GBRf's March East depot

[18B]

just reading about this depot, I believe it only opened in 2008 using the old goods shed and looked a fairly decent set up, but did it really close in 2013?

[SED Freightman]

The former March East Goods Shed had been converted for use as a track machine maintenance depot, but had been disused for some time prior to First GBRf seeking an additional loco maintenance facility to relieve the pressure on their nearby Peterborough Depot in 2007.  Following agreement on a lease from Network Rail, work to restore the depot to an operational condition commenced during the latter part of 2007 and after extensive track renewals a test trip utilising 66723 operated into the depot on 20/11/07.  Formal opening of the maintenance facility took place on 18/04/08, during the course of which 66728 was named 'Institution of Railway Operators' by Ian Coucher of Network Rail.  Day to day operation of the maintenance facility was carried out by Electro-Motive Services International (EMSI) who were First GBRf's contractor for locomotive maintenance and it was the subsequent opening of the much larger facility at Doncaster Roberts Road which brought about the demise of March Depot.  EMSI formally handed the facility back to GB Railfreight in July 2014 although maintenance activity had ended sometime earlier.  GB Railfreight subsequently used the site for ad-hoc storage purposes.

[25901]

I remember the old diesel depot and what was left of the steam shed. Was last there getting 45112 ready to move and sorting some 08's to be loaded for Harry