The locomotive sidings in the 1980s |
|
| Current operator | |
|---|---|
| Arriva Trains Wales | |
| Location | |
| Locale | Cardiff |
| Depot code | |
| To 1973 | 86A |
| 1973 to date | CF |
| History | |
| 1882 | Opened by GWR |
| 1925 | New repair shop opened |
| 1963 | Rebuilt for diesels |
| 2005 | Locomotive repairs cease |
Cardiff Canton TMD is a diesel locomotive Traction Maintenance Depot which is situated in Cardiff, Wales. The depot code is CF. In steam days the depot was known as Cardiff Canton and its shed code was 86C. Originally built as the main maintenance base for the South Wales Railway, it became the major Welsh engineering base for the Great Western Railway. A heavy overhaul base for British Railways, it then became a joint EWS/Arriva Trains Wales depot. After shut down of the EWS depot as a maintenance centre from 10 December 2005[1](still used for long term storage and occasional stabling), it is now solely operated by Arriva Trains Wales.
Contents |
Cardiff Canton opened in June 1882 as a six road, 240 feet (73 m) long shed was built to replace Long Dyke, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Cardiff General station. The facility was extended in 1897 when a 55 ft (17 m) diameter turntable was installed in a square building with 28 roads radiating of off the turntable. In 1925 a locomotive repair and lifting shed was built together with a new coaling stage by the GWR. In 1931 the original 55 ft (17 m). turntable was removed and replaced by a larger 65 ft (20 m). diameter table at the west end of the yard. At this time, around the peak of GWR operation, the depot had allocated 50 main line passenger locomotives, 40 heavy goods/mineral locomotives and 30 smaller local passenger/goods and shunting locomotives. The depot closed to steam traction on 8 September 1962.
During the winter of 1962/1963, Kyle Stewart contracted to British Rail built a new £1,324,000 complex which occupied a 30-acre (120,000 m2) site. The original allocation was 360 locomotives for major maintenance, 197 for normal maintenance and 62 shunting locomotives. Employed were 40 managerial and supervisory staff, 31 clerical staff, 382 maintenance staff and 55 unskilled staff. The new depot was opened by The Rt. Hon. Lord Brecon (Minister of State for Welsh Affairs) on 18 September 1964.[2]