Formerly of the Great Western Railway, the site is now run partly by Locomotive Services and West Coast Railways, both of whom lease the site from Network Rail.
Demolished in 1953, it was replaced by a more modern British Railways constructed steam shed (Code: 81C).
Southall was the last London steam depot on the Western Region of British Railways, outlasting Old Oak Common and finally closing to steam in December 1965.
The depot was later used for DMU maintenance for ten years before final operational closure under British Rail.
Currently the site, now referred to as the Southall Railway Centre, is used by three independent groups: Great Western Railway Preservation Group previously operated at the site.