LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street

Stockingford Shed

The expansion in the late 19th, early 20th century, of the North Warwickshire Coalfield was seen by the Midland Railway (MR) as an opportunity to take a share of this market and consequently they purchased a piece of land adjacent to Stockingford station's down (Birmingham) platform. The shed opened in February 1902 and was constructed, unusually, 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, 60 ft turntable and large water tank. The original estimates had been obtained in 1901 and including land and new sidings these had amounted to over £18,000 with the successful tender for the building itself totalling £4,754 5s. 10d. Brick had been considered but the company finally decided on timber, being slightly cheaper. The Midland Railway's Wigston shed was the parent depot with Stockingford being coded 10a until grouping in 1923. 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 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 in origin 0-6-0 locomotives even under British Railways' management 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. Despite the closure 1932, 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. Locomotives were, however, still making use of the yard in 1954, with crews working beyond Abbey Street still signed on and off at Stockingford as all the lines and pits were still intact in both the shed and weed overgrown yard. The stores, offices and out buildings, as well as the coaling stage and water columns, were still standing too. The shed finally went out of use in the early 1960s but the wooden buildings remained for many years with the ivy slowly obliterating the large 'To Let' sign on the back wall. Stockingford station closed completely on 4th March 1968, and today no trace remains of the yards or buildings.

Much of the information provided on this page has been derived from an article in British Railways Journal No 9 - Autumn 1985, together with other books written by Peter Lee of the Nuneaton Local History Group (www.nuneatonhistory.com). For railway books written by Peter, please visit our bibliography section. Peter can be contacted via nuneatonian@gmail.com.

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

Ref: mrs1901 R Atkins Railway police and staff pose with soldiers of the 1st Dorset Regiment stand outside Stockingford shed

Ref: mrs1902 P Lee MR 0-6-0 No 646, a member of the 700 Class, forms the background to a group photograph

Ref: mrs1903 C Hornbuckle MR 2-6-0 No 2222 presents a backdrop to its crew and shunter (with pole) enjoying a break for their photograph

Ref: mrs1904 P Lee Ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 3010 stands in store alongside Stockingford shed's coal stock in the late 1920s

Ordnance Survey Maps and Schematic Drawings

Ref: mrs1896 National Library of Scotland An 1902 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map showing Stockingford Sidings and Station

Ref: mrs1898 National Library of Scotland A 1913 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map showing Stockingford Sidings, Station and Engine Shed

Ref: mrs1900 National Library of Scotland A 1924 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map showing Stockingford Sidings, Station and Engine Shed

Ref: mrs1079 P Lee Schematic drawing showing Stockingford Station in relation to the branch and the LNWR's Trent Valley line

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)