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Hornsey Depot

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The area around Hornsey railway station in Hornsey (London Borough of Haringey) has been the site of several railway maintenance facilities from the mid 19th century onwards.

Initial developments included two two-road engine sheds, built east of the station (1866) and north of the station. In 1899 a substantial eight-road engine shed was built east of the station.

In c.1973 an electric multiple unit maintenance depot[note 1] was constructed as part of the electrification of the Great Northern rail route.

A new train-wash and additional maintenance building for Class 700 units has been constructed on the site of the old Coronation sidings, together with an underframe cleaning building alongside the current shed.[5]

Site history

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1850 & 1866 GNR engine sheds

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A two-road dead-ended shed was established by the Great Northern Railway (GNR) in 1850, on the east side of the station. The shed closed in 1866 when the nearby Wood Green shed had been built, and was later demolished; making way for expansion of Hornsey station.[6][map 1]

In 1866 another two-road dead-ended shed was established ("Wood Green shed"), ~1 km north of the station on the west side of the track adjacent to a new water works, and west of Wood Green common. The shed closed in 1899.[8][map 2]

1899 GNR eight-road engine shed

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In 1899 an eight-track shed was constructed to the east of Hornsey station, together with a 52 ft (16 m) turntable, coal stage and water tank; the shed was connected via the Ferme Park sidings.[10][map 3] The shed provided locos for shunting in the yard and nearby Ferme Park sidings, as well as goods workings across London to the south via Snow Hill tunnel. Hornsey locos shared suburban duties over the southern end of the GNR with locos from Kings Cross Top Shed.[12]

Under British Railways the facility received the shed code 34B.[13] The depot's initial allocation was primarily GNR Class N1s, GNR Class N2s and GNR Class J13s.[14]

With the passing of steam, in 1961 the shed was converted for use with diesel traction,[10] and continued in use until the early 1970s, closing in May 1971.[15] The shed's duties were passed to nearby Finsbury Park diesel depot.[citation needed]

In 1973 the shed was converted for use as an Overhead Line (OHL) maintenance depot, as part of the works for the Great Northern electrification.[16]

1973 Great Northern electrification EMU depot

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In the 1970s the site was extensively rebuilt; part of the Ferme Park sidings south of the shed was cleared, and a new Electric multiple unit depot constructed;[17][map 4] the work was done as part of the Great Northern electrification; a new maintenance shed was constructed with six roads, each capable of holding an eight-car train. At the same time the old loco shed was converted to use as an Overhead Line (OHL) maintenance depot, stabling an OHL repair train. [16][18]

After 1973 the depot code became HE.[15]

In 2008 First Capital Connect opened a 'Driver Training Academy' at the depot in 2008, equipped with British Rail Class 319 and Class 365 driving simulators.[19] The simulators became operational in 2009.[18]

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See also: British Rail Class 700 § Depots
 
Hornsey EMU depot seen from the station footbridge

As part of the Thameslink Programme, it was decided that a large fleet of new trains, which were later named the Class 700, would be introduced on the Thameslink network.

In 2008, the Department for Transport commissioned a study into the location of depots for the future Thameslink rolling stock: Network Rail preferred two depots based on an expectation that at times the central area of the Thameslink route would be closed for maintenance outside commercial operational hours, with no workable alternative electrified routes available. A single-depot solution was also investigated, but no suitably large sites were identified for such a facility.[20] Sites were considered at: Wellingborough;[note 2] Hornsey;[note 3] Cricklewood;[note 4] Selhurst;[note 5] Three Bridges;[note 6] and Tonbridge.[21] By late 2008, the sites had been narrowed to Hornsey, Three Bridges and Tonbridge; finally Hornsey and Three Bridges were selected as a two-depot solution.[22]

Network Rail submitted a planning application in August 2009.[23]

The development was split across sites east of the main railway line: the main maintenance building was north of Hornsey railway station and the A504 road (High Street/Turnpike Lane); storage sidings were located south-east of Hornsey station, adjacent to the pre-existing depot.[24] The northern site was on rail sidings ('Coronation sidings'/'Hornsey sidings') which had been developed on made embankments from the later 19th century to early 20th century; the southern stabling area was on land that had been extensively developed as railway sidings since the early 20th century.[25][26][27] The proposed development required bridge widening of the crossing at Turnpike lane, and additional embankment work and extensions.[28]

The main maintenance building was a six-road 40 by 280 m (130 by 920 ft), 13.4 m (44 ft) high single-ended train shed, with a train wash to the west and a two-storey 12 by 117 m (39 by 384 ft) warehouse adjacent to the east.[29] The southern site included sidings for 11 twelve-car trains and 2 eight-car trains, with cleaning and controlled emission toilet facilities.[30]

In 2009, John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government blocked the development of the depot – the development had been subject to local and council objections on grounds including negative impact to a conservation area, as well as a potential negative impact to Haringey Council's "Haringey Heartlands" redevelopment project.[31][32]

A revised two-depot plan was produced: the southern (Three Bridges) depot was expanded to a five-road shed, while estimates for total maintenance roads required had been reduced from nine to eight. The northern depot was required to be only a three-road depot; the depot was to be suitable for twelve-car trains, with wheel lathe, cleaning, warehousing and stabling facilities. Potential sites for the northern depot were reassessed and possible options reduced to three: a main depot at Coronation Sidings Hornsey; a main depot adjacent to the existing depot at Hornsey; and a site at Chesterton, Cambridge – a depot reduced in size on the site of the original plan was chosen as the best option for Network Rail.[33]

The revised plan was submitted in 2011, with the main depot reduced approximately 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height, and nearly half the area, and with estimated employment figures reduced from 270 to 120 people.[34] Rail union RMT criticised the loss of employment opportunities due to the reduced scale of the plans,[35][36] stating "Without anyone trying, Haringey has lost 150 jobs";[37] the revised scheme continued to produce significant opposition from local residents, with concerns including noise and light pollution during night working, as well as visual impact and traffic.[36][38]

The main building was a 278 by 21.6 m (912 by 71 ft) three-road 11.3 m (37 ft) high single-ended shed, with a two-storey 182 by 12 m (597 by 39 ft) warehouse adjacent east, and a 50.6 by 6.5 m (166 by 21 ft) train-washing building adjacent west; facilities at the depot were to include equipment for heavy overhaul, with overhead synchronised lift cranes on one road. The southern site, adjacent to the pre-existing First Capital Connect (FCC) EMU depot, would include CET facilities, another 50.6 by 6.5 m (166 by 21 ft) train-washing building, a 260 by 7 m (853 by 23 ft) underfloor cleaning building, and shunter's cabins. Wheel-lathe facilities were to be shared with a pre-existing installation at the FCC depot. Existing sidings adjacent to the FCC depot were to be rebuilt to provide 16 roads – four arrival and departure roads, and 12 storage roads. Civil engineering work included bridge-widening across Turnpike Lane (A51) and a culverted waterway, as well as minor embankment works, and rebuilding of a footbridge at Hornsey station.[39][40][41]

The plan was given permission in late 2011.[42]

In mid-2013, VolkerFitzpatrick was awarded the approximately £150 million contract to build the two depots.[43][44]

The depot officially opened on 13 December 2016.[45]

Modern facilities

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EMU maintenance building (left) and sidings. (2009)

Hornsey depot is currently an Electric Multiple Unit depot [46][47] for Class 387, Class 700 and Class 717 units.[citation needed] These units are used on the Thameslink and Great Northern Routes, Thameslink units are brought to Hornsey for maintenance tasks such as wheel turning, which Bedford Cauldwell depot is unable to do.[citation needed]

Facilities include a wheel lathe, large maintenance shed with lifting facilities and a train-washing plant, and extensive stabling sidings for Great Northern's commuter stock.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Network Rail (December 2006). London North Eastern Route Sectional Appendix. Vol. Module LN. p. 14 LOR LN101 Seq004. NR30018/02.
  2. ^ GB Railfreight: vehicle Change proposal - Class 377 Electrostar EMU - Empty movements between existing areas of operation and Hornsey T&RSMD (PDF) (Letter communication), Network Rail, 24 January 2011
  3. ^ London North Eastern Sectional Appendix (PDF), Network Rail, September 2013, pp. 84, 116, archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2013, retrieved 8 November 2013
  4. ^ TWENTY FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT between NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED and GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY LIMITED (PDF), Office of Rail Regulation, 20 November 2003, pp. 17, 80, 98[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Thameslink unveils bigger and better Hornsey", Rail, 17 December 2016 – via PressReader
  6. ^ "LONDON - HORNSEY", locosheds.co.uk, retrieved 7 November 2013
  7. ^ Ordnance Survey. 1863. 1:2500, also see 1895 Town Plan, 1:1056 for expansion of Hornsey station.
  8. ^ "LONDON - WOODGREEN", locosheds.co.uk, retrieved 7 November 2013
  9. ^ Ordnance Survey. 1896. 1:2500, also 1895 Town Plans, 1:1056
  10. ^ a b "LONDON - HORNSEY", locosheds.co.uk, retrieved 7 November 2013
  11. ^ Ordnance Survey. 1:2500; 1896, 1914, 1935, 1955.
  12. ^ Connor, Charlie & Jim (2009). King's Cross to Potters Bar. Midhurst: Middleton Press. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-906008-62-8.
  13. ^ Drewet, Alan, "BRITISH RAILWAYS EASTERN REGION LOCOMOTIVE DEPOTS 1948-59", glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk
  14. ^ "Steam Locomotive Shed - 34B - Hornsey", Rail UK - British Railways 1823 - 2013
  15. ^ a b The all-time Guide to UK Shed and Depot Codes (PDF), TheRailwayCentre.Com, 5 May 2005, pp. 6, 12, archived from the original on 17 December 2013{{citation}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ a b Your NEW Electric Railway - The Great Northern Suburban Electrification, British Rail, May 1973, Maintenance Depots, p.10, A new maintenance depot to be built at Hornsey will include an inspection shed to accommodate 48 coaches on six lines. All 90 electric multiple-units will be maintained here. Five of the six eight coach long lines [..] will be used for light repairs and interior cleaning [...] The sixth line will have jacking equipment for carrying out heavy repairs [...] The site of the former Hornsey engine depot will be adapted as an overhead line equipment maintenance depot
  17. ^ Ordnance Survey. 1:10560; 1967-8. 1:10000; 1973-6, 1981-4
  18. ^ a b c Chaffin, Tom (17 March 2011), First Capital Connect Hornsey Depot (site visit), The Locomotive & Carriage Institution, archived from the original on 13 April 2014
  19. ^ Performance and Training Academy, and Simulator Centre, officially opened, 27 August 2008, archived from the original on 16 May 2012
  20. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009, Planning Statement, 2.2. pp.5–6.
  21. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009, Planning Statement, 2.2.2. pp.5–8.
  22. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009, Planning Statement: 2.2.3–2.25, pp.8–10.
  23. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009.
  24. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009, Drawing 240809_22 Hornsey Site Plan, 1:1000, 207670-00 HOR-GX-201.
  25. ^ Ordnance Survey. 1:2500. 1863, 1896, 1914, 1935
  26. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009, Cultural Heritage Baseline Information (Appendix D.) D7-D10.
  27. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009, Environmental Statement (REP-PL-HOR-0005). 3.1, p.12.
  28. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009, Environmental Statement (REP-PL-HOR-0005). 4.1, p.15; 4.10, p.17.
  29. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009, Environmental Statement (REP-PL-HOR-0005). 4.2–4.7, pp.15–17.
  30. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2009, Environmental Statement (REP-PL-HOR-0005). 4.8–4.9, p.17.
  31. ^ Pears, Elizabeth (8 December 2009). "Brakes pulled on Hornsey train depot development". Haringey Independent. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  32. ^ "Rail depot plans thrown out". Hampstead & Highgate Express. 10 December 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  33. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2011, (REP-PL-HOR-001A) Planning Statement (Part C) Northern Depot Site Assessment Study.
  34. ^ "Thameslink depot size halved after local objections". Transport Briefing. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  35. ^ Moore, Stephen (31 March 2011). "New train depot plans for Hornsey to go under the spotlight". London24. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  36. ^ a b Hardiman, David (20 April 2011). "New Hornsey train depot bid hit by fresh concerns". Haringey Independent.
  37. ^ "New Train depot plans for Hornsey (Heartlands)". Harringay Online. 4 April 2011.
  38. ^ Jestico, Daisy (13 May 2011). "Neighbours' worries 'ignored' in row over Hornsey rail depot". Tottenham & Wood Green Journal. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  39. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2011, Planning Statement (REP-PL-HOR-001A) 4-4.2.10 The Proposed Scheme, pp.14–20.
  40. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2011, HOR-GX-201 Hornsey Site Plan.
  41. ^ Network Rail & ARUP 2011, HOR-GX-202 Hornsey Revised Scheme – Principle Changes.
  42. ^ Jestico, Daisy (14 September 2011). "Hornsey train depot given the green light after two-year battle". Tottenham & Wood Green Journal. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  43. ^ "Two depots designed for Desiro City fleet". Railway Gazette International. 14 August 2013.
  44. ^ Morby, Aaron (11 July 2013). "VolkerFitzpatrick wins Thameslink train depots". Construction Enquirer.
  45. ^ Hewitt, Sam (27 January 2017). "Siemens' Hornsey depot opens". Rail Express. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  46. ^ Quail Map 2 - England East [page 14] February 1998 (Retrieved 2014-04-0909)
  47. ^ Network Rail (March 2016). London North Eastern Route Sectional Appendix (Supplement No 34). Vol. Module LN. p. 14 LOR LN101 Seq004. NR30018/02.

Notes

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  1. ^ Variously referred to as Hornsey E.M.U.D. (Hornsey Electric Multiple Unit Depot),[1] Hornsey T&TRSMD,[2] Hornsey EMU Depot,[3] Hornsey Light Maintenance Depot, Hornsey LMD,[4] or just Hornsey depot.
  2. ^ Including sidings used by GB Railfreight.
  3. ^ Adjacent to the existing Hornsey EMU depot then operated by First Capital Connect.
  4. ^ On development land associated with the planned Brent Cross Thameslink railway station.
  5. ^ On the site of the existing Selhurst Depot used by Southern.
  6. ^ A split site on either side of the Brighton Main Line.

Locations

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Download coordinates as:

  1. ^ 51°35′12″N 0°06′41″W / 51.586544°N 0.111438°W / 51.586544; -0.111438 (Hornsey shed, 1850-1866), Hornsey 1850-1866 shed.[7]
  2. ^ 51°35′33″N 0°06′59″W / 51.592419°N 0.11636°W / 51.592419; -0.11636 (Woodgreen shed, 1866-1899), 1866-1899 shed.[9]
  3. ^ 51°35′11″N 0°06′35″W / 51.586475°N 0.109673°W / 51.586475; -0.109673 (Hornsey shed, 1899-), Hornsey 1899 shed.[11]
  4. ^ 51°35′04″N 0°06′32″W / 51.58448°N 0.108812°W / 51.58448; -0.108812 (Hornsey EMU depot, 1975-), Hornsey EMU depot, 1975-
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