View source for Old Oak Common Depot

{{Short description|Former railway traction maintenance depot in West London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox Railway Depot
| name = Old Oak Common TMD
| image = Old Oak Common Railway Maintenance Depot - geograph.org.uk - 550702.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = [[First Great Western]] [[InterCity 125]] leaving empty stock for service to [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]].
| location = [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]
| coordinates = {{coord|51.5249|-0.2467|type:landmark_region:GB_scale:2000_source:Google|display=inline,title}}
| grid_ref_UK = TQ216822
| owner = [[Network Rail]]<br>HS2 ltd
| depotcode = {{ubl|OC (1973–)|OH ([[Heathrow Express]])|OM (Carriage)|OO ([[InterCity 125|HST]])<ref name="TRC">{{cite web|url=http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Resource_data/AllTimeShedCodes.pdf|title=The all-time guide to UK Shed and Depot Codes|date=5 May 2006|work=TheRailwayCentre.com|access-date=27 August 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217221651/http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Resource_data/AllTimeShedCodes.pdf|archive-date=17 December 2013}}</ref>}}
| type = [[diesel-electric locomotive|Diesel]], [[interCity 125|HST]], [[Diesel multiple unit|DMU]], [[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
| opened = 1906
| closed = In stages from 1965 to 2021. Final closure & decommissioned February 2021<ref name="RailExpress">{{cite magazine |title= HEx 332 fleet bows out |magazine= [[Rail Express]] |issue=299 |date=April 2021 |pages=85–87 }}</ref>
| original = [[Great Western Railway|GWR]]
| pregrouping = [[Great Western Railway|GWR]]
| postgrouping = [[Great Western Railway|GWR]]
| BR_region = [[Western Region of British Railways|Western Region]]
| former_depot_codes = {{ubl|OOC|81A (1948-1973)<ref name="TRC" />}}
<!-- |label18      = --> 
<!-- |data18       = [[InterCity 125|HST]] depot opened -->
<!-- |label19      = --> 
<!-- |data19       = [[Heathrow Express]] depot opened -->}}

'''Old Oak Common TMD''' was a [[traction maintenance depot]] located west of [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]], in [[Old Oak Common]]. The depot codes were OC for the diesel depot and OO for the carriage shed.<ref name=Baker>{{harvnb|Baker|2001|loc=p. 20, section B2}}</ref> In steam days the [[List of British Railways shed codes|shed code]] was 81A.

The depot was formerly the main facility for the storage and servicing of locomotives and multiple-units from [[Paddington railway station|Paddington]]. However The 'HST' section of Old Oak Common TMD, more commonly known as 'Old Oak Common HST Depot' closed in 2018 with the removal of the [[InterCity 125]]s from services on the Great Western Main Line (GWML). This closure was to make way for  the development of the HS2 project. Maintenance of the new InterCity Express Trains is carried out at [[North Pole depot|North Pole IET Depot]] which is situated opposite the site of Old Oak Common TMD whilst the '' [[Night Riviera]]'' sleeper train was transferred to [[Penzance TMD|Penzance Long Rock Depot]] in December 2017.

A new depot was built approximately a 1/4 mile to the east of the existing depot, primarily to service and stable the {{brc|345}} trains that have been ordered for the [[Elizabeth line]] part of the [[Crossrail]] project. The depot opened in May 2018 and took the name of the existing depot.<ref>{{cite web|title=Old Oak Common depot begins operations ahead of Elizabeth Line launch|url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/old-oak-common-depot-begins-operations-ahead-of-elizabeth-line-launch|publisher=Cognitive Publishing Ltd|work=Rail Technology Magazine|date=11 May 2018|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref>

The area is also where two [[Great Western Railway]] main lines divide:<ref name=Baker /> the 1838 route to {{stnlnk|Reading}} via {{stnlnk|Slough}}, and the 1906 "New North Main Line" (present-day [[Acton–Northolt line]]) via {{stnlnk|Greenford}} to [[South Ruislip station|Northolt Junction]], the start of the [[Great Western and Great Central Joint Railway]] line. The former is in use for regular passenger services; the latter is used overwhelmingly by freight trains and empty coaching stock movements.

==History==
===GWR===
[[File:GWR 4700 Class 2-8-0 4706.jpg|thumb|right|[[GWR 4700 Class]] 2-8-0 express freight loco 4706 being serviced at Old Oak Common on 15 December 1963]]
[[File:Old Oak Common Locomotive Depot 2074878 b0fe0da7.jpg|thumb|right|Steam locomotives near the coaling plant, September 1956]]
Following the reconstruction of [[Paddington railway station|Paddington station]] and the introduction of larger locomotives and new routes, the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) required a larger depot than that at the 1855 constructed [[Westbourne Park, London|Westbourne Park]], at which to service its locomotives and carriages.<ref name=Lyons>{{harvnb|Lyons|1974|pp=54–56}}</ref>

In 1901, a site was acquired in [[South Acton, London|South Acton]], south of the [[Grand Union Canal]] and on the upside of the mainline. Taking four years to layout and build, designed by [[G.J. Churchward]], it was the largest depot on the entire GWR system, and set the pattern for similar depots throughout the GWR including [[Tyseley TMD|Tyseley]].<ref name=Lyons/><ref>{{cite web|title=Tyseley 100 Open Weekend - 28/29 June 2008|url=http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/tlw100/100.htm|website=Vintage Trains|access-date=19 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004171018/http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/tlw100/100.htm|archive-date=4 October 2008|date=1 July 2008}}</ref>

It had four {{convert|65|ft|1}} undergirder [[Railway turntable|turntables]], under six-spans of  east–west aligned [[Saw-tooth roof|northern-light pitched roofs]]. The shed covered a total area of {{convert|360|ft}} (six bays of {{convert|60|by|444|ft|1|disp=or}}} (six bays of {{convert|74|ft|1|disp=or}}).<ref name=Lyons/> The roofs were made of wood and steel rafters covered in [[Welsh slate]] tiles, supported on steel or cast iron columns, with solid [[London Brick Company]] walls. Laid out in an interconnecting 4-square pattern under the roof, each electrically operated turntable was fully boarded, and had 28 tracks spanning from it, able to accommodate locomotives up to {{convert|75|ft|1}} in length.<ref name=Lyons/>

The associated repair shop, termed ''The Factory'', was allocated to the northeast front of the depot, with 11 roads approached over an electric traverser, and a 12th road direct from the depot throat. Built in a similar style to the depot, it was {{convert|195|ft}} by {{convert|110|ft}} in size, and housed a {{convert|30|LT|t ST|1|adj=on}} crane. There were also separate blacksmiths and carpenters workshops, a stores and a general office.<ref name=Lyons/>

The approach to the shed housed a standard GWR pattern coal stage, again the largest on the system. It was approached via a 1:50 gradient brick-arch supported ramp, with 1:80 beyond the stage. In 1938, the approach roads to and from the coal stage were doubled, and in 1942 an ash shelter constructed to protect from [[Nazi]] [[Luftwaffe]] bombing. The four water tanks housed over the stage held {{convert|290000|impgal}} of water, while sand was supplied from a separate sand furnace.<ref name=Lyons/>

The whole depot came into operation from 17 March 1906, and became the head of the GWR London operating division.<ref name=Lyons/><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_gwr_history3.htm| title=Significant Events in the History of the Great Western Railway<!-- Bot generated title -->| website=The Great Western Archive| first=John| last=Daniel| date=6 June 2013}}</ref>

===British Railways===
[[File:D1000-old oak common - 1964.jpg|right|thumb|The first-of-class ([[British Rail Class 52|Class 52]]) D1000 ''Western Enterprise'', inside the roundhouse in 1964]]
[[File:Old Oak Common Depot - geograph.org.uk - 1218776.jpg|right|thumb|The former western turntable in 1980s looking east, with "The Factory" buildings to the rear]]
Throughout its GWR and early BR operational life, the depot remained fairly intact and similar to its original layout. The only major difference by the early 1960s was the addition of a pre-war diesel refuelling stage just north of the repair shop, for use by [[GWR railcars]].<ref name=Lyons/>

With a reduction in steam traction and the implementation of the [[Beeching cuts]], in March 1964 the decision was taken to move the remaining steam locomotive allocation to the 1950s designed [[Southall Railway Centre|Southall MPD]], and reconstruct Old Oak Common as a diesel depot.<ref name=Lyons/> Within a year the majority of the GWR 1906 depot was demolished, with only "The Factory" repair shop, furthest western turntable and parts of the stores remaining.<ref name=Lyons/> The main service building had 3 tracks, each holding two locos, with inspection pits, fuel supply points and a washing plant on the approach road. Some of the inspection pits in The Factory were also lengthened and deepened and jacks provided to allow for bogie and spring changing. It opened on 20 October 1965.<ref>{{cite magazine| title=Western Region Diesel Facilities Opened in London| magazine=[[Railway Gazette International|Railway Gazette]]| date=5 November 1965| page=845}}</ref> It was the last of six big diesel depots built for the Western Region,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Old Oak Common| magazine=Railway Magazine| date=July 1964| page=599}}</ref> the others being [[Margam TMD]] 1960, [[Bristol Bath Road depot]] 1960, [[Laira Traction Maintenance Depot]], Plymouth, 1962, [[Landore TMD]], Swansea, 1963 and [[Cardiff Canton TMD]] 1964.

Just south of the residual GWR buildings, in the 1960s BR built what was initially the storage depot for the [[British Rail Classes 251 and 261|Blue Pullman]] trains, what later became known as the Coronation Carriage Sidings. In the late 1970s, south of this and almost adjacent to the [[Great Western Main Line]] (GWML), BR built a depot for the new [[InterCity 125]] fleet. Until December 2018 these serviced and maintained the [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] InterCity 125 fleet.

In 1997 a new bespoke depot was constructed at the southern end of the site, between the Great Western depot and the main line, funded by the [[Heathrow Airport Holdings|British Airports Authority]]  to service and maintain the [[Heathrow Express]] and later the [[Heathrow Connect]] service trains. This was the first new privately funded train depot in the UK since the British railways nationalisation in 1948. The inauguration of the Heathrow Express services saw the electrification of the GWML from Paddington to [[Hayes railway station|Hayes]] and onto [[Heathrow Airport]] using 25&nbsp;kV overhead catenary.

On 26 July 2002, [[First Great Western]] opened a new depot on the site of the former carriage sidings to service its [[British Rail Class 180|Class 180]] fleet.<ref>{{cite magazine| title=Adelante depot opens at Old Oak| magazine=[[Rail Magazine]]| issue=441| date=7 August 2002| page=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| title=FGW opens Adelante depot at Old Oak Common| magazine=[[The Railway Magazine]]| issue=1218| date=October 2002| page=70}}</ref>

The residual GWR buildings were used from the 1970s to house and maintain singular diesel locomotives, special trains, and maintain carriages and freight stock in the area. On the privatisation of BR, the buildings were allocated to [[DB Cargo UK|English Welsh & Scottish]], and latterly operated by its commercial subsidiary Axiom Rail.

From 2000 onwards, developments were focused  on the southern section of the former GWR site, either side of the 1970s BR High Speed Train depot. Added to in width, this allowed this part of the depot to service all Classes operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]], [[Heathrow Express]] and [[Heathrow Connect]]. The allocation in 2004 was:

*[[British Rail Class 332|Class 332]] – four- and five-coach EMU used on [[Heathrow Express]] services.
*[[British Rail Class 360|Class 360]] – five-coach EMU used on [[Heathrow Connect]] services to Heathrow

By the end of 2009, from north to south, the site layout was:
*Residual 1905 GWR Factory buildings and northwestern turntable: EWS & Axiom Rail
*1960's Coronation Carriage Sidings: GWR Class 180 Adelante
*1970's Intercity 125: GWR 125 Intercity
*1997 Depot: Heathrow Express Class 332 and Class 360
*GWR Mainline
*Northpole Depot - vacant

==Redevelopment==
===Depot===
[[File:Old Oak Common Sidings - geograph.org.uk - 22039.jpg|thumb|right|View from western end of depot in 2005, showing: (far left) residual GWR buildings; (left) Coronation Carriage Sidings; (centre) dividing fence; (right) Great Western Railway depot]]
[[File:Old Oak Common - GWR 43093.JPG|thumb|[[British Rail Class 43 (HST)|Powercar 43093]] in the Legends of the Great Western livery at Old Oak Common depot, in September 2017]]
[[File:Old Oak Common open day.jpg|thumb|All eras of the Legends of the Great Western at Old Oak Common depot, in September 2017]]
In May 2009, EWS vacated their site.<ref>{{cite magazine| title=Last locomotives leave Old Oak Common as depot finally closes| magazine=Rail Magazine| issue=620| date=17 June 2009| page=31}}</ref> This part of the site, together with the adjacent Coronation Carriage Sidings was fenced off due to [[compulsory purchase]] for the [[Crossrail]] project. All the remaining GWR Factory buildings and the Coronation Carriage Sidings were demolished by mid-2011, with the former northwestern shed turntable donated to the [[Swanage Railway]].
[[File:British Rail Class 43093 of Great Western Railway (First Group), Newport railway station, September 2020.jpg|thumb|right|Powercar 43093 at Newport railway station, May 2020]]

From 2014 onwards, on the former EWS site and northern part of the former Coronation Sidings, a new depot was built by [[Taylor Woodrow Construction]] as part of the Crossrail project.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/old-oak-common-elizabeth-line-depot-opens/46431.article|title=Old Oak Common Elizabeth Line depot opens|date=10 May 2018|newspaper=Railway Gazette|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> Opening on 10 May 2018, it is equipped with stabling and nine maintenance roads. Operated by Alstom, it provides full servicing, maintenance and storage for the [[British Rail Class 345|Class 345]] trains which from operate between [[Reading railway station|Reading]] on the GWML and [[Shenfield railway station|Shenfield]] on the [[Great Eastern Main Line]].<ref>{{cite magazine| title=New Old Oak Common depot opens to maintain Class 345s| magazine=Rail| issue=853| date=23 May 2018| page=20}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| title=Old Oak 345 Depot Opens| magazine=[[Rail Express]]| issue=266| date=July 2018| page=9}}</ref>

As a result of the development of the new HS2 station on the site, GWR phased-in a closure programme for its 125 Intercity Fleet depot. In December 2017, maintenance of the ''[[Night Riviera]]'' was transferred to [[Penzance TMD|Penzance Long Rock Depot]] with the stock laying over at [[Reading TMD]] at its northern end.<ref>{{cite magazine| title=Night Riviera changes| magazine=[[Railways Illustrated]]| issue=178| date=December 2017| page=12}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| title=Night Riviera servicing moves to Reading| magazine=Railways Illustrated| issue=179| date=January 2018| page=12}}</ref> The last HST to run from Old Oak Common ran from OOC to [[London Paddington station]] on 8 December 2018. A headboard was attached to the front power car, 43093, which said: "81A Old Oak Common LAST HST 8th December 2018". 43093 had already been named "Old Oak Common HST Depot 1978-2018" and was in the Legends of the Great Western Railway livery, but even more was added on this date; a logo which read "Old Oak Common History Makers" and another sign which read "Last HST off Old Oak Common Depot 8th December 2018".

The [[Heathrow Express]] [[Electric multiple unit|EMU]] depot which had operated since 1997 maintaining the [[British Rail Class 332|Class 332]] fleet was the last part of Old Oak Common TMD to close following the withdrawal and scrapping of the Class 332 EMUs, closing in February 2021.<ref name= RailExpress /> It has since been demolished.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Farewell to Heathrow Express Class 332s |magazine=Rail Magazine|issue=929 | date= 29 April 2021 | pages=36–37 }}</ref>

===Old Oak Common Station===
{{main|Old Oak Common railway station}}

[[Old Oak Common railway station]] will open in 2026 as a major interchange station between the GWML, Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express and [[High Speed 2]] line from [[Euston railway station|London Euston]] to [[Birmingham Curzon Street railway station|Birmingham]], [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester]] and [[Leeds railway station|Leeds]].<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/tech-excellence/engineering-plans-for-hs2-old-oak-common-station-revealed/10029616.article| title=Engineering plans for HS2 Old Oak Common station revealed| magazine=[[New Civil Engineer]]| date=3 April 2018}}</ref>

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Baker |first=S.K. |title=Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland |edition=9th |date=May 2001 |orig-year=1977 |publisher=Oxford Publishing Co |location=Hersham |isbn=0-86093-553-1 |id=0105/H }}
*{{cite book |last=Lyons |first=E.T. |title=An Historical Survey of Great Western Engine Sheds 1947 |year=1974 |orig-year=1972 |publisher=Oxford Publishing Co |location=Headington |isbn=0-902888-16-1 }}

===Notes===

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Ancient and modern Old Oak open day|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail Enthusiast]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|date=December 1981 – January 1982|page=52|issn=0262-561X|oclc=49957965}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Pushed to the limit...|first=Geoffrey Freeman|last=Allen|pages=36–39|date=December 1983|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail Enthusiast]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|issn=0262-561X|oclc=49957965}}

{{Railway depots in London}}
{{Elizabeth line navbox}}
{{Great Western Railway}}

[[Category:Railway depots in London]]
[[Category:Great Western Main Line]]