Ripple Lane TMD


Ripple Lane TMD, BR depot code RL, was a Traction Maintenance Depot located to the south of Castle Green, London, England. It was located east of Fenchurch Street station near the marshalling yard between Dagenham Dock and Barking stations. The actual depot was situated between the running lines with the up line to the south of the depot and the down line to the north.

History

In the 1970s and 1980s Ripple Lane was considered a sub-shed of Stratford. At that time the depot had four roads each with an inspection pit. The building itself was of concrete and glass being long enough for a single Class 47 locomotive and without doors of any kind. In 1981 there were three Class 08 shunters outstationed at Ripple Lane shunting Ripple Lane yard and the nearby Ford factory. In addition to these shunters, in excess of 15 locomotives could be expected to stable overnight including shunters from Tilbuy and Thameshaven.
Before its closure in 1993, British Rail Class 08 shunters, Class 47, Class 20, 37 locomotives and Class 43 Warships could be seen at the depot.