Locomotive Washout Facilities (Woodpax HLF Project)

Phase 3 of Operation Undercover included a new locomotive washout pit in an area south of Sheffield Park Shed that is not open to the public. The total cost for the whole project was £3.9 million, of which £2.875 million was covered by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

This collection features the construction of the wash out facilities. Please note that this site is strictly out of bounds except to authorised personnel.

The gallery is in date order with the most recent pictures at the start of the collection.

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Looking south along the wash out pit with more of the concrete laid. Shuttering is in shot and reinforcing bars can be seen in the concrete which will tie-in later additions. 09.03.2011 6146
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Concrete has now been laid in the area directly north of the pit. 09.03.2011 6145
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A general view of the pit looking south with shuttering still in place. The green arow indicates reinforcing bars that will tie-in the ramp to the pit when it is poured at a later stage. 09.03.2011 6144
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Looking north with two of the feeder pipes in place on the left. 09.03.2011 6151
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Looking north along the length of the wash out pit with more of the concrete complete. 09.03.2011 6150
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A new inspection chamber has been installed adjacent to the apparatus case which contains the controls for the pit. This is presumably part of the cable runs. 09.03.2011 6152
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The embankment adjacent to the construction area is being reinstated and reshaped. 09.03.2011 6148
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Looking down past the work going on to reshape the embankment. Excavations have started to make a connection to the existing sewer. 09.03.2011 6147
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A tributary to the River Ouse flows east under the railway through a culvert adjacent to the car park, and the sewer also passes under the railway in a separate pipe at this point. The manhole to access the sewer is open as work takes place to connect new pipes. 09.03.2011 6154
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Treated waste water will be discharged into the existing sewer and a new pipe was being laid to make the connection. The green arrow indicates where the pipe will eventually feed into the sewer. 09.03.2011 6153
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Looking south at the locomotive wash out pit on 24.02.2011, with shuttering in place ready to pour concrete. 6019
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Looking directly south through the pit. There is a thin layer of water along the whole base of the pit because it has been constructed absolutely flat (i.e. with no fall either towards the end or the side drains). 24.02.2011 6026
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The two water pipes on the western side are now in position. 24.02.2011 6028
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The third water pipe has been moved to the eastern side to give easier access to the facilities when washing out. 24.02.2011 6025
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
One of the new pipes will lead under the railway, but the contract specifically excludes work under the tracks. The existing Bluebell pipe appears to be blocked and the new pipe stops adjacent to it. 24.02.2011 6027
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Looking north along the pit from the southern end. 24.02.2011 6020
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The electrical controls are now installed within an apparatus case a suitable distance away. 24.02.2011 6021
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The surface of the staff car park currently leaves something to be desired, and it is rumoured that Top Gear will be testing four wheel drives here soon.... 24.02.2011 6022
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A large water tank has been sunk in the position indicated to control the flow out to the main sewer. The adjacent Nissan Micra could probably have been fitted inside it. The contract requires the surface to be reinstated to its original condition... 24.02.2011 6024
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The Wash Out Pit on 12.02.2011. The trench for the water pipes has been filled in, but little else has changed. 5895
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
I always thought that there was something strange about some members of the Loco Lobby.... 12.02.2011 5896
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A view of the wash out pit looking south on 03.02.2011 5704
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Moving the camera slightly to the right it can be seen that some of the pipework has now been installed. 03.02.2011 5705
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
This view north shows the pipework more clearly. It has now been decided to have one outlet on the eastern side to facilitate access, and appropriate adjustments are being made. 03.02.2011 5713
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Looking north along the length of the wash out pit. 03.02.2011 5708
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Lights are now being fitted down in the pit, a rather unpleasant job as water has settled in the base of the pit following the inclement weather. 03.02.2011 5714
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A view along the pit showing two of the lights. 03.02.2011 5706
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A large tank will shortly be installed approximately in the point indicated, so that the flow of water into the sewer can be controlled. The system might otherwise be overloaded. Plans of services in this area were not entirely clear, and it has been necessary to locate other services before digging the hole. 03.02.2011 5707
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A start has been made on the electrical control box for the wash out pit, installed a short distance away. 03.02.2011 5710
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The new locomotive wash out pit, looking south, with shuttering in place for the future pouring of the concrete pad surrounding the pit. 18.01.2011 5524
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A trench has been dug for the installation of a high capacity water main which will be pumped to provide sufficient flow. 18.01.2011 5526
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The new water main requires not one but three pipes. 18.01.2011 5534
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Looking north at the route of the incoming water main, which is currently being installed. 18.01.2011 5529
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Looking north at the shuttered wash out pit. 18.01.2011 5528
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A second north facing view of the facility. The three drains for outgoing water have temporary shuttering in place. 18.01.2011 5531
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Contractors work on one of the inspection chambers for the outgoing drain. A huge tank will be sunk roughly where the van is parked to collect outgoing water. It will then be released to the sewer at a controlled rate to avoid overloading the local system, which is apparently pumped towards Newick. 18.01.2011 5532
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The new locomotive wash out pit, looking south, with the main structure now formed. 15.12.2010 5440
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A second view of the new wash out pit, looking north. Hard standing will be constructed on either side of the facility, and the ground was being rolled in preparation for the initial works. 15.12.2010 5441
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A side view of the pit showing one of the three drains and the chamber into which it discharges. 15.12.2010 5444
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The new locomotive wash out pit with the concrete base formed, and the steel in place to allow the sides to be poured in due course. 16.11.2010 5350
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Moving the camera slightly to the right, the eastern wall of the original engine shed has seen better days. 16.11.2010 5351
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
On the eastern side of the pit three large drains will clear water from the pit. The northern chamber is nearest the camera. 16.11.2010 5352
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A view of the works looking north. The pit should progress in the coming weeks, and will replace a facility on the western side of the site which has reached the end of it's useful life. 16.11.2010 5353
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The concrete foundations and some of the drains for the locomotive wash out pit have now been installed. This view looks south. 22.10.2010 5269
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
A second view of the wash out pit foundations, looking north. 22.10.2010 5270
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
Three large drains are being installed. This is the centre chamber. Metal rods can be seen extending from the piles. 22.10.2010 5271
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The southern end of the wash out pit. 22.10.2010 5272
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway
The metal rods on the right will be used to pre-form the strengthening for the sides of the pit, before the concrete is poured to shape the sides. 22.10.2010 5273
Woodpax Heritage Lottery Fund HLF Sheffield Park Wash Out Pit Bluebell Railway