Tunbridge Wells West DEMU Depot

Tunbridge Wells West DEMU Depot

Location
Location	Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Coordinates	51.1233°N 0.2536°E / 51.1233; 0.2536
OS grid	TQ577385
Characteristics
Owner	British Rail
Depot code	TW (1973 - 1985)
Type	DEMU (Formally Steam)
Roads	4 (formally 2)
Routes served	Polegate - Eridge (Cuckoo line) Lewes - Tunbridge Wells (Wealden line) Three Bridges - Tunbridge Wells The Oxted Line
History
Opened	1866
Closed	1985
Original	[LBSCR]
Post-grouping	[Southern Railways]
BR region	[Southern Region]
Former depot code	75F (1 February 1950 - 5 May 1973)

Tunbridge Wells West DEMU Depot (formally known as Tunbridge Wells West Engine Shed) was a traction maintenance depot located at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. It was made to serve Tunbridge Wells West and its connecting lines and is now the main depot and station of the Spa Valley Railway.

History

The depot originally opened in 1866 by the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway with two roads which could hold six locomotives south of the station. By 1891, the depot was replaced by a larger four road shed north of the station.

Following bomb damaged on 20 November 1940 during World War 2, the original slate roof of the shed was replaced with corrugated asbestos. From 1950, The depot would get the code of 75F.

In June 1965, The depot closed for steam engines. Instead, the depot would store Class 205 and other DEMUs as well as engineering trains until the later 1970s. In 1973 the depot would get its new code of TW.

The depot closed six weeks after the final line between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge closed in 1985.

In the 1990s, The Tunbridge Wells & Eridge Railway Preservation Society would get ownership of the depot. Half of the depot has been restored with the other half being turned into Tunbridge Wells West on the Spa Valley Railway