5F – UTTOXETER

We continue our exploration of former North Staffordshire sheds.

The first mention of an engine shed in the Staffordshire town of Uttoxeter was in January 1849, when it was recommended by the Traffic and Finance Committee of the North Staffordshire Railway that the existing building be converted into a cheese store. Little is known of the building, which was replaced by a rudimentary construction of one road that could house two engines. Basic coaling facilities were available, as was a turntable until 1881 at the nearby ‘Junction’ station. After this was closed in that year, turning was done on a triangle at the new station while the turntable itself was sent to Stoke roundhouse.

The idea of having a more substantial locomotive depot at Uttoxeter first came about in 1900 when the NSR Traffic and Finance Committee agreed to build a larger, modern structure at an estimated cost of £8,000, including “turntable, coal shed, tank and carriage washing shed”. Shortly after, a tender for £4,054 was submitted by Messrs T.R. Yoxall – for the shed building alone. Naturally, the other refinements would add to the cost, despite the knockdown price offered, and they were discarded, although the new depot did receive both a water softening plant and improved water supply at a total cost of £800 before it opened in Spring 1901.

In appearance, Uttoxeter shed closely mirrored rival LNWR designs with its Webb-inspired northlight pattern, windowless brooding dark interior and cramped appearance. It could house up to nine engines – mostly for local passenger traffic and light goods work. The bulk of the engines allocated there were tank designs, from NSR 0-6-2 and 0-4-4 types to larger 2-6-4 and 2-6-2 LMS designs in later years. For the goods traffic, two Fowler ‘4F’ 0-6-0s were based there. Post-nationalisation, Standard designs and some ‘3F’ 0-6-0 ‘Jinty’ tanks also appeared, while the nearby sidings housed an odd assortment of stored engines, most of which were ‘2P’ 4-4-0s. When the depot itself became full, the nearby sidings at Badnall Wharf were used for storage and, during 1959, included the two Sentinel engines formerly based at Radstock.

By the end of 1964, the small depot had outlived its usefulness as traffic declined, and closed its doors for the last time on December 7 that year.

ABOVE Two studies in LMS 2‑6‑4 tank engine designs at Uttoxeter shed. On the left is later Stanier design No. 42668, while to the right is Fowler No. 42344. At the time both engines were based at nearby Stoke. K. FAIREY

D. FORSYTH BELOW The rear of Uttoxeter depot housed many stored engines with ‘2P’ 4‑4‑0s being prevalent among them. On March 13 1959, weatherbeaten No. 40583 awaits its final call for scrapping. A hint of the LNWR‑ inspired shed design can be seen in the roof to the rear.