Meanings
plural motive power depots
- rail transportA place where locomotives are housed, maintained and repaired.
Camden motive power depot has been much criticised for its emission of smoke in a residential neighbourhood and its complete dieselisation is rapidly taking place.
1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 991 more example
A depot for the maintenance and servicing of diesel locomotives on the Great Eastern line is being provided at Ipswich by the conversion of the steam motive power depot, which was rebuilt in 1954, with the requirements of diesel traction in mind.
1959 November 28, “Notes and News: Locomotive Notes: Eastern and North Eastern Regions”, in Railway Magazine, page 807Synonyms: MPD, TMD, engine shed, locomotive shed
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA place where locomotives are housed, maintained and repaired.
Cite this entry
motive power depot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motive%20power%20depot
“motive power depot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motive%20power%20depot. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “motive power depot,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motive%20power%20depot.
Source: motive power depot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.