Why do we still have carriage sheds?

[infobleep]

A fair number of trains are stabled outside these days, so what is the reason for still having carriage sheds?

For example Guildford doesn't have any but Clapham Junction does. Is it a case of if they are there we may as will use them. If not we won't put any in.

Do carriages spend a certain amount of time in sheds and a certain amount of time outside them?

 

[DarloRich]

is it not just somewhere under cover to store rolling stock?

 

[RichmondCommu]

Would you want to maintain a train out in the open in mid winter? There is a brand new depot at Three Bridges that has "carriage sheds". Not to mention the new facility at Hornsey.

 

[DarloRich]

Would you want to maintain a train out in the open in mid winter? There is a brand new depot at Three Bridges that has "carriage sheds". Not to mention the new facility at Hornsey.

are we talking about a depot or something like the shed at Clapham Junction?

 

[RichmondCommu]

are we talking about a depot or something like the shed at Clapham Junction?

Do SWT carry out maintenance at Clapham? I only ask because trains are parked there over night and one would have thought that all trains received some kind of maintenance each night.

 

[infobleep]

Would you want to maintain a train out in the open in mid winter? There is a brand new depot at Three Bridges that has "carriage sheds". Not to mention the new facility at Hornsey.

Well it happens at Guildford. It has two sets of sidings that are full on trains on Sundays, whatever the weather it seems.

Hence my question. I'm not saying there definitely isn't a need for sheds, just wondering what the reason for them is, given their are places where trains are stored without a roof over them.

 

[swt_passenger]

Sheds like at Clapham probably reflect the completely different sort of railway that existed at the time they were put up.

In the days of loco hauled trains, the carriage sheds at Clapham Junction would be where the SR maintained the carriages of the time, alongside the open air stabling roads. Of course the locos operated from Nine Elms.

As EMU fleets became the norm, replacing most of the carriage fleets, then they gradually moved towards the present model, where periodic maintenance is done at a single depot per class (or classes), and overnight stabling and cleaning, CET emptying takes place at locations all over the network. If they happen to have a roof that's in good condition then no-one is going to take it down, but at the same time they won't be putting any new ones up at purely stabling locations. You are more likely to see covered staff walkways between the stabling roads.

 

[Pumbaa]

Do SWT carry out maintenance at Clapham? I only ask because trains are parked there over night and one would have thought that all trains received some kind of maintenance each night.

There's 2 CET roads in the yard. Light maintenance is undertaken.

Similarly at Farnham and Strawberry Hill. Stabling at Guildford, Woking, Basingstoke, Staines and Exeter as well as numerous platforms across the network. Heavy maintenance is centred on Wimbledon, Northam, Fratton, Salisbury and Bournemouth.

 

[Bigfoot]

There is a pit road being dug in the sheds at clapham yard currently....

 

[pompeyfan]

Didn't realise Fratton still did heavy work. I thought since Northam opened it was just a glorified carriage shed.

 

[infobleep]

Sheds like at Clapham probably reflect the completely different sort of railway that existed at the time they were put up.

In the days of loco hauled trains, the carriage sheds at Clapham Junction would be where the SR maintained the carriages of the time, alongside the open air stabling roads. Of course the locos operated from Nine Elms.

As EMU fleets became the norm, replacing most of the carriage fleets, then they gradually moved towards the present model, where periodic maintenance is done at a single depot per class (or classes), and overnight stabling and cleaning, CET emptying takes place at locations all over the network. If they happen to have a roof that's in good condition then no-one is going to take it down, but at the same time they won't be putting any new ones up at purely stabling locations. You are more likely to see covered staff walkways between the stabling roads.

Thanks.

 

[BestWestern]

Didn't realise Fratton still did heavy work. I thought since Northam opened it was just a glorified carriage shed.

It doesn't; Fratton is just a stabling and cleaning depot now.