Barrow Hill Past, Present & Future preview

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…to the story of Britain’s only surviving roundhouse engine shed.

There are very few places left in the UK that retain the intoxicating atmosphere and feel of a steam-age locomotive depot. Barrow Hill Roundhouse, near Chesterfield is one of them; not only is it the country’s last surviving, intact roundhouse depot, it is once again a thriving centre for railway maintenance and engineering. Its revival and expansion was barely imaginable in 1996 when the building was a derelict shell, and in 1991 had been just 48 hours from demolition and redevelopment. However, thanks to the tenacious efforts of a small band of local volunteers, led by Mervyn Allcock, its future was not only secured, but the site has become one of the most important centres in the country for the railway heritage movement and, even more impressively, for the main line railway.

As you’ll see over the following pages, the depot was built to serve the local coal and iron industry, primarily the oncevast Staveley Coal & Iron Co. works that dominated the area. For more than a century, it went about its work out of the public eye, save for the odd BR open day in the 1970s and 80s. But, by the time it closed in 1991, it had become notable as the only depot of its kind still used for its original purpose – and therefore a unique piece of Britain’s industrial heritage that had to be saved.

Over the last 20 years Barrow Hill has found a new purpose, serving the

privatised rail industry in many different ways, providing facilities for commercial companies such as Harry Needle Railroad Co., GB Railfreight, Direct Rail Services, Colas, TCL, Pindari and even the Belmond ‘British Pullman’ luxury train, as well as a home for groups preserving steam, diesel and electric locomotives for future generations.

Increasingly, it is also playing a large part in the local community, bringing visitors to a part of Derbyshire that has been badly affected by the closure of local heavy industries. Beer festivals, rock concerts, plays and other cultural events bring a new audience to the roundhouse and allow them to appreciate the unique atmosphere of this Midland Railway survivor.

September 2017 sees the beginning of the next chapter in the depot’s history, when it reopens after a £1.3-million refit that will add new visitor facilities and even greater links with the local community. Having saved the building in 1991, and again (just) in 1996, Mervyn Allcock and the rest of the Barrow Hill team are now working to secure its longterm future and ensure that the depot continues to thrive over the next few decades.

Ben Jones Editor

004 Gallery 012 The Steam Era, 1870-1965 024 Barrow Hill Icon: The ‘Half-Cab’ 027 The BR diesel era, 1965-91 036 Classic BR Open Days 040 Closure & Derellicttion, 1991-97 044 Rescue & Revival, 1997-2000 0 050 Mervyn Allcock Interview 058 Branching Out: The Springwell Colliery bran nch 064 A New Home for Deltics 066 Barrow Hill Signalbox 068 Memorable Events: ‘Fab Four’ Gala 070 Rail Ale Festival 072 National Treasures: NRM @ BH 076 Gallery 082 Preserving Britain’s Diesel & Electric Heritage 090 Memorable Events: Pacific Power 094 Main Line Adventures 098 Memorable Events: Rail Power y Deltic Projject 100 Baby 104 Tornado at Barrow Hill 106 Commercial Work 114 Rockin’ the Roundhouse 120 The Master List – every locomotive to visit Barrow Hill 1997-2017

BELOW: Railfreight finale: Shortly before the depot was closed by BR, a trio of Class 58s – Nos. 58042, 58025 and 58030 rest in the roundhouse between trips from local collieries to power stations.

BHESS COLLECTION

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Cathedral of Steam As the only surviving roundhouse engine shed left in Britain, Barrow Hill offers a unique piece of industrial heritage and a superb location for photographers looking to re-create an authentic steam era atmosphere. One of the depot’s early open days in July 1999 brought together four ex-LMS locomotives – ‘Jubilee’ No. 45593 Kolhapur (masquerading as No. 45562 Alberta), ‘1F’ 0-6-0T No. 41708, North London 0-6-0T No. 27505 and Hughes/Fowler ‘Crab’ No. 42700, plus ex-LNER ‘J52’ No. 68846. ROBERT FALCONER Barrow Hill 5

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Barrow Hill Blues For many enthusiasts, Barrow Hill will forever be remembered for its ďŹ nal years as a diesel depot in the 1970s and 1980s.

While the depot is now home to a much more diverse collection of locomotives, echoes of the BR blue days can still be found as various ex-BR locomotives undergo restoration in the roundhouse. On the turntable on December 10, 2016 was the depot’s trusty pilot No. 03066, with preserved Class 40 No. 40012 and a Class 33/1 in the background. ROBERT FALCONER Barrow Hill 7

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Magnificent Midland September 2015’s big open weekend marked the 50th anniversary of the end of steam at the depot in October 1965.

An impressive collection of ex-LMS and London Midland Region locomotives visited the depot, including ‘Duchess’ No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, ‘Black Five’ No. 45305, Ivatt 4MT No. 43106, Fowler 3F ‘Jocko’ No. 47406 and ‘Jubilee’ No. 45690 Leander. On bright morning, the stars of the show combine to create an image straight out of the 1960s. ROBERT FALCONER

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Barrow Hill’s status as a busy depot for the modern railway, and a diesel preservation site means that the locomotives on display are constantly changing.

However, the depot retains a strong connection with Class 20s, stretching back to the late-1960s, and is currently home to a large number of the class owned and operated by Harry Needle Railroad Co. ROBERT FALCONER 10 Barrow Hill

An exceptional event in the life of Barrow Hill came in February 2014 when Gresley ‘A4s’ No. 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower and No. 4489 Dominion of Canada visited during their all-too-brief return to the UK from North America. The immaculate ‘Streaks’ glow in the early morning sunlight, alongside sister locomotive No. 4464 Bittern, prior to the ‘Giants of Steam’ weekend. ROBERT FALCONER