EDINBURGH ST. MARGARET's: THE STORY OF THE 'OTHER' EDINBURGH DEPOT OF THE NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY 1845-1967

[v3man]

Harry Knox's history of St.Margarets shed in Edinburgh is out last month from Lightmoor Press. My copy is on order and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

[JASd17]

I certainly enjoyed his Haymarket volume.

John

[52D]

Must have it, the Haymarket book is my most read railway book. My Grandfather started at St Margarets as a cleaner.

[v3man]

Got my copy yesterday and it looks up the the same good standard as the Haymarket books. It'll take a while to read my way through it but I've already looked through lots of good photographs, many of locations well known to me in my youth.

[R16v]

I have just bought this book and can recommend it very highly, the pictures are fantastic and very well laid out..

I pass the site a lot and can't get over the total size the site must have been.. Truly excellent book a must buy!!!!

[MidlandExcursion]

I bashed both 64A and 64B (the latter, I think, was already all diesel) in 65 or 66 - but have no idea of the origins of these depots.

That is to say - you imply in this post that both were NBR sheds. So why the two?

Presumably the demand for locos meant the original shed (St Margarets?) was too small, and another had to be created?

I guess St Margarets was the original, because it was the A shed - and Haymarket had the B code.

Yet, of course, Haymarket had control of the pride of the fleet - the A4s and other pacifics that were allocated to the LNER flagship services.

Could someone explain the history/genesis of this duo of MPDs please?

[kudu]

In brief, the two depots were originally opened by different companies, less than 2 years separating the events. When the NBR took them over and Waverley Station opened to give a direct link betwen them, both had to be retained to provide the necessary capacity. Both were expanded over the years, including a new shed on the other side of the line at St Margarets. The NER also had a shed alongside but this was later demolished.

The BR sehd codes have nothing to do with age of the depots. The A shed is usually the largest, though not invariably, and may also have maintenance facilities for other sheds in its area. St Margarets had a considerably larger allocation than Haymarket, though this was not reflected in the accommodation it provided, being one of the most overcrowded depots in Britain.

Kudu

[52D]

Just had a quick look through my new purchase time to start a slow perusal soon.