OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
Plus parts of the South Hams and West Devon
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

RAILWAYS IN OLD PLYMOUTH  |  BRANCH LINE, CORNWALL JUNCTION SIGNAL BOX TO PLYMOUTH GREAT WESTERN DOCKS

PLYMOUTH DOCKS ENGINE SHED

Plymouth Docks Engine Shed, with the water crane in front.
Also note the shunter's truck on the left.
From the author's collection.

Mr E T Lyons CEng MIStrucE states in his book "An Historical Survey of Great Western Engine Sheds, 1947" that 'This title [Plymouth Docks] has been listed in the engine register books since their inception, but research has failed to find anything really positive.  A saddle tank has always been allocated to the docks, and as Millbay shed was only half a mile away, it is unlikely that the GWR should have a shed in the docks.  Even after the final closure of Millbay, the weekly allocation dock engine from Laira was coaled and watered in the old Millbay shed yard, returning to Laira each night.'

However, in his later book "An Historical Survey of Great Western Engine Sheds,1837-1947" Mr Lyons, with his co-author, Mr E Mountford, claim that the Shed was in existence circa 1869 as part of the South Devon Railway.  Built of stone with a slated roof, they also state that the original dimensions were 76 feet 9 inches by 18 feet 6 inches.  An extension was added after 1903.  It had a lean-to office on the northern end, measuring 6 feet 5 inches by 18 feet 6 inches.  Outside the entrance at the southern end was a circular water tower.

Two 0-6-0 saddle tanks, numbers 1361 and 1362, were allocated to the Shed in April 1936.

The Plymouth Docks Shed was disconnected from the rest of the railway network in the Docks by 1950 or 1962.  [OS map 1950 revised 1962]