At the east of the city on the banks of the River Plym there is a triangle of land not far above the High Tide Mark, acquired for railway use in the early 1900s and used as the main servicing facility for locomotives. I first visited the depot in 1971, in fear and trepidation of being thrown out, and with friends, we reached it walking with instructions found in the Ian Allen LocoShed book. We entered from Old Laira Road walking along lines of locos and keeping well out of the way of staff, ending on the footbridge to Embankment Road, until we summoned up enough courage to go and ask permission to quickly go through the main sheds, that was granted. A couple more subsequent visits were performed in the same way, though once we were turned off. However, coming home with scores of sightings well made up for the anxieties we incurred!
In the darkness of Laira’s Roundhouse, from left to right 1008 “COUNTY OF CARDIGAN”, 4920 “DUMBLETON HALL” and an unnumbered pannier tank rest around the turntable. Structural steelwork and brickwork can be seen amid the gloom. 6208#AA01-LRA-E_SHD-INTRR
1363 lies cold and static amid the line of out of use locomotives in Laira Shed on 30th June 1963, though apparently in good external condition. This ancient short-wheelbase saddle tank worked the tight curves of the docks, and fortunately made it to preservation. 630630A01-LRA-S1363-PARKD
With a full bunker, GWR Modified Hall 6921 “ATHELHAMPTON HALL” is parked up against a 2-4-4T on the coal road to Laira Coaling Stage, as a SR 4-4-0 steams quietly beside it. Clumps of wild flowers and puddles have formed around the grime encrusted ballast, and long grass covers the mound. In the background is the hilltop of Mt Gould and electricity pylons. 6####GW01-LAI-s6921-PARKD
The driver and fireman of 4705, a heavy mixed traffic work loco, prepare it for later service under the water column on the approach to Laira Shed. Behind it is the enormous coaling stage, and to the right the new depot building has been erected and is in operation. 64###AH01-LRA-s4705-PARKD
Three shiny new diesel hydraulics wait outside the Laira running shed alongside Castle Class 5082 “SWORDFISH” – D802 “FORMIDABLE”, D806 “BENBOW” and D6303. Drums of fuel are pooled beside the track and workmen attend to roof matters. 6####DV01-LRA–D802-PARKD
A view of the colossal coaling stage and water tank for Laira steam shed, now redundant and the area neglected in August 1966. This must have proved a difficult demolition challenge, as the site was cleared and unrecognisable to me a few years later. 6608#AA01-LRA-WTR_T-VI__W
In a unique livery of blue, small logo positioned at one end, and small warning panel, D6303 is parked beside D839 “RELENTLESS” and a Western on Laira Depot. The loco still has its original radiator louvres, that were exchanged for a mesh version on later fleet additions. 6705##B01-LRA-D6303-PARKD
The east end of main building at Laira still looks pristine several years after completion, though it has lost the designation ‘BRITISH RAILWAYS’ from the apex at this end – presumably as it has now become “BRITISH RAIL”. A hoist stands amid lighting towers. 69###AB01-LRA-LOCOS-PARKD
Lined up on the former carriage sidings beside Laira’s depot buildings are Warships in different livery styles – D802 “FORMIDABLE” is the closest – and D6349. It looks as if the baby warship has lost its radiator grille entirely, and a Warship its headcode blinds. 69###AC01-LRA-D6349-PARKD
D6349 and D802 “FORMIDABLE” are parked together on Laira, their buffers misaligned. D6349 is in original green livery that is ‘weathered’, and has lost its builder’s and shedcode plates. D802, with its open headcode doors, is in new corporate blue livery. 69###AA01-LRA-LOCOS-PARKD
Light comes through circular skylights and office windows onto Road 3 of Laira Maintenance Shed where D3517 and D832 “ONSLAUGHT” are parked, receiving attention. Being a purpose-built facility, this made Laira the WR’s premier diesel repair workshop. 690701A01-LRA-D3517-MNTCE
A sight more common to me across the tracks at Long Rock depot! D6319 is parked with a Presflo wagon on Laira shed with a view across to the avoiding line and hillside yet to be built over. The boiler house lies at the end of a row of lighting towers. 6908#AA01-LRA-D6319-PARKD
In September 1971, D600 heads a line of withdrawn classmates parked on the old steam shed area. This locomotive was the only one of the five to receive blue livery, and has had its nameplate removed. Track panels lie stacked between them and the main line. 7109#AB01-LRA–D600-SCRAP
A broadside shot of 820 “GRENVILLE” shows it under low-level lighting poles at Laira, next to a Class 47 with an unusual headcode – where the black doesn’t fill the glassed area. My abiding memory of 820 is in pristine condition in the dusk at Long Rock depot. 7####CR01-LRA-D820–PARKD
805 “BENBOW” is parked before the Maintenance Shed at Laira, and a Western just inside. The area either side of the building door seems to have been painted to make it easier to find in the dark, and piles of ash (grit, perhaps, for ice?) lie alongside the track. 7####EG01-LRA–d805-PARKD
D1030, “WESTERN MUSKETEER”, lies parked alongside the Servicing Shed at Laira Depot, the reporting code for one of its last duties wound up fairly neatly in the destination blinds. Coach sidings are to the right, and the area of Mount Gould to the left. 730303A01-LRA-D1030-PARKD
D1005 “WESTERN VENTURER” passes the Old Laira Road entrance to the depot at Plymouth with an “up” passenger service. In the background is the inner chord of Laira Triangle – used for loco turning and access to Plymouth Friary around the hill to the left. 74###AL01-LRA-D1003-PAS_U
A ‘Western’ romps past the Laira Old Road entrance to the depot with a down passenger service as it prepares for the climb to Mutley Tunnel just east of Plymouth Station – this pedestrian route being well known to “shed bashers” as it was furthest away from surveillance and closest to the storage roads for locos likeliest to be withdrawn and scrapped. 74###AN01-LAI-D10##-PAS_D
The interior brightness of Laira Maintenance Shed is clearly seen in this picture of D1034 “WESTERN DRAGOON” on raised tracks, reflecting the light. Its finish has been enhanced by painting the foot holds silver, and its ‘D’ prefix has been painted out. 740415A01-LRA-d1034-PARKDc5
D1043 “WESTERN DUKE” churns out exhaust as it peeps from the front of Laira depot in March 1974. The windows beside it face the river, and the single open pane carries the smoke away, though being far from adequate ventilation – certainly when compared to that of the former steam shed once nearby. 7403#AB01-LRA-D1043-PARKD
These close-up pictures taken in September 1974 are of the final member of the class – D1073 ‘WESTERN BULWARK’ – parked up for cannibalisation on Laira depot to keep other sister locos running, and providing a good record of the typical state of Class 52s prior to scrapping. 740908A01-LRA-D1073-DETAL
The slab sides of ‘WESTERN BULWARK’ show the thick steel structure of the locomotive, which although in typical condition of an in-service loco, has a cab window set missing – apparently cannibalised. There is vertical staining below each radiator vent and the inspection hatch has been hammered shut. 740908A07-LRA-D1073-DETAL
With an old steam loco tender in the background – probably providing a temporary store for waste oil – the lower front end of D1073 is situated above an inspection pit of the old Laira steam shed – hoses dangling free and a sander box missing its cover. The two inset steps made easier ascend than a single one. 740908A03-LRA-D1073-DETAL
The top edge of a rather worn brake block rests on the tyre of a wheel, and the rod for applying it is below, parallel with the track. To the right are cab access steps – the upper surface of each showing the diamond-shaped ribbing to enhance grip, and all is liberally covered with brown brake block dust. 740908A04-LRA-D1073-DETAL
Springs of the suspension of one of D1073’s bogies still show grease as it slowly rusts away awaiting eventual disposal on Laira depot in September 1974. Part of the brake assembly is on the left along with the lower rung of the cab access steps, and all is covered in matt brown rust, dirt and brake dust. 740908A06-LRA-D1073-DETAL
The plastic adhesive ‘British Rail’ logo sticks well to the non-number end of the locomotive’s sides, the fading of the blue paint due to water congregating on its lower edges. It is a tribute to the designer that the emblem is still used extensively to denote ‘railway’ in this country”. 740908A05-LRA-D1073-DETAL
A well-captured image of D1049 “WESTERN MONARCH” speeding eastwards – from along the foreshore of the River Plym, that is still tidal at this point. Behind is a new retaining wall built in association with the new dual carriageway road behind the line. 7####AI01-LRA-D10XX-PAS_U
Withdrawn D1034 ‘Western Dragoon’ was sidelined by frame damage and carries out carriage-heating duties on Laira Depot beside Embankment Road. On the main line D1068 ‘WESTERN RELIANCE’ passes with a down express. Photo: Paul Dalton. 751006A01-LRA-D1034-HEATG
D1054 “WESTERN GOVERNOR” has its number partially reflected in the headcode displayed on one end, parked outside the Maintenance Shed of Laira depot. It is standing with another Western, and a Class 50 can be discerned in the background beyond. 76###AC01-LRA-D1054-PARKD
One of the last of its class to be withdrawn, D1041 “WESTERN PRINCE”, along with Class 50s and a 25, is in it’s later months on Laira depot in the shade of one of the shelters appended to the side of the main building. The original road numbers are still on the shelter lintels, though the main building’s “hamburger” logo has gone. 76###AE01-LRA-D1041-PARKD
Overlooked by the lighting windows and extraction fans of Laira depot, D1070 “WESTERN GAUNTLET” connected to D1022 “WESTERN SENTINEL” run into the refueling shed beside the building on a sunny yet cloudy day. Locos often ran together around the site, being shunted or just minimising movements. 76###AF01-LRA-D10XX-LIGHT
‘Brush’ 47134 rolls light engine down the South East side of Laira Depot, flanked by a Class 50 and 25 on the shed side, and classic cars on the river side. The undulations of the roof line hint of its cathedral-like regard for western region hydraulic aficionados. 7####DX01-LRA-47134-LIGHT
Rain and drizzle saturate the atmosphere around D1015 “WESTERN CHAMPION” as it hauls a Mk I passenger service eastwards across a neat embankment of local stone between Mutley Tunnel and Laira on 3rd October 1976. Laira Old Road lies behind the buildings. 761003A01-LRA-D1015-PAS_U
Reflected light accentuates the wheels of D1041 “WESTERN PRINCE”, partially hidden by a stanchion and coupled to a sister loco on the concrete apron before the main building at Laira. This loco went on to be preserved along with six others of the original class of 74. 761003B01-LRA-d1041-PARKD
50045 is hard up against D1010 “WESTERN CAMPAIGNER” beside the main building at Laira depot on the river side. The Class 50 has a data transfer and Laira Shed code below its number, and original destination blinds still up in their housing. 77###AA01-LRA-D1010-PARKD
50010 is buffered up to D1073 “WESTERN BULWARK” at the south end of Laira depot, wearing a ‘LA’ shedcode transfer crammed on to the remaining cabside free space along with it’s Information Panel. D1073 still shows traces of unofficial silver paint application to wheels, buffers and cabside steps, but is otherwise reasonably presentable. 7####FX01-LRA-D_LCOS-PARKD
9th May 1976 sees 50001 rather sidelined on Laira depot, and not in constant use as one of the premier loco classes of the time. The ’50s’ were giving the WR availability problems as technicians and the engine crews struggled to understand their needs. 760509A01-LRA-50001-PARKD
Laira Open Day shows preserved D1062 “WESTERN COURIER” bearing a ‘Not to be moved’ flag, parked at the western end of Laira Maintenance Shed, with visitors looking at an information display before it. In the background is a Mk III carriage in original livery. 8####AI01-LRA-D1062-PARKD
The Eric Curnow Collection 