Introduction

From the opening of the Great Western Railway in 1838 through to the end of steam traction on the Western Region in 1965, the 'engine shed' formed an important role in both the infrastructure and operation of the railway.

Expansion and Rebuilding

As the Great Western system expanded, so did the need for larger locomotive servicing facilities. From the 1870s right through to the 1930s, many sheds were rebuilt into larger locomotive depots or, in some cases, replaced by entirely new structures.

Nationalisation and Changes

Nationalisation of the railways in 1948 saw the formation of the 'British Railways Western Region'. Apart from a few early sub-shed closures, the number of Western Region steam depots and sub-sheds remained almost unaltered until the regional boundary changes of 1958.

Photographic Documentation

Using black and white and color images from the Great Western Trust archive at Didcot, the book illustrates Western Region steam depots and 'sub sheds' that were in operation in the mid 1950s. With many previously unpublished photographs, the book should interest modellers, historians, and enthusiasts of the Western Region.

Today’s Experience

Today, the unique atmosphere of the steam 'shed' can still be experienced at Didcot, where the original 1932 locomotive shed forms the centrepiece of the Didcot Railway Centre.