn right, over the level crossing, then turn right again. After a short walk the entrance to the Roundhouse industrial area is on the right. This gives access to the Roundhouse (now used as industrial units) from where the turntable can be seen and usually several loco’s depending on the time of day. A good vantage point for photography subject to some climbing and balancing to see over the fence. To reach a further vantage point carry on past the roundhouse and turn right out of the gate (note the preserved OOC china clay hood on display) and walk for 2-300 yards to a gate, usually closed, from which the yard pilot 09 is usually to be seen, along with CDAs, Imerys polybulks, Clay Tigers, Cargowaggons (FS Italy & Transfesa). A variety of other odd (and sometimes rare) wagons, some withdrawn or stored, can be glimpsed. By car: Turn left out of the station car park, over the main line and follow the road until you reach the Par – Newquay line then bear left after the level crossing, then turn left. The yard is on your left (view obscured by trees) and about 300 yards further on, opposite some bungalows, is a gate with a restricted view into the main stabling area (see "by foot" above). After a further 140 yards or so turn left into the roundhouse industrial area from which the turntable and western stabling can be easily seen – again, see "by foot" above. Depot Permits - Not Issued. Nearest Station - Par.
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[CF]	*Cardiff Canton T&RSMD* - Arriva Trains Wales/Pullman Rail
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Allocation - Class 142/143/150/153/158 Usual Classes - Class 142/143/150/153/158 Vantage Points - 1) Turn left out of Cardiff Central Station into Wood Street. Continue along Wood Street for about 1 mile until you reach a cul-de-sac called De Croche Place on your left. Turn left into the cul-de-sac, and at the bottom there is a footbridge over the main line which used to provide staff access to Cardiff Canton Pullman Rail depot. 2) Viewing the Arriva Trains Wales depot is possible when passing on the South side via the City Line between Cardiff Central and Ninian Park and between Cardiff Central and Grangetown on the Barry Island/Penarth route. Depot Permits - Not Issued Nearest Station - Cardiff Central
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[DT]	*Didcot SP and Yards* - DB Schenker
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Allocation - None Usual Classes - Class 08/60/66 (stored Class 08) Vantage Points - From Didcot Parkway station you can see most things stabled over on the far platform by the steam railway. Sometimes there is more than one line of locos here and so if you walk down into the subway under the station right to the end you will come to the entrance of the railway centre. Follow the steps up to the right and when you come out at the top you'll be able to see anything else stabled. To see the main yard to the west of the station you will follow a footpath along the side of the line. There's an overbridge and off of this you can see everything in the yard. To see into Didcot Power Station sidings you need to be in a car. There is a large car park tot he west of Didcot Parkway station. From here exit to the right hand side, you will pass the ASDA packing facility. Follow the road for approx 1.5 miles. You will come to a round about. Go straight over the roundabout. The power station and sidings are on the right. You can pull over and there is a grass bank. You will need binoculars. Depot Permits - Not Issued Nearest Station - Didcot Parkway
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[LA]	*Laira T&RSMD* - First Great Western
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Allocation - Class 08/57/HST Usual Classes - Class 08/57/HST Vantage Points - The A374 runs alongside the depot. At the city end of the depot turn right, follow the road round to the left and turn right again. This is all uphill from the main road. At the top of this road turn right and as the road swings left the depot can be viewed from a grassy area with binoculars. Depot Permits - Unknown (contact fGW for further information) Nearest Station - Plymouth
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[LE]

Swansea Landore T&RSMD - First Great Western

Allocation - Class 08

Usual Classes - Class 08/HST

Vantage Points - The depot can be viewed from passing trains on the Great Western mainline towards Swansea station and there is a public path behind the depot.

Depot Permits - Not Issued

Nearest Station - Swansea

[MG]

Margam TMD - DB Schenker

Allocation - Class 08/09

Usual Classes - Class 08/09/60/66 (stored Class 08/09/37/47/56)

Vantage Points - From passing trains between Bridgend and Port Talbot on the Great Western mainline in South Wales and from the main M4 motorway between Swansea and Cardiff.

Depot Permits - Not Issued

Nearest Station - Port Talbot Parkway

[PM]	*Bristol St Philips Marsh TMD* - First Great Western.
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Allocation - None (Class 08 outbased) Usual Classes - Class 08/57/HST/180/220/221 Vantage Points - To get there from Bristol Temple Meads Station do the following (A Bicycle, car or Taxi is recommended): Coming out of the station proceed down the station approach ramp. Turn left at the traffic lights at the bottom of this ramp and then left again at another set of lights opposite the Peugeot Garage. Continue under the large railway bridge with INTERCITY branding on it. Turn right at the next set of traffic light that you get to. Follow the road past the 'newish' industrial units under the large iron railway bridge and up the incline past the T-Junction. Continue past this Junction down hill to a roundabout. Take the second left at this roundabout (not the road into the fruit market) and under the railway bridge. The West entrance to the depot is on the right immediately after this. A sloping road goes up to the to the sidings and sheds. WARNING THIS IS AREA IS RAILWAY PROPERTY AND EVEN THOUGH MOST STAFF DON'T MIND YOU TAKING A QUICK LOOK, YOU ARE STILL LEGALLY TRESPASSING. To view the 'Marsh Junction' HST sidings and wheel lathe shed proceed back to the roundabout mentioned earlier. Turn left and follow the road passing the 'Travis Perkins' branch on your right. You will come to a small road that leads to the second entrance of St. Phillips Marsh. Turn into this road. The sidings and wheel lathe shed are directly in front of you. Binoculars recommended. For more viewing proceed to the gate of the JARVIS depot. The gate maybe open for further viewing. WARNING. YET AGAIN PROCEEDING PAST THIS GATE PUTS YOU ON RAILWAY PROPERTY. For another view follow the road round the corner past the KFC on your right. The Main HST shed is on your left. Depending on the hedge growth and amount of equipment in the adjacent JARVIS depot viewing is sometimes possible. . Finally, if you are still not satisfied proceed back to the main road, turn left and left at the large roundabout opposite the MacDonald s. A flyover takes you up over the access lines to St. Phillips Marsh. More viewing possible (Binoculars required). PROCEED WITH CAUTION HOWEVER AS THIS IS A BUSY DUAL CARRIAGEWAY, WITH NO FOOTPATH. STAY AWARE OF TRAFFIC! Depot Permits - Not Issued Nearest Station - Bristol Temple Meads
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[PZ]	*Penzance Long Rock Depot* - First Great Western
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Allocation - None (Class 08 outbased) Usual Classes - Class 08/57/HST/180/220/221 Vantage Points - Take the A30 to the Marazion bypass, follow signs to Longrock, turn left into the beach car park. The sidings and depot are alongside the mainline, to the north of the car park and along the coast path. Great viewing. Depot Permits - Not Issued Nearest Station - Penzance
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[WY]

Westbury Yard and Stabling Point - DB Schenker

Allocation - None

Usual Classes - Class 08/31/59/60/66

Vantage Points -

1) Leave the station approach and turn left. Go over the bridge and continue up to the mini roundabout. Turn left and then left again where the road is marked T (no through road). Follow the road around until you reach the end. Viewing to the left.

2) From the station car park there is a narrow lane that runs alongside the yard. There are 3 points where locomotives can be viewed/ Binoculars are advised. Any locomotives in this area can't be seen from the station, particularly if there are vast amounts of rolling stock in the yard.

3) The west and of Westbury station

4) Trains to/from the South or West. Note - Only fGW services that are booked to call at Westbury station will pass the yard, otherwise they take the avoiding line and nothing can be seen.

Depot Permits - Not Issued

Nearest Station - Westbury

Last Updated 24-04-2009