Huge 1:1 "model railway layout" near Long Marston/Evesham
Discussion
Whilst on holiday near Stratford upon Avon last week I was out on my bike, when I noticed what appears to be a huge circular railway with loads of sidings just south east of Long Marston airfield. Looks just like a model railway where trains can go round and round all day without ever going anywhere. Not sure what the site is called to google for info. Anyone know what this is for or the history of the place?
it's here
it's here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Marston_railway...
The site as a whole was a military depot. It was proposed to be the site of a new eco town called Middle Quinton, but that didn't get past the planners. Not sure what actually goes on there.
The site as a whole was a military depot. It was proposed to be the site of a new eco town called Middle Quinton, but that didn't get past the planners. Not sure what actually goes on there.
It was, for along time, known as Central Engineer Park.
It was the central holding depot for all manner of Royal Engineers' technical stores. All the kit that RE soldiers need to carry out military and civil engineering type tasks during both wartime and peacetime. So bridges, pontoons, plant, generators, pumps etc, stuff that wouldn't be needed on a regular basis in unit lines. Then there was 'war stocks' of 6ft fencing posts, reels and coils of barbed wire, 'wriggly tin' (corrugated metal sheeting) by the pallet load, and all kinds of 'spare stuff' like hand tools and demolition ladders to replace losses and equip mobilised reserve units.
During my early career is was regarded as a plum posting, steady, regular work, laid back, without all the marching and shouting of a 'field unit'. Sadly, it was long closed by the time I was in a position to be considered for posting there. Some of the functionality went to Bicester (even that is now vastly smaller than it used to be) and out to Engineer Resources Parks serving individual regions. Much of the really big 'technical' equipment, the bridging kit, for instance, has been got rid of 'out of service'. A lot of the rarely used plant for 'civil engineering' type projects is now leased or hired in for specific periods, as it's not cost-effective or efficient to procure vastly expensive machinery like graders and excavators that sit idle for 90% or more of their 'in-service' lives. Fewer items, utilised better is the mantra, and is seen as the most efficient use of public money.
Royal Engineer and RAOC (later RLC) railways units were also based there, but (regular army) REs long ago ceded all responsibility for rail transport to the RLC. I'm not sure whether there are any reserve units specialising in the railways any more. There used to be a military railway at Longmoor in Hampshire (another Engineer Resources depot) but all that remains is a bit of track bed and some buildings. There's still track in the military port at Marchwood, near Southampton, but again I think there's talk of that closing and it's role being taken over by a civilian port, or moved to a RN operating base. I've been out of the army for three years now, so my ear is not as close to the ground as it used to be.
It was the central holding depot for all manner of Royal Engineers' technical stores. All the kit that RE soldiers need to carry out military and civil engineering type tasks during both wartime and peacetime. So bridges, pontoons, plant, generators, pumps etc, stuff that wouldn't be needed on a regular basis in unit lines. Then there was 'war stocks' of 6ft fencing posts, reels and coils of barbed wire, 'wriggly tin' (corrugated metal sheeting) by the pallet load, and all kinds of 'spare stuff' like hand tools and demolition ladders to replace losses and equip mobilised reserve units.
During my early career is was regarded as a plum posting, steady, regular work, laid back, without all the marching and shouting of a 'field unit'. Sadly, it was long closed by the time I was in a position to be considered for posting there. Some of the functionality went to Bicester (even that is now vastly smaller than it used to be) and out to Engineer Resources Parks serving individual regions. Much of the really big 'technical' equipment, the bridging kit, for instance, has been got rid of 'out of service'. A lot of the rarely used plant for 'civil engineering' type projects is now leased or hired in for specific periods, as it's not cost-effective or efficient to procure vastly expensive machinery like graders and excavators that sit idle for 90% or more of their 'in-service' lives. Fewer items, utilised better is the mantra, and is seen as the most efficient use of public money.
Royal Engineer and RAOC (later RLC) railways units were also based there, but (regular army) REs long ago ceded all responsibility for rail transport to the RLC. I'm not sure whether there are any reserve units specialising in the railways any more. There used to be a military railway at Longmoor in Hampshire (another Engineer Resources depot) but all that remains is a bit of track bed and some buildings. There's still track in the military port at Marchwood, near Southampton, but again I think there's talk of that closing and it's role being taken over by a civilian port, or moved to a RN operating base. I've been out of the army for three years now, so my ear is not as close to the ground as it used to be.
Hooli said:
I preferred the idea of a crazy billionaire setting up a huge model railway he could drive from his helicopter.
You should listen to the radio adaption of Diamonds Are Forever. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0631r4yAlthough that said the MOD do fulfil the crazy billionaire brief more often than we would like...
My father lives in Lower Quinton near Long Marston.
Can often see rows of interesting rolling stock there being stored, some of it for scrapping at the Birds scrapyard nextdoor.
There's an open day there.
http://www.raillive2014.com
An older article...
http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-news-articles/lo...
There is a big new housing development, I think some of that track circuit is now gone.
A company there is currently converting old London underground D78 stock into new DEMUs for mainline use.
http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2015/01/2...
Can often see rows of interesting rolling stock there being stored, some of it for scrapping at the Birds scrapyard nextdoor.
There's an open day there.
http://www.raillive2014.com
An older article...
http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-news-articles/lo...
There is a big new housing development, I think some of that track circuit is now gone.
A company there is currently converting old London underground D78 stock into new DEMUs for mainline use.
http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2015/01/2...
There is one in Staffordshire that is actually a 1:1 train set though - http://www.statfoldbarnrailway.co.uk
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