by Mark Collins

When I was a lad, Toton had this almost magical aura about it. No one had ever seen it and it was almost impossible to get to by train. Driving into it in July 2002, I was like an excited schoolboy all over again.

The number of locos allocated there may have declined but there was still plenty to see. Dave Reilly the Senior Engineer was most helpful and we spent the whole day there viewing every class of loco.

Researching the piece for Toton was one of the most interesting for the series as there is so much history associated with the yard and depot. However this was not easy to find on the Internet so I am indebted to the EWS Press Office in London for sending me their booklet on Toton and it’s history.

Not only did we visit the maintenance depot but also the paint shop, explained the wheel lathes, climbed aboard scrapped locos and went to the bank opposite to view the yard. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff.

As far as depots went, it was first on my wish list when the series was first discussed and even the cameraman and sound recordist were impressed with what they learnt that day…which believe me is saying something.

Trainspotting.links (will open in a new window)

www.ews-railway.co.uk