Grosmont is the base of the Motive Power Depot and where all maintenance work is done. Specialist shed tours are run by the railway, but visitors are welcome to visit the viewing gallery in the shed.
The sheds are be reached by crossing over the level crossing by the station and taking the path along side the railway line to the old tunnel of the horse drawn railway. This is adjacent to the newer and much larger tunnel, which was designed for steam locos rather than horses.
Opened in 1836, this is one of the oldest tunnels in the world. It has a castlellated northern portal. The southern end is plainer, possibly because that was less visible to the travelling public. The Directors censored George Stephenson for wasting money, although castellations were common in the early days of building railways and designed to assure passengers of the safety of the structure they were about to enter!
The tunnel gives pedestrian access to the Loco sheds. There are a series of information boards about the work of the shed and personnel.Name plates and other railway artefacts are displayed on the walls.
A steep metal stairway gives access to a viewing platform where visitors can look down on the locos being worked on.
The visit doesn’t take long and is worth doing if time allows. There is. o charge and it is a chance to see work on the locos.
