The shed was opened and became operationally active since September 1966, spreading over a total area of and covered area of.
Operations
Being one of the four diesel engine sheds in Southern Railway under the territory of Salem railway division, various major and minor maintenance schedules of diesel locomotives are being carried out here. Apart from serving the parent division, the locos belonging to the shed also serves the unelectrified routes of Madurai railway division, in addition to locos from Golden Rock.
Employees
The shed has an workforce of about 812 staffs including 5 officers and 74 supervisors, for maintenance and regular activity against the sanctioned strength of 902 personnel.
Developments
In 2014, considering to decongest the shed and upgrade, the Railway Board sanctioned funds to home 50 more locos than its present capacity to accommodate the new generation Electromotive diesel engines along with the conventional ones. During September 2015, in order to achieve fuel efficiency, the railways has been promoting use of B–5, a 5% blended biodiesel as against normal high-speed diesel. Hence a storage facility has been proposed for the same to use in its locos. A storage facility along with blending facility was commissioned for use.
Design and livery
The diesel engines belonging to this shed usually sport dark blue colour scheme interspersed with cream and white colour trim band strip in the middle denoted with the logo containing prancing deer, in the front.
Innovations
As a part of its regular operations, the shed has developed some specific innovative tools which include Cam Gear extractor, Cam bush extractor-cum-inserter, Traction motorspeed sensortest kit, Pressurized cleaning stand for internal cleaning of radiators and lube oil coolers, Radiator hydraulic test stand, Cylinder head crack detecting test stand, CD on safety, Working cut section model of Fuel injection pump drive, Online centrifuge opening pressure test kit, Tool for tightening SUC cam shaft bolts and Split ring spanner for Cam Gear nut of WDM3D & WDG3A locos.
Awards
Thrice the shed has been awarded ″Efficiency Shield″ by Railway Board, during inaugural 1973 and successively in 1974 and further in 1977. It has been assessed as the best Diesel Loco shed in Southern Railway Zone during the tenure of 2005–2006 and 2009–2010. The shed has been internationally certified with for Quality Management System in March 2004 and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management System in September 2004 for its standards. A diesel loco belonging to shed was awarded "Black Beauty Queen", during the inaugural annual best loco competition among Southern Railway zone outmatching other sheds viz.,, and Golden Rock, as about 15 parameters were considered for the selection.
