Faversham engine shed/s

[dangerousdids2]

Hello its me again, stuck on another bit of Kents railway history!

This time it's Faversham engine shed or sheds.

From what I gather the shed I'm looking at (1930s) on surveys shows the shed having 4 lanes. But from memory visiting this shed some time ago it only had 2 lanes in reality.

Looking at some photos on kent rail org this also confirms 2 lanes with pits.

Looking at the building rhs



Could it be possible that 4 lanes would fit in here once upon a time?



thanks.

 

[Gloster]

Faversham was effectively two two-road sheds built next to each other with (probably) a single wall between them. Following electrification in 1959 one shed, which would have been to the right of the one in the upper photo, was demolished and the other shed received a new roof.

(Source: Southern Sheds; Hawkins and Reeve; OPC; 1979.)

 

[dangerousdids2]

Faversham was effectively two two-road sheds built next to each other with (probably) a single wall between them. Following electrification in 1959 one shed, which would have been to the right of the one in the upper photo, was demolished and the other shed received a new roof.

(Source: Southern Sheds; Hawkins and Reeve; OPC; 1979.)

I see, I thought the building In the first picture didn't look like something that had been extended.

Just found that book on amazon, I will be purchasing it shortly.

Thanks.

 

[Gloster]

It looks as though the building that you can see has the original walls, but a new front and roof. The offices to the left are also original.

 

[dangerousdids2]

So the 1930s building or buildings would look completely different to what we see in the picture, it's a shame there's not a lot of pictures available on the Internet! I really need to invest in more history books.

 

[Gloster]

It looks like the building that survived was built around 1900 and the original one to the south around 1860. The 1860 shed was reroofed with asbestos around 1935, but demolished after electrification. The part that survived had been reroofed earlier in the 1950s, possibly as early as 1950. (Ignore the last seven words of post 2.)

 

[dangerousdids2]

Yes I see now looking at these layouts




that the original shed was adjacent to the tracks then later the newer shed was constructed next to the original shed. With offices and a water tower, also a bigger turntable was built along with wagon works.

I'm amazed at what a busy railway Faversham once had. There was also a railway that run to Faversham creek. And a extensive network of tramways.

Thanks.

I think possibly you can see both sheds just about, in this picture.

 

[HowardB]

Detail drawings of the original and extended shed are available from the Media Warehouse Extended Shed

 

[dangerousdids2]

Detail drawings of the original and extended shed are available from the Media Warehouse Extended Shed

Awesome, thanks

 

[Tony73E]

Yes I see now looking at these layouts
View attachment 140464
View attachment 140465


that the original shed was adjacent to the tracks then later the newer shed was constructed next to the original shed. With offices and a water tower, also a bigger turntable was built along with wagon works.

I'm amazed at what a busy railway Faversham once had. There was also a railway that run to Faversham creek. And a extensive network of tramways.

Thanks.

I think possibly you can see both sheds just about, in this picture.

View attachment 140476

The Southernmost part of the shed next to the Canterbury East - Dover line was demolished when the Kent Coast Electrification came in 1959. In its' place two roads were equipped as a fuel point for servicing Diesel locos. It didn't last long though and was out of use for this purpose around 1963ish. There is a picture from the Mike Morant collection taken from the Long Bridge that passed over the top of the loco showing a Sulzer Type2 heading coal empties towards Snowdown or Tilmanstone just after electrification. This shows the Southernmost two roads in the process of demolition.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I also remember there were two semaphore home signals on the same post; I think on the left, out of shot, in the OP's first picture that signalled trains in both directions but can't remember what line(s) specifically they controlled. Quite an oddity (for me) at the time given that the main lines were colour-light controlled from the 1950s

 

[Gloster]

I also remember there were two semaphore home signals on the same post; I think on the left, out of shot, in the OP's first picture that signalled trains in both directions but can't remember what line(s) specifically they controlled. Quite an oddity (for me) at the time given that the main lines were colour-light controlled from the 1950s

Could it have been controlled by Faversham Goods Ground Frame, which did not close until 1985?

 

[Tony73E]

Could it have been controlled by Faversham Goods Ground Frame, which did not close until 1985?

It was indeed. When'off' shunting could proceed but when 'on' shunting had to cease to allow a movement into the yard off of the main line.

 

[dangerousdids2]

Does anyone remember the ole in the sidings? I've read that the mainlines where 3rd rail but the sidings had over head wires?

 

[zwk500]

Does anyone remember the ole in the sidings? I've read that the mainlines where 3rd rail but the sidings had over head wires?

Not sure about Faversham specifically, but a number of SR yards were provided with OLE (at 650v DC, same as the then-3rd rail voltage) and class 71 locos were fitted with pantographs. The Class 73s made the need for the OLE effectively redundant. Somebody else will need to advise on dates and locations.

 

[dangerousdids2]

So it wasn't uncommon then. It said it was due to safety concerns of yard workers having to walk over live rails in the yards.

I guess at the time they had high hopes on the railways becoming fully electric, diesels still prevailed though.

 

[Gloster]

This came up in the Railway General Knowledge quiz a while back and Faversham was one of the locations where the answer was that it had SR overhead wires.