The History and Development of Stratford Depot

Presenter: Hugh Driscoll

Hybrid Meeting both Physically at Shenfield Parish Hall and via Zoom

Hugh commenced his railway career in September 1987 as an engineering trainee.  He spent his first 3 months in the training school at Derby Litchurch Lane works before moving to Stratford depot.

Hugh’s presentation took a look at the early origins of Stratford Works - the Polygon depot of the Northern and Eastern Railway designed by Robert Stephenson. This was joined soon after by the Eastern Counties Railway who had outgrown their original facility in Romford. The formation of the Great Eastern Railway in 1862 saw Stratford become the main builder of the GER’s locomotives and rolling stock.

The site developed over the years reaching its zenith in the 1940s. Hugh described the conversion of the works to diesel operation along with the changes to the area during BR’s ‘Modernisation’ period. His experience at the works in the late 1980s provided a valuable insight to the day-to-day operation of the depot and the different levels of work and exams carried out on the locomotives.

The decline of the works started in 1991 with the closure of the diesel repair shop leaving Stratford as a stabling depot. The construction of Stratford International Station on HS1 and the proposal to use the site for the 2012 Olympic Games signed its death warrant. This saw the site almost completely disappear under the Westfield Shopping Centre, the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Swimming Arena and the Olympic Village.

A very interesting talk about a place in which many members had worked or had visited as ‘locospotters’ but which today is hard to imagine had ever existed.