Let’s step back in time. Over 130 years ago, Ilford Traction Maintenance Depot was just a small engine pit. The Great Eastern Railway, the first passenger railway in the UK, was chugging along and needed a place to service its locomotives. This engine pit was the first step towards the impressive depot we see today. By 1901, a three-road engine shed near Ley Street was built to handle the growing commuter traffic. However, just eight years later, a devastating fire damaged several locomotives, but engineers sprang into action. The structure was repaired quickly, and the depot kept humming along. Ilford Traction Maintenance Depot is a testament to resilience and innovation. Throughout the years, it has adapted to new technologies, evolving from a facility for steam locomotives to a modern depot for electric trains. Today, the 16-road shed is in constant motion, home to a bustling operation of trains, electricians, technicians, and engineers. It’s a hive of activity. And you can almost feel the pulse of the city as these trains are prepped for their journeys across London. Today, Ilford Traction Maintenance Depot provides a vital service to the city, ensuring that Londoners have access to a reliable and efficient railway network. It’s a great example of a piece of history that has adapted to the modern world.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service