Plans for sheltered storage for historic steam locomotives in Carlisle have been lodged with Cumberland Council.
Locomotive Storage wants to to build a 140m long canopy building at the former 12B Carriage Shed site at Carlisle Diesel Depot in Upperby.
It would provide essential covered storage for a collection of historic steam locomotives and heritage rolling stock, enabling their preservation and protection in a manner that is sensitive to the site’s longstanding railway heritage.
The application said: “The Carlisle Upperby site holds significant historical importance as a key part of the city’s railway infrastructure, with a rich legacy dating back to the age of steam.
“The 12B Carriage Shed formed part of the broader Upperby Depot complex, which historically served as a major maintenance, storage, and operational centre for steam locomotives and carriages operated by successive railway companies.
“Although much of the original infrastructure has since been removed or fallen into disuse, the site’s railway character and strategic location remain intact.
“Locomotive Storage Limited has acquired this section of the site with the express purpose of returning it to a sympathetic and historically appropriate use: the storage and safeguarding of steam locomotives and heritage rolling stock.
“The proposal represents a thoughtful reinvestment in Carlisle’s railway heritage, providing a covered area that will not only ensure the long-term conservation of important historic assets, but also align with the traditional use of the site.”
It said it had designed the canopy to reflect the industrial character and utilitarian nature of the former railway environment, while providing modern, practical protection against the weather.
It added: “While the side of the canopy structure remain predominantly open, it will allow historic rolling stock to be covered in a secure, controlled environment, mitigating the effects of deterioration and corrosion caused by prolonged exposure to the elements.”
The original carriage sheds were a significant part of Carlisle’s railway infrastructure, serving as a hub for locomotive and carriage maintenance for much of the 20th century.
It was originally built by the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, it later came under the ownership of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) following the 1923 Grouping.
In 1948, the LMS undertook a major reconstruction of the facility, replacing the original structures with a large concrete roundhouse and associated carriage sheds.
The developments were part of a broader modernisation effort in the post-war period.
The application added: “The carriage sheds at Upperby were notable for their robust construction and functional design. Built to an LMS design and opened by British Railways’ London Midland Region in 1948, the facility featured multiple roads (tracks) for servicing locomotives and carriages.”
During the 1960s, the depot was allocated diesel locomotives and it eventually closed in 1968.
The application said: “The roundhouse was demolished in 1979, but the remaining buildings continued to serve as a carriage maintenance and servicing facility until the early 1990s.”
The planning application is currently being assessed by officers at the council.
