Birkenhead North TMD
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.jpg) A Merseyrail Class 507 outside the depot. | |
 | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | Birkenhead, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 53°24′23″N 3°03′29″W / 53.4065°N 3.0581°W |
| OS grid | SJ296905 |
| Characteristics | |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Depot code | BD (1976-)[1] |
| Type | EMU, Sandite |
| History | |
| Opened | prior to 1899[2] |
| Original | Wirral Railway |
| Former depot code | BN (1973-1976)[1] |
Birkenhead North TMD is a traction maintenance depot, which is owned by Network Rail, located opposite Birkenhead North railway station for servicing Merseyrail Class 507 and 508 multiple units and rolling stock. The depot code is BD.[3]
History
The former Bidston Shed, with the shed code 6F, was situated on the opposite side of the tracks, and slightly further towards Bidston, from the depot.[2] An Ordnance Survey map shows that the site of Birkenhead North TMD was occupied, by a railway depot, by 1899.[2] However, the actual Birkenhead North engine shed, as it was then named, was located to the north of the present depot, on the goods line to the docks.[2][4] In 1985 and 1986, in order to celebrate "100 years of Mersey Railways," the depot held a series of open days. On these occasions a number of mainline locomotives were on display at the depot. Among the locomotives included were Class 40 locomotive number 40122 D200 and Class 50 locomotive number 50007 Sir Edward Elgar (formerly Hercules).[5]
Allocation
The depot is home to Class 507 and Class 508 750 V DC third rail electric multiple units. Until the introduction of these units, the depot housed Class 503 equipment.
Departmental equipment for Sandite duties has in the past included Class 73/0 and 73/9, Class 97/7 and Class 936 traction.
Four Class 03 diesel shunters were also employed at the depot on dock shunting duties. The shunters were numbered 03073, 03162, 03170 and 03189. Since the Birkenhead Dock Branch fell into disuse, all four of these locomotives have been sold to railway heritage preservation groups.
References
- ^ a b "The all-time guide to UK Shed and Depot Codes" (PDF). TheRailwayCentre.com. 5 May 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d Disused Stations: Railways at Bidston
- ^ Marsden 1987, p. 15
- ^ Disused Stations: Birkenhead North engine shed
- ^ Rail Enthusiast magazine, No.58, Merseyrail 100 celebrations.
Sources
- S. K. Baker. Rail Atlas Great Britain & Ireland. ISBN 0-86093-553-1.
- Marsden, Colin J. (1987). BR Depots. Motive power recognition. Vol. 6. Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711017191. OCLC 18685680.
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External links
