GCR London Extension - Neasden engine shed
A map showing the approaches to Marylebone (to the right) with the two joint lines - Met&GCR line and the GWR&GCR. Neasden engine shed and yards were located where they came together. Author's collection.
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The layout of the loco depot turned through 90 degrees for clarity. The 6-road running shed can be seen and the manual coaling stage with sand furnace alongside. Source: 25" OS, 1914-15, National Library of Scotland.
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General views
A superb view of the newly built running shed. The back of the print states "1913" but I am pretty sure that it was about 10 years earlier. A Class 9H 0-6-0 (LNER J10) is coupled to a GCR 4w goods brake van (same as the D&S kit). Part of another loco can be seen - a Class 13 Pollitt "single", all of which were transferred to the CLC by 1904. Photo: LGRP.
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Another relatively early view with the clock in its original position high up over the running tracks as 0-6-2T (LNER N5) No 772 stands by the breakdown crane. Photo: Real Photographs
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The coaling stage and the sand furnace with one of Neasden's A5s, No 5372, still carrying lined livery, standing alongside The date would have been before 8/26 when side windows were fitted to the cab. Photo: Author's collection.
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A sepia postcard, reduced to b&w, with a partial view of the sand furnace in 1933 and C4 No 5263 (LEI) being prepared for a Down working. C. Golder collection.
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The locos
A graceful as an Edwardian design could be, this is an example of Robinson's Compound Atlantics, Class 8D No 258, named The Rt. Hon. VISCOUNT CROSS GCB, GCSI . The GCR deployed the quartet on trains between Manchester and Marylebone and No 258 is absoluetly spotless, coaled up and ready to work back north again. Redsignated Class C5 by the LNER. Photo: F. Moore's Railway Photographs.
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By far the most numerous class allocated to Neasden was the Robinson 9N 4-6-2T suburban passenger tank (LNER A5) of which No 168 was captured in the shed yard. In the background is St. Mary's church. Photo: F.Moore's Railway Photographs.
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Sacre Class 12AT No 449 at Neasden in relatively early days. In 1921 it was converted for push & pull service and reclassified 12AM. Photo: F. Moore's Railway Photographs.
The "Improved Director" D11 4-4-0s were divided between Neasden and Gorton for the long distance expresses between Manchester and London. This is No 5506 Butler-Henderson, captured in 1937 during a six-year spell allocated to Neasden. Photo: Les Hanson. <'p>
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The B3 class, variously nicknamed as "Faringdons" (after the first of the class) or "Valour" (after the Great War memorial name that was carried by the third member of the class), had a long association with Neasden, especially No 6165 Valour which was allocated there during most of 1931-38. Here it is sometime during that period, probably early on when the Doncaster chimney was being carried, in fully lined LNER apple green livery. Photo: Author's collection.
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A closer view of the nameplate, one of the most distinctive ever carried by a locomotive, which featured in Remembrance celebrations every year. Photo: Les Hanson.
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B3 No 6165 Valour on another sunny day at Neasden, in August 1937. A more sturdy and certainly more graceful chimney was now being carried. Photo: Les Hanson.
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One of the 0-6-2T pilots, class N5 No 5745. This one was at Neasden from 1922 until 1952 and was captured with the replacement Robinson chimney, probably in the 1920s. Photo: Author's collection.
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Another of Neasden's N5s, No 5945, was photographed in 1937, now carrying the final version of chimney, unglamorously nicknamed the "flowerpot" style. In the background, carrying the same style is a J10. It is sometimes thought that only modern GCR designs were deployed on the London Extension but that was clearly not the case. Photo: Les Hanson.
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A BR-period picture from May 1953 to finish this first batch shows a visitor from Woodford Halse, V2 No 60859, which was at WFD between 2/51 and 1/54. Behind it is a named B1 of which 61009 Hartebeeste was briefly at Neasden at the time. Photo: Author's collection.
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To be continued...
