[2] The depot was built as part of the Sheffield district rail rationalisation plan of the 1960s opening in April 1964 replacing Millhouses, Grimesthorpe, Darnall and Canklow steam sheds.

[3] It was situated adjacent to, but at a higher level than, the new Tinsley Marshalling Yard alongside the Sheffield District Railway.

The site also included a small electric locomotive servicing shed at the south end of the Secondary Yard, replacing the facilities at Darnall.

During the sectorisation period of British Rail, the depot came under the control of Railfreight Distribution (RFD).

Since the Class 47s were considered life expired by EWS management, and there were other depot facilities relatively close by (Toton, Bescot and Doncaster), and the other RFD locomotives were all electrics based at Crewe Electric TMD, the need for the Sheffield depot was deemed unnecessary.