The first locomotive depot in Moscow was built between 1846 and 1851 by the famous architect Konstantin Ton, who also created structures such as the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Armory Chamber, and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. He also designed buildings and structures for the first railway line in Russia, connecting Saint Petersburg and Moscow.

The Moscow depot was located on a high bank of the Red Pond, which required changes to the standard design. Instead of a building for mechanical workshops and water supply systems for the locomotives, which was built elsewhere, a massive water tower was erected next to the depot. It was integrated with the depot into a single architectural ensemble, thanks to numerous common details such as paired arched windows and decorative brick cornices. The architecture of the depot and tower resembles a fortress or castle, which is explained by the search for analogies in well-known fortification and church architecture for the emerging Russian railway style.

The depot is a circular building divided into 22 sectors, of which two were through. All sectors were covered with brick vaults with pipes for smoke removal. In the center of the building was a turntable used to rotate locomotives and direct them to the required sector or exit. Initially, the turntable was wooden, but it was later replaced with a metal one. To protect against bad weather, a light metal dome was installed over the inner courtyard.

The complex of three tall elements, the dome of the depot, the water tower, and the clock tower of the station, created an impressive architectural and natural ensemble on the bank of the water body, which was captured in many works from the mid-19th century. The Moscow circular depot is the only service building of the Petersburg-Moscow railway that is detailed in the 1853 guide.

In subsequent years, the depot was repeatedly rebuilt. The metal dome and turntable were lost, and the tracks were dismantled. However, the building has retained its original structure and many decorative elements.

Despite its status as a monument, the depot is at risk of complete or partial loss.