Longmoor Military Railway (Railway History S.)

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No. 10 Squadron was operating there when it was thrown out by President Nasser in 1955, returning hurriedly to Longmoor still wearing tropical uniforms. Longmoor Downs railway station is a former railway station, on the Longmoor Military Railway serving Longmoor Military Camp. [a] The station was the Southern terminus of the original standard gauge railway opened in stages between 1907 and 1908. [3] When the Canadian Army was looking for a European base, the British Army offered them Bordon and Longmoor Military Camps, which they took over entirely from September 1939 under a British officer commanding the local service and civilian personnel. The Canadians built two new sub-camps, using Canadian built and shipped prefabricated wooden huts: [8] Fortunately, Robinson of the Great Central, had just three years earlier in 1911, designed the 11F 2-8-0 (later class O4) for freight service on the GCR, mainly for heavy coal traffic duties in the East Midlands. As the war dragged on into 1917, the military recognised that this type of engine could be ideal for what they were seeking and requested Robinson to construct a further 93 for military service. Although only the basic model, these locomotives became operational by a new unit formed from the Royal Engineers, and known as the Railway Operating Division. The engines subsequently became known as RODs for their remaining operational life.

Farmer, Keith (March 1966). "Longmoor Military Railway". Industrial Railway Record. 9: 199–205/220. In the 1950s it was used for Bhowani Junction and The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, with two more films using the railway in the 1960s. At the end of the decade, a pretty iconic musical would also use the railway as a film set. By the 1960s, Gordon was the last steam locomotive still in use at the LMR and had become a popular attraction at enthusiasts' specials, including working on BR metals between Woking and Liss on 30 April 1966. [5] Preservation [ edit ] Gordon as stored in " The Engine House" at Highley WX), 14.16B(WX), 15.16B(WX), 16.35A(F) and 17.15A. Trains call at Weaversdown and Liss Forest Road, and arrive at Liss 3, 9 Liss – the southern terminus, with a platform adjacent to those serving the SR Waterloo-Portsmouth main line. There was a rail connection here for the transfer of various items of rail transport equipment.Gordon was withdrawn from service in 1999 after a boiler tube blew. The engine was deemed not cost-effective to repair at that time. [7] After being stored outside for many years, it was given a cosmetic repaint and was one of the first locomotives placed in The Engine House museum adjoining Highley in March 2008. On 25 July 2008, the locomotive was formally handed over by the Army to the Severn Valley Railway, who had been looking after it in a caretaker capacity. [8] As of 2023 [update], it remains on display while awaiting an overhaul. No. 49 Railway Regiment, a large unit permanently based there that normally operated and controlled the whole of the Longmoor Military Railway. Oakhanger Camp: After the end of hostilities, taken over by the Ministry of Supply to sell surplus Army vehicles, which covered the whole of Slab Common. Dismantled in about 1950, to make way for present married officers' quarters on Bolley Avenue. [8] An additional loop ran eastwards from Longmoor camp via a station at Hopkins Bridge to Whitehill Junction, completed in 1942. This provided circular running to the line, allowing for improved training without the need to turn trains at the terminals.

WATCH: Dodging bullets, suicide bombers and snipers '" it's just part of the job for the army's elite '˜bodyguards' ". www.portsmouth.co.uk. The railway had a large number of standard passenger carriages as a passenger service was operated over the line throughout the day running to a proper timetable between Liss and Bordon. This was nominally for personnel employed at the variety of engineers’ stores depots based around the railway and for a large number of civilian staff employed at various establishments. The railway also operated a large number of freight wagons of various types, including a large steam crane for permanent way work. After the end of the Second World War the collection also included captured enemy equipment, including a ‘Schienenwolf’ or railroad plough, a German wagon that dragged a huge hook behind it to destroy sleepers and render railway lines unusable to advancing enemy troops. Drivers were normally three-year regular soldiers with very limited knowledge of driving and several treated it like driving a fast car. The regular daily passenger services were operated by the 0-6-0STs that rolled dangerously when travelling at speed because of their top-heavy design. I regret to say that some of these particular drivers treated it as a joke.their initial six weeks’ military training were sent to train on operating the railways on a three-month course, before being posted to other parts of the country, or similar places around the world, the Suez Canal in particular, where the military operated the railway system on the canal banks. LMR 6002-10-0 Gordon- static exhibit in the ' Engine HouseMuseum' at Highley on the Severn Valley Railway Longmoor Downs – the original terminus, and largest station on the line, serving the military camp. Longmoor housed 5 Railway Training Regiment Royal Engineers [12] which in 1948 became 16 Railway Training Regiment and remained at Longmoor until the railway role was taken over by the Royal Corps on Transport in 1965. [13] Longmoor Military Railway finally closed on 31 October 1969. [14] The station was featured in the films The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery, when it was named Fordbridge at one end and Nutcombe at the other and The Magnificent Two. [10] [11]