Carnforth "Sheds" There have been at seven railway depots, or "sheds" at Carnforth. The first shed was built by the Furness Railway, and stood close to where the current Station Junction Signal box stands. The Furness Railway closed this shed, and opened a new building, where the present Steamtown building stands. Midland Railway
Sheds at Carnforth. The London and North Western Railway built a shed
to the south and west of the station. In 1944, a new shed was completed by the London Midland and Scottish Railway Co., on the site of the second Furness shed, and when this shed opened, the other two remaining sheds both closed.
This last shed occupies a site to the west, but close to, Carnforth Railway Station. The buildings can be seen quite easily from Carnforth Station. The LMS shed is reasonably modern in design, and when closed by British Railways (1968), was taken over as a working steam shed, by the "Steamtown" Railway Museum, and until (circa) June 1997, it was possible to visit the shed, to see, and ride behind preserved steam engines. Steamtown has closed as a public museum and the site is being used as a railway maintenance depot by "West Coast Railway".
Shed Codes Prior to Nationalisation, in 1948, the railway maintenance depots or "sheds" were known by company name and location. Post nationalisation, this system was changed and sheds were given a number/letter code. Carnforth has had the following shed codes:-
After 1968 Carnforth shed lost its status as a maintenance depot, but carried on for a short period as a stabling point, until its eventual final closure and conversion into the Steamtown Railway Museum. After the closure of the Steamtown Railway Museum, (circa June 1997) the site was taken over by the West Coast Railway Company, who still use the site. |