Years ago, organised shed visits were very common, now they are rare. An interesting day out was offered by DB staff at Toton Depot with visits to Toton Traction Maintenance Depot, including places out of the public gaze. The DBC staff did this to raise £2,500 to support Martin House Children's Hospice. There were three site tours at 09.00, 12.00 and 15.00 for a total of 81 Society Members (which included all our members who applied).

We met just inside the Depot Security Gate and, after checking us all out with name, hi-viz jacket, hard hat and safety glasses, we drove in file to the centre of the site and parked up for our 2¼ hour tour. Photographs were allowed and we were told that they could be put on social media if we wanted. There were 122 different locos (two were industrials) , one electric multiple unit, some wagons and three coaches. In the main these were Class 66s and Class 60s, with a few Class 67s and a Class 82. EWS and DB Schenker liveries featured heavily, with 67007 painted in purple to celebrate the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee last year. A GBRf, one Freightliner and a Maritime Class 66 were also on site.

Our three guides were extremely friendly and knowledgeable, answering all questions enthusiastically. We were able to look in the Paint Shop, the loco shed and repair shop where the workforce were seen repairing the various engines (even on a Sunday), keeping to the concreted area but managing to walk on the ballasted area at the back of the site where there were no movements on the day. The rain kept away, and everyone was really happy and a loud round of applause was given to our hosts for the superb visits. It is interesting to reflect on the broad range of fixtures which are now offered to our members; this weekend in three different parts of the country too.

'Official' spots...

EMU: 325004
Coaches: 10211 10546 11039 82146 94438 041989
Road Rail: T241 CNN T242 CNN T243 CNN T244
CNN Industrial Locos: 99709 979112 8 ES 101896 4wBE (2016)
Wagons: 201005 201079 210183 967594 967639 996378 025036 025040
Class 60s (Bank): 60003 60005 60012 60027 60031 60034 60036 60041 60043 60048 60052 60067 60069 60072 60073 60077 60078 60083 60084 60093 60094
Other Class 60s: 60001 60004 60007 60011 60017 60019 60020 60026 60032 60035 60039 60045 60049 60054 60059 60062 60063 60065 60066 60071 60079 60081 60085 60087 60091 60100 60500
Class 66s: 66001 66007 66011 66017 66018 66020 66023 66024 66026 66027 66028 66032 66033 66034 66035 66037 66043 66051 66054 66055 66056 66060 66061 66065 66069 66073 66074 66076 66079 66093 66094 66101 66103 66112 66117 66118 66124 66127 66128 66129 66134 66135 66137 66138 66139 66144 66145 66147 66156 66162 66164 66167 66168 66172 66174 66179 66183 66187 66190 66192 66194 66198 66199 66205 66224 66230
Class 67s: 67003 67004 67006 67007 67019 67030

Most of the stewarding team - Left to Right: Denzil Peacock, John Cameron (BLN NW Editor), Darren Garnon (our Sales Officer), Dicky Irvine, Kev Adlam (Fixtures Secretary, no introduction necessary!), John Hampson (Committee Member), Jim Sellens, Bernie Lovelock (with sunglasses), Henry Kennedy, Alan Sheppard & Alex Jackson of NR York ROC.
[© Via Kev Adlam 2023]

The third of the three groups; all our members who applied to go were accommodated.
[© Via Kev Adlam 2023]

66073 undergoing major maintenance.
[© Alan Sheppard 2023]

67007
[© Mark Arnold 2023]

A line up outside the depot.
[© Mark Arnold 2023]

GBRF 60085 undergoing maintenance.
[© Mark Arnold 2023]

A DB MK3 Coach.
[© Mark Arnold 2023]

Maritime liveried 66162
[© Rob Davidson 2023]

60004
[© Rob Davidson 2023]

This one includes a view of Britain's final coal fired power station, Ratcliff-on-Soar, to use its full name, lower background left.
[© Rob Davidson 2023]

A line up of locos.
[© Rob Davidson 2023]

its surprising what was hidden around this very interesting site.
[© Rob Davidson 2023]

its surprising what was hidden around this very interesting site.
[© Rob Davidson 2023]