Memories of Kirkby-in-Ashfield Loco Sheds and Sidings (1903-1970)

A proposed heritage project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the closure of Kirkby-in-Ashfield M.P.D.

The Kirkby Living Memory Group based at Kirkby Heritage Centre will act as the bidding group for a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to do an eighteen-month heritage project about Kirkby Loco Sheds and Sidings based around the 50^th anniversary of its closure. A Project Steering Group has been formed who meet on a regular basis at the Heritage Centre. Plans are to run the project from early 2020 through to the summer of 2021.

Some facts about Kirkby Loco Sheds

• Opened in 1903 by the Midland Railway (M.R) Company.
• Built as a ‘Garage Shed’ to serve the local collieries in the then rapidly expanding East Midlands & South Yorkshire coalfields.
• At the Grouping in 1923 it came under the auspices of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS).
• At Nationalisation in 1948 it came under the British Railways (London Midland Region) with a shed code of firstly 16C, then 16B and finally 16E.
• In WW2 oil firing equipment was installed to replace coal because of expected shortages but it never came into use.
• A concrete Coaling Tower and an Ash Plant were installed in 1957 as part of the 1955 Modernisation Plan.
• In 1959 an incident took place which saw 8F Class No.48193 ending up in the turntable pit at an angle of 45 degrees!
• Folk Singer, Dave Goulder, worked as a Fireman at Kirkby in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. He wrote many railway folk songs.
• Kirkby officially finished as a Motive Power Depot on 31^st December 1966 and the last steam locos left in early 1967.
• It became a D16 diesel stabling point until final closure in early October 1970.

Activities and events planned as part of the project include:

• A book supported by a dedicated website & social-media
• A 50^th anniversary commemorative event in Oct 2020
• Out Reach Provision including illustrated talks & schools
• Railway heritage walks around Kirkby
• Oral history interviews with former railway workers, rail enthusiasts and members of the Kirkby public

If you would like to be involved with the project and / or be kept informed about the 50^th anniversary events & commemorations taking place during 2020-2021 please download the attached flyer and complete and return the ‘response’ page.

Click here for the flyer