Leicester depot variety 1965 – today

Heading North on the Midland Main line in the 70s saw all eyes looking right on leaving Leicester station to view some of what was always a busy depot. The depot has survived and today is as busy as ever so we always look out on passing the depot just like we did as kids in the 70’s. Long may Leicester depot survive and keep that impressive variety of power.
Sample Leicester depot visits 1965-89
Class
03 03197-020788-stored at Leicester 7/87-8/91, now preserved MNR
08 08472 – 240379 – 1 of 11 shunters based at LR in 1979
20 20150 – 201084 – regular
25 25208 – 020788 – regular
27 5379 (later 27032)- 270365 – regular until Feb 70
31 31276 – 261188 –regular
37 37148 – 260883 – uncommon, 37148 dropped off failed 31129
40 40050 – 270783 – rare, off a freight
45 45104 (later 45063) – regular
46 46045 – 060281 – regular off 4E26 vans
47 47200 – 020788 – regular
56 56060 – 270282 – regular
82 82006 – 071084 – for cutting at Vic Berrys
83 83001 – 071084 – for cutting at Vic Berrys (with 82006 and 83011)
86 86404 – 270387 – loco dumped Leicester after drag on 1J25 due WCML farce
…..
Sample Leicester depot visits 1990-2007
Class
08 08697 – 170592
47 47226 – 060992
58 58016 – 060992
60 60065 – 040404
66 66226 – 050500
67 67028 – 300405
73 73105 – 040997 –loco dumped Leicester after failing on crew training
Leicester depot log 240379
08153, 08472, 08612, 08696, 08697, 25125, 25176, 45045, 45075
Leicester depot log 141280
08471, 08472, 08619, 08695, 08696, 08697, 08699, 25061, 25083, 25123, 25127, 25214, 25308, 47201
Leicester depot log 250487
08297, 08899, 20059, 20090, 20130, 20154, 20190, 20217, 31237, 31422, 31424, 31428, 56045, 56058, 56059, 56064
Leicester depot open day 060992
20227, 20902, 31116, 31410, 33050, 37128, 37427, 45133, 47226, 47642, 50043, 55015, 56008, 56110, 56116, 58016, 59104, 60006, 60012, 60038, 60048, 60083, 40012, 45060, 25173, 47192, 55022, 55016, D5705, 81002, 73101, 90019, 90129 45596(k)
Open Day rare visits by class 28, 50, 55, 59, 73, 81, 90 .
Sample Leicester depot visits 2013 to date
Class
08 08629 – 171021
20 20311 – 130320
27 27059 – 040620
33 33053 – 051019
37 37003 – 040620
47 47847 – 040620
50 50008 – 250219
56 56301 – 190316
57 57305 – 090320
58 58016 – 190316
86 86235 – 190316
90 90035 – 040620
91 91117 – 201019 (with 91120)
92 92018 and 92038 – 100922
So in conclusion Leicester depot down the years has seen a great deal of power variety from class 03 – 92. Vistors as listed above include class 03, 08, 20, 25, 27, 31, 33, 37, 40, 45, 46, 47, 50, 56, 57, 58, 60, 66, 67, 73, 82, 83, 86, 90, 91, 92, This is an impressive total of 26 different classes, which rises to 30 including the perhaps unique 1992 Open Day visits of class 28, 55, 59 and 81. Any more Leicester depot memories to share?
Leicester depot phot spot

A superb Leicester depot view from August 13th 1967 with classes 08, 20, 25 and 27 on shed. Thanks to Nigel Tout for the image

Class 40 D330 at Leicester shed as a peak passes on an up passenger on August 14th 1967. Thanks to Nigel Tout for this classic image

Thanks to “TC” for this rare view of 40050 on Leicester depot on July 27th 1983

The late Tony Ewer catches 56130 changing roads at the depot on April 3rd 1985

Tony Ewer catches 08536 and 08474 round the back of the small depot building at Leicester on June 8th 1985

31263 and 31229 pass plenty power on Leicester depot including class 20, 31, 47 and 56 on August 18th 1985

56038 at the head of a line of classmates plus operational 56081 on Leicester depot on 280315

50008 along with class 37 and 27059 at Leicester depot on 160819

56312, 47739, 56301, 56103, a 60 and 58 look good on Leicester Shed on May 7th 2022

47727 and 56104 in the morning sun at Leicester depot, Sep 10th 2022

Electrics too! 92018 and 92038 at Leicester depot, Sep 10th 2022
A link to “45147’s” superb Flikr phot of 82006 and 2 83s at Leicester depot in October 84
end