The History of Depot Plaques

Depot plaques were cast aluminium plates fitted to locomotives to denote their home depot. They were introduced as part of the Railfreight sub-sector livery which was designed by Roundel Design Group for the British Rail Board. First fitted in late 1987, their first public viewing was at Ripple Lane depot open day. Roundel designed plaques for most of the major maintainance depots, some based on staff suggestions, and other designs appeared later, some designed by railway staff themselves. They were gradually fitted to a variety of Railfreight liveried locos and when the Departmental grey and yellow 'Dutch' livery was introduced many locos in this scheme were also adorned. When the Rail Express Systems livery was designed, a modified form of depot plaque was created just featuring the depot symbol without the diamond shaped background and surround. Upon privatisation in 1995, Freightliner, Railfreight Distribution, Transrail and Mainline Freight continued to use depot plaques, although Mainline's were repainted silver with blue detail. Load Haul did not use them. After EWS acquired most of the ex-BR freight companies and Freightliner introduced their new green livery, depot plaques were gradually removed until now only a few remain. Locos based at Crewe Electric depot seem to have retained them longest, particularly the class 92s. A few locos have gained them in recent times, notably an EWS Saltley 08, and some nameplates have depot plaque style crests, such as those on the 'Pride of...' group of Virgin class 47s. Preserved traction has recieved plaques too, 85101 is notable as it currently carries a Barrow Hill 'Roundhouse'.

Replica depot plaques are produced by Newton Replicas with permission from the holders of the copyright.