This extremely busy 5 road refuelling depot area will have generated fond memories from generations of enthusiasts right up to the late 70’s. Situated close to the North end of platform 8 at Kings X there was always a crowd of spotters watching the non stop loco action coming off and onto the fuelling point, plus the procession of arrivals and departures from the main station itself.
The single road refuelling depot was largely made of glass and ,was nicknamed the “elephant house!”. Offices backed onto the refuelling depot. 45T Oil wagons often filled the far road which was close to the 6 large oil storage tanks. The track bed throughout the depot was a sea of oil and sluck.
Sadly with the introduction of HST’s, the loss of many loco hauled passenger and parcels traffic saw “passenger loco” closed on May 13th 1979, demolition of the site came 2 years later. Some limited loco stabling was introduced on the Eastern side of the station which survived into the electrified Kings X layout.
So the steady flow of locos going onto and leaving Kings X passenger to a line of admirers on platform 8 are sadly no more.
John Williams photographed much of the action at Kings X passenger on both October 16th 1971 and again on December 2nd 1978. A selection are shown below. Just to show the amount of locos seen at Kings Cross on the morning of Saturday October 16th 1971 logged by John is also shown below..35 locos!
183, 264, 266, 1107, 1500, 1506, 1509, 1516, 1534, 1570, 1575, 5590, 5595, 5599, 5607, 5622, 5624, 5643, 5644, 5646, 5648, 5649, 5835, 9002, 9003, 9008, 9010, 9011, 9012, 9013, 9014, 9015, 9017, 9019 and 9020 thats just the 12 Deltics!
John’s logs above include class 31, 40,46, 47 and 55. It is likely that the “passenger loco” over the years saw visits from classes 08, 15, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25 (possibly), 26, 31, 37, 40, 45, 46, 47 and 55 plus Protoypes DELTIC, DP2, Falcon, Lion and HS4000…..quite a list!
King X Passenger Phots – thanks to John Williams
Class 40 286 whistles off depot with class 47 and 55 stabled on October 16th 1971
With a good few TTA’s to keep the 6 oil storage tanks topped up 9015 and gennie 1506 stabled on Kings X Passenger on October 16th 1971
An immaculate 47525 fresh off Royal Duties on depot on December 2nd 1978
The mighty bulk of Deltic 55005 on depot on December 2nd 1978
The depressing Jan 81 scene of the passenger loco being cleared, Deltics no more here. Thanks to Swindon 123/RM web for the phot
Any more Kings X loco memories to share?
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