The large round structure here is Leicester Midland steam locomotive shed, which was built in 1945 and serviced its last steam locomotive in 1966. After that a couple of steam locomotives were restored here - there was even talk of it housing a transport museum - before it was demolished in 1970. That's not a long life for such an impressive building,
This site is still railway land and today is home to the depot of UK Rail Leasing, which own a fleet of heritage diesels. This makes waiting for a train at Leicester station, which you can see towards the top of the photo, interesting for a railway enthusiast. You never know what will emerge from there.
The terraced streets around the loco shed have not fared so well. Most were cleared so the new St Peter's Estate could be built.
2 comments:
I'm struggling to orientate myself with 2022 landscape. Assume the roundhouse was to the south of London Road station?
No, it's to the north of the station. The station is in the picture, running from one overbridge to the other - the London Road bridge is at the top. You may not recognise it because it still has its overall roof.
The road above the roundhouse was Upper Kent Street and is now Maidstone Road.
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