Birkenhead North TMD is a

traction maintenance depot The motive power depot (MPD) or locomotive depot, or traction maintenance depot (TMD), is the place where locomotives are usually housed, repaired and maintained when not being used. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine shed ...

, which is owned by

Network Rail Network Rail Limited is the owner (via its subsidiary Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, which was known as Railtrack plc before 2002) and infrastructure manager of most of the railway network in Great Britain. Network Rail is an "arm's leng ...

and operated by Stadler. Located opposite

Birkenhead North railway station Birkenhead North railway station serves the town of Birkenhead, in Merseyside, England. The station is situated on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network, close to the junction of the New Brighton and West Kirby branches. Birkenhead Nor ...

, it is currently responsible for servicing and stabling

Merseyrail Merseyrail is a commuter rail network serving the Liverpool City Region and adjacent areas of Cheshire and Lancashire. Merseyrail operates 66 railway stations across two lines – the Northern Line and Wirral Line, which are dedicated electri ...

's fleet of Class 507 and 508

electric multiple units An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number ...

. Birkenhead North's current depot code is BD, having been changed from BN in 1976.

History

Early history

The former Bidston Shed, which was allocated the shed code 6F, was situated on the opposite side of the tracks, and slightly further towards

Bidston Bidston is a village, a parish and a suburb of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, in the modern county of Merseyside. The area is a mixture of the well-preserved Bidston Village, Bidston Hill, a modern housing estate, and the Bidston Moss nat ...

, from the depot. An

Ordnance Survey , nativename_a = , nativename_r = , logo = Ordnance Survey 2015 Logo.svg , logo_width = 240px , logo_caption = , seal = , seal_width = , seal_caption = , picture = , picture_width = , picture_caption = , formed = , preceding1 = , di ...

map shows that the site of Birkenhead North TMD was occupied by a railway depot by 1899, although an exact date of opening is unknown. 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.

Recent history

In 1985 and 1986, in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of railways in the area, a "''100 Years of Mersey Railways''" was held. Birkenhead North depot was used to hold two open days, and during both events, a number of mainline locomotives were on display at the depot. Among the locomotives which were included in the celebratory events were a Class 40 locomotive (40122, ex D200) as well as a Class 50 locomotive (50007 ''Sir Edward Elgar'', ex ''Hercules'').

Future

Merseyrail's fleet of and 508 units is scheduled to be replaced between 2019 and 2021 by a fleet of units built by

Stadler Rail Stadler Rail is a Swiss manufacturer of railway rolling stock, with an emphasis on regional train multiple units and trams. It is also focused on niche products, such as being one of the last European manufacturers of rack railway rolling stock ...

Bussnang Bussnang is a municipality in the district of Weinfelden in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland. History Bussnang may be first mentioned in 822 as ''Pussinwanc''. During the Early Middle Ages, the Abbey of St. Gall owned much of the land aro ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. As part of the overall fleet replacement project, which will cost £460 million, both Kirkdale and Birkenhead North depots will be upgraded to a standard which will be capable of maintaining the new trains. As part of its refurbishment, Birkenhead North TMD will have its carriage wash plant upgraded, with the depot becoming more of a focus for cleaning, stabling and light maintenance, a role which is currently fulfilled by Kirkdale TMD. Unlike with the arrangement for the current fleet of Class 507 and 508 units, Birkenhead North will not be the main maintenance hub for the new fleet of Class 777s, with this role being assigned to a rebuilt Kirkdale depot instead.

Allocation

Currently, and

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a numbe ...

s are based at Birkenhead North depot. From 2021 onwards, units will be allocated here. Previously, battery locomotives and locos have been stored at the depot in the past for

sandite Sandite is a substance used on railways in the UK, Ireland, US, the Netherlands and Belgium to combat leaves on the line, which can cause train wheels to slip and become damaged with flat spots. Sandite consists of a mixture of sand, antif ...

duties in the winter. Network Rail stables its MPV diesel unit(s) here occasionally during the leaf fall season. Departmental equipment for

Sandite Sandite is a substance used on railways in the UK, Ireland, US, the Netherlands and Belgium to combat leaves on the line, which can cause train wheels to slip and become damaged with flat spots. Sandite consists of a mixture of sand, antif ...

duties has in the past included Class 73 (/0 and /9), Class 97/7 and traction. Four diesel shunters (03073, 03162, 03170 and 03189) were also previously allocated to Birkenhead North depot. These locomotives were deployed on dock shunting duties on the now disused

Birkenhead Dock Branch Birkenhead Dock Branch is a disused railway line running from the South junction of Rock Ferry, to the site of the former Bidston Dock on the Wirral Peninsula, England. The branch is approximately in length. Although called a branch, the l ...

, serving in this role until 1989. After the Class 03s became surplus to requirements, all four examples were sold to railway heritage preservation groups.

References

Sources

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External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birkenhead North Tmd Railway depots in England Rail transport in Merseyside