Loughborough Top Shed

Loughborough Top Shed is a project associated with the Great Central Heritage Railway, which is a heritage railway in Leicestershire. It was set up in 2004 to recover and restore an ex-LMS steam shed from Workington, Cumbria to provide undercover accommodation for the growing fleet of locomotives preserved at the railway.
History
The shed was built in 1876 by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) with six-roads for locomotives, but doubled in size by 1890 to a twelve-road shed. From 1923 to 1947 the London Midland and Scottish Railway was custodian of the building, The shed code was changed to 12D from the original 32, but no other known changes were made during this period.
After nationalisation of the four railway companies to form British Railways, the shed became a part of the London Midland Region and was rebuilt into a ten-road shed for housing diesel multiple units. The roof was shortened slightly, creating a pair of characteristic stone "wing walls" at the sides. The shed closed officially to steam in 1968 and remained in its condition as a wagon repair shop until 1995.
Preservation
In 2004, 5305LA spokesman Tom Tighe was on holiday in the Lake District when he discovered the overgrown remains of the shed. The entire building was relatively complete and most of the track had not even been torn up when first feasibility studies went through. What was left of the walls and roof beams were measured, removed and transported brick-by-brick 200 miles south to Swithland Sidings for reconstruction at the old, abandoned Loughborough refuse tip northeast of the station and current shed. The project is supported by several groups, companies and individuals, including Network Rail and monthly rail enthusiast magazines Steam Railway and The Railway Magazine, who have pledged several thousand pounds to the cause since its inception.
Work began in early 2007 to clear Bridge 331 over the Grand Union Canal, which is required to be removed and then replaced and/or overhauled for this and another long-term concept, "Bridging The Gap", which aims to turn the two sections of preserved Great Central into a single 18 Mile heritage attraction. If this happens then the current shed would need to be demolished as it intercepts the northern line to Ruddington. An embankment spurring off the mainline would also need construction to support a single sharp-curving track. There is no road access to the site at present so much of the material may need to be transferred by the new spur line. Noise and safety concerns over the lighting and preparation of steam locomotives is another reason behind the new location.

The amount of work going into the project is huge. As well as the old shed several new buildings are also in the design stages, including a three-road carriage works built in the style of the GCR and some stock storage sidings. These would be out of the way of the Workington shed, to ensure it remains the centre of attention. The original ten-road configuration is to be turned into eight, five for the operational steam and three for those undergoing maintenance. Though the size will remain the same the three roads are to allow more workspace around the locos to be provided. At the back is a completely new block, which will become an education centre for school groups and footplate members, and alternative storage facilities for locomotive spares. A DMU platform to allow transport between the station and the shed for open days is possible as well.
Ecology park
Part of the site will be given over to an ecology park which will contain trees and plant life, a campsite and an adventure playground to screen nearby houses from the noise that is likely to be given off from the site.
Funding
Part of the funding is coming from the Railway Heritage Trust, which originally pledged £100,000 to the project, but this has since been increased to £130,000. This funding, however, can only be used for the "bricks and mortar" part of the project.

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