Laira Depot

Laira Steam Shed

A fine panorama of Laira shed soon after it closed which was from Sunday June 13th 1965, when the access lines were disconnected. Dismantling started on December 16th 1966 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

After all these years it is hard to remember where the old steam shed was. In this annotated picture Trevor reminds us of what has been swept away. The train approaching is the return Mazey Day 'Cornishman' on the 28th June 2014. Copyright Trevor Tremethick. Many thanks to Trevor for his time and trouble in preparing this portrayal of the scene today with memories of the past. Many thanks also to Mike Roach proof reading. The picture is copyright of Trevor Tremethick.

Laira in Lockdown . A excellent panorama of the depot seen from Dunclair Park, taken on the 21st May 2020. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

Credits, Many thanks to all contributors - please see a list on the home page.

The Steam Era
We are extremely fortunate and grateful that back in the 1950s and 1960s some of our members were able to gain access to Laira Steam Shed, and record the locos on shed.

The Great Western Railway, which had amalgamated with the South Devon Railway on 1 February 1876, a new engine shed opened at Laira in 1901 on a site inside a triangle of lines formed by the main line, Sutton Harbour branch, and a curve that was mainly used by London and South Western Railway trains to reach their terminus at Plymouth Friary. It was adjacent to the Embankment Road with the estuary of the River Plym just the other side of the road. The shed was a 434 by 181 feet (132 by 55 metre) brick roundhouse with a 65 feet (20 m) turntable in the middle. 28 lines radiated from the turntable for stabling locomotives and it was fitted with a 20 ton hoist for lifting locomotives (a 35 ton one was added later).

A small railway station known as Laira Halt was opened on the adjacent main line on 1 June 1904 but closed again on 7 July 1930. The shed at Millbay closed in 1925 and in 1931 a new 210 by 67 feet (64 by 20 metre) four track shed was brought into use just to the south of the roundhouse, funded by a government loan under the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act 1929. This became known as the "Long Shed" or "New Shed". At the same time the coaling stage was raised and a new 50 ton hoist supplemented the smaller ones in the roundhouse. The coaling stage was unusual in that locomotives could be coaled on both sides (i.e. north side or south side). In fact 99% of locos were coaled and serviced on the north side where there was plenty of room to dump the smokebox ash. On a summer Saturday in the 1950s there were so many steam locos arriving in Plymouth that there would be queue of locos waiting to be serviced and coaled. This would extend several hundred yards to the east of the coaling stage.

The above information courtesy of Wilkipedia

75025 at Laira Friday 8th May 1954 a lovely picture by the Late John Wood. The loco had just been built, and came straight to Laira Shed. Copyright the John Wood collection

This railbus seen at Laira in June 64 bears the Kemble on its destination blind, though never again. The Kemble to Tetbury branch closed in April 1964 the railbus being transferred for service on the Boscane to Bodmin North service Tetbury Copyright Mike Roach

Laira Open Day 1970
Mike Roach

LAIRA OPEN DAY 1970 Letter from Mike Roach 26th September 2020
It is believed that Laira diesel depot held its first Open Day on Saturday 26 September 1970 some 8 years after the depot opened for business and it may have happened that year because of celebrations connected with the sailing of the Pilgrim Fathers 350 years earlier in the Mayflower. There was a train from Plymouth to London called The Mayflower from 1957 to 1965, with the name resurrected for the winter of 1970-71 only.
The star of the 1970 Open Day was small prairie number 4555 which was brought down from the Dart Valley for the event. This loco was quite appropriate because it had been based at Laira steam shed from May 1962 to November 1963 when it was withdrawn and sold into preservation the following year. While based at Laira 4555 had seen regular employment on the Plymouth to Launceston Branch until the line closed at the end of 1962. 4555 will celebrate its hundredth birthday in 2024. Many of the events planned for the Mayflower 400 celebrations in 2020 have had to be postponed because of the Covid pandemic.

Laira Open Day 26th September 1970. Copyright Mike Roach.

The Mike Roach Collection

1959

6013 King Henry V111 receiving attention at Laira coaling point. It looks as though its about to have the smokebox cleaned out. 6013 was allocated to Laira from March 1959 to March 1960. Monday 31st August 1959. Copyright Mike Roach

6850 Cleeve Grange on the coaling line at Laira Monday 31st August 1959. 6850 was a Neath engine at the time. Copyright Mike Roach

4704 at Laira Shed Sunday 27th September 1959. 4704 was an Old Oak Common (London) engine. Copyright Mike Roach

By this time this was one of the few Castles left with a single chimney 5011 Tintagel Castle on Sunday 4th October 1959. Coaling line on the right (quiet because its a Sunday). Easy public access on the left, under the main line. Copyright Mike Roach

1961

6012 King Edward V1 nearest, 6010 King Charles 1 nearby. June 1961 Copyright Mike Roach

1962

4982 Acton Hall coaled up ready for its next duty. May 62 Copyright Mike Roach

Laira coaling line Jan62 Copyright Mike Roach

A nice clean 4920 Dumbleton Hall May62 Copyright Mike Roach

1963

7022 Hereford Castle August 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

4555 on a transfer freight to Tavistock Junction May 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

A closer view of that well known preserved locomotive. May 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

4978 Westwood Hall at the back of coaling stage. The difference was that this side could be used for locos requiring only coal. If the incoming locos required coal, and cleaning of the firebox and smokebox they had to travel down the other side of the coaling stage, as most of them did. April 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

An almost identical view of 4978 Westwood Hall taken also in April 1963 Copyright Ian Pollock

These standard locomotives were becoming more frequent visitors to Laira by 1963. Copyright Mike Roach

Laira Breakdown Crane May 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

Inside Laira Shed May 63 Copyright Mike Roach

Inside Laira shed May 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

Laira May 1963 WC's were tranferred over from Friary which had closed. 34063 229 Squadron was amongst them. Also in this picture are 6921 & 92xx Copyright Mike Roach

Also on shed was 6921 Hawick Hall May 63 Copyright Mike Roach

Passing by on the main line was an immaculate inspection saloon powered by a 45XX May 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

1964

A lovely shot of 34096 Trevone taken in Aug 64 Copyright Mike Roach

Sad pictures taken during the demolition of Laira Steam Shed

The Sid Sponheimer
Laira Collection
Sid also paid a number of visits to Laira Shed though not starting as early as Mike Roach

1962

1963

This undated picture from a Gratispool negative is a slightly faded reminder of the changeover from steam to diesel as a Castle stands in the preparation road whilst a light Waship passes by. Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

A very clean Castle, probably 7022 Hereford Castle, awaits its turn of duty. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

1964

34023 Blackmore Vale. Happily this locomotive is still in existance, at the Bluebelle Railway. Copyright Sid Sponhheimer

From the Adrian King Collection

N class 31847 passes Laira with empty stock for Friary. 1962 Copyright Adrian King

The Ian Pollock
Laira Collection

Chesford Grange, Laira 1962 - Copyright Ian Pollock

A steamy scene with 7022 Hereford Castle inside the long shed at Laira 1st January 1963 -Copyright Ian Pollock

6836 Estevarney Grange on the move at, Laira 1st January 1963

7032 Denbigh Castle, definitely not on the move, standing under the sheer legs for front end attention , Laira 1st January 1963 Copyright Ian Pollock

A very grubby 9F as 92246 stands at Laira on the 4th January 1963. Copyright Ian Pollock

What a smashing picture, you can almost hear it as 4658 pushes a loaded coal wagon up the slope to the coaling plant. 20th January 1963 Copyright Ian Pollock

7029 'Clan Castle' gleaming like a new pin stands by the coaling plant having taken its fill as is evidenced by the tender. 9th May 1963. Copyright Ian Pollock.

Oh dear, this young man has spoilt this picture, but accidents do happen. However, this picture of a gleaming Clun Castle is too good to discard 9th May 1964 Copyright Ian Pollock

Also on shed was 7008 Swansea Castle 9th May 1964 Copyright Ian Pollock

7025 Sudeley Castle passing the shed at Laira and running up towards Plymouth North Road heading the down leg of the railtour taken over by Clun Castle on the 9th May 1964 Copyright Ian Pollock

A little on Clun Castle from Wilkipedia.
Its first shed allocation was Nrwton Abbot, and had a double chimney and a 4 row superheater fitted in October 1959. Its most famous moment came on 9 May 1964 on the Plymouth to Bristol leg of a special train to mark the record set sixty years earlier by "City of Truro" when it was timed at 96 mph on the descent of Wellington Bank in Somerset. Its last shed allocation was Gloucester in May 1965. It hauled the last official steam train out of Paddington(to Banbury) on 11 June 1965. It was officially withdrawn (and believed to be the last operating Castle in December 1965.

Looking down Hemerdon Bank along with other enthusiasts, Ian brings us this action shot as 7029 Clun Castle powers up the grade at Hemerdon on the epic run mentioned above. It is the 9th May 1964 Copyright Ian Pollock

Seconds later quite a remarkable shot as Clun continues putting its 'all' into the climb. 9th May 1963. The sight and sound must have been incredible. Copyright Ian Pollock

7317 at Laira 1962 by the late Adrian Hoblyn when a schoolboy. Copyright.

Laira - the diesel depot

After sixty years as a steam shed, servicing locomotives used on the Exeter to Plymouth line that runs past the shed as well as local lines, a diesel depot opened in 1962 and was expanded in 1981 to accommodate the High Speed Trains. Courtesy Wilkipedia

A fine panorama of Laira Diesel Depot in February 1984. To the left an 08 shunter, in the centre two Class 45 Peaks, behind one is a Class 43 power car. Finally on the right a further class 45 with possibly a class 50 behind. Copyright Mike Roach

However, even in 1979 steam still existed at Laira. Here is the steam crane No 69 pictured on 25th March 1979 by Mike Roach Copyright

Laira Sheds in July 1962 with very little on shed - two or possibly three Warships in evidence. Copyright Adrian King.

The scrap line at Laira. In this picture dated March 1969 was see 6311 6330, 800 awaiting scrapping. Copyright Mike Roach

Laira, two Westerns and a Hymeck plus a DMU ssortment. 5th August 1975 Copyright Howard Sprenger.

Laira Open Day 7th September 1985

5051 Earl Bathhurst 7th September 1985 Copyright Mike Roach

7029 Clun Castle. 7th September 1985 Copyright Mike Roach

Doesn't she look wonderful? Now I remember!! Clun Castle a focus of interest, a talking point. 7th September 1985. Copyright Mike Roach

4555 back home for a while. 7th September 1985. Copyright Mike Roach

The Broad Gauge 'Iron DUke' replica put in a welcome appearance. looking very dated amongst other exhibits. 7th September 1985 Copyright Mike Roach

1023 Western Fusilier looks very smart standing under the hoist. 7th September 1985 Copyright Mike Roach

It is said that by 'Tre, Pol, and Pen ye shall know the Cornishmen' Well, here at Laira is 37186 Tre Pol Pen. Copyright Mike Roach 7 Sep85

No expense was spared a special platform erected for those wishing to visit P460. 7th September 1985 Copyright Mike Roach

There was also a grand display of freight vehicles. 7th September 1985 Copyright Mike Roach

Mrs Hazel Roach and young Paul view a gleaming 50007 Sir Edward Elgar. 50007 was formerly named 'Hercules' a name perhaps better suited to a locomotive? 7th September 1985 Copyright Mike Roach

140001 at Laira in September 1985 Copyright Steve Widdowson

Laira 1987

37-670 at Laira following collision damage a Burngullow. This picture taken on 19th December 1987 Copyright Sid Sponheimer (This locomotive was subsequently repaired and returned to service)

Laira - into the 2000's
Pictures by Nick Dyke

Nick is a senior driver at Laira, and, with the aid of his camera we are able to bring you some pictures taken at the depot and inside the fence at Friary. Many thanks Nick.

43002 Dragged out of the shed by an immaculate 08644 during its major exam 19th August 2016 Copyright Nick Dyke

Another view of 43002. Dragged out of the shed by 08644 during its major exam 19th August 2016 Copyright Nick Dyke

Class 08 Interior Note its fitted with TPWS and GSMR Radio for use on the Mainline between Laira and Plymouth. Copyright Nick Dyke

The end of the line. 153370 stands on the blocks at Plymouth Friary with a Route Learning trip 7th March 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke

57310 on the Flushing Apron at Mount Gould before running round its train via Friary Yard 20th November 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke

57310 light engine in the process of running round at Friary 20th November 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke

57310 in the HST Shed 20th November 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke

08644 drags a rake of exam coaches out of the west end of the HST shed 10th May 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke

Laire line up. It looks like dawn is breaking. 21st April 2014 at 0600 Copyright Nick Dyke

A power unit for an HST - an MTU Engine swap which took place on the 26th August 2016 16 Copyright Nick Dyke

Laira wakes up from its two day Christmas break - pictures by David Field

08644 moves a Mk3 carriage into the HST Shed at Laira 27th December 2017 Copyright David Field

08644 moves around Laira depot on 27th December 2017. The Pretendolino stock and another HST set are in the sidings behind. Copyright David Field

43088 prepares to move off depot whilst 43092 awaits its next duty - Laira 27th December 2017 Copyright David Field.

43149, 43032 and 43142 lined up at Laira Depot on 27th December 2017 Copyright David Field

43193 at Laira Depot 27th December 2017 Copyright David Field

An overview of Laira Depot in the early hours of 27th December 2017. Eight HST Sets visible Copyright David Field

Many thanks to David Field for this very interesting compilation at the end of 2017.

50046 'Ajax' shorn of nameplates awaits disposal at Laira on the 22nd March 1992. Copyright Steve Widdowson.

On the brighter side - a smashing paint Job.

Afternoon guys, here are a few shots of 37425 in it’s beautiful Regional Railways livery, I towed it from the main HST shed to embankment sidings this afternoon after attention to its severe wheelflats which occurred at the beginning of last week. I’ve gotta say that they have done a spectacular job of the repaint inside and out. Kind regards Nick (2nd October 2020)

37424 at Laira. 2nd October 2020 Copyright Nick Dyke

Many thanks to driver Nick.