Perhaps it’s the sheer scale of Hither Green Traction Maintenance Depot that first strikes you. This is no ordinary train shed. Hither Green TMD stands as a vital hub. It facilitates the movement of freight across South-East England.
Hither Green TMD officially coded HG, has a rich history. In steam days the shed code was 73C. The Southern Railway opened a modern concrete depot on September 10 1933. This was to service its new marshalling yard. Hither Green TMD included a coal stage line. It also had a turntable. The depot primarily handled freight. It managed cross-London freight services. The depot acquired Class 08 and 09 diesel shunters in the 1950s. Steam locomotives stopped being serviced in October 1961.
The buildings evolved into a traction maintenance depot. Half of the original engine shed was demolished in 1993. The remaining part was modernized. But the original locomotive turntable remained.
Hither Green TMD became part of Railfreight in 1982. Later, in February 1996, it joined English Welsh & Scottish Railway. A new structure was built in December 1997. It housed Balfour Beatty’s maintenance stock.
Between 1959 and 1962, Hither Green TMD was allocated 98 Class 33s. Many were moved to Eastleigh TMD. However, 45 of the class remained in 1979. By 1980, the depot had 42 Class 33s, five Class 08s, and four Class 09s. Class 33s were phased out by 1998. The depot lost its permanent locomotive allocation then.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Class 73s, 47s, and 56s often visited Hither Green TMD. Class 25s, 31s, and 37s occasionally appeared. Class 31s temporarily moved from Toton TMD to Hither Green. They worked engineers’ trains. They were withdrawn in 2001. Class 58s were transferred in 2001. They were withdrawn on September 2 2002.
Today you might see Class 59s and 66s. Class 59s are operated by Mendip Rail and DBS. Class 66s are owned and operated by DBS. Also the Structure Gauging Train frequently visits. It is top and tailed by various locomotives and DVTs.
The Hither Green derailment occurred just outside Hither Green TMD. It happened on the railway line between Hither Green and Grove Park stations. The drivers and locomotive involved in the Eltham derailment were allocated from Hither Green TMD.
Hither Green TMD stands as a testament. It shows the evolution of railway maintenance. From steam to diesel. From freight hub to modern depot. It keeps the trains running. It keeps the freight moving.