Admiralty Platform,Plymouth.

[Ashley Hill]

Does anyone know the current status of this private platform located on the Devonport Dockyard branch in Plymouth. Google maps show it’s still there but is it maintained in a usable condition or has it closed through lack of use or degradation . I understand it’s last official use (unless someone knows different) was for re-dedicating a class 50 in the 80s.

 

[evotista]

Does anyone know the current status of this private platform located on the Devonport Dockyard branch in Plymouth. Google maps show it’s still there but is it maintained in a usable condition or has it closed through lack of use or degradation . I understand it’s last official use (unless someone knows different) was for re-dedicating a class 50 in the 80s.

It certainly was used 5 years ago (11/7/2017) as part of the naming ceremony for GBRF loco 66775 being named HMS Argyll .. search online and you'll see a picture of it 'at platform'.

 

[Ashley Hill]

It certainly was used 5 years ago (11/7/2017) as part of the naming ceremony for GBRF loco 66775 being named HMS Argyll .. search online and you'll see a picture of it 'at platform'.

Thanks for that and duly googled.

 

[pdeaves]

There are two ways of interpreting 'used'; one is for some sort of passenger service (unadvertised workman's trains), the other is the platform used as a stage for namings, etc. When it was last used, and what sort of use is considered appropriate, will differ.

 

[swt_passenger]

I suspect the most recent regular services would have been internal to the dockyard. Because of the dockyard’s long and thin layout there were internal passenger rail services right down into the South Yard, up until 1966, but they were then replaced by an internal bus service. I can’t really see the location having been useful for dockyard workman’s trains into the yard from surrounding areas, being next to the main gate of the naval barracks this platform was still some distance from the core activities of the dockyard. By the late 60s I believe you’d no longer have had special trains from the barracks for servicemen going on leave, they’d have just used the normal mainline station by then.

 

[Ashley Hill]

By the late 60s I believe you’d no longer have had special trains from the barracks for servicemen going on leave, they’d have just used the normal mainline station by then.

Much the same as Lympstone Commando. Before privatisation we’d run a 10 coach troop train top and tailed on the branch to take them on leave. Now they take either normal trains or buses.
I’ve seen pictures of Admiralty Platform with a passenger train in the 70s sadly I can’t find it. It also had at one time an extension built but since demolished.

 

[Gloster]

I am not sure how often somewhere like Admiralty Platform would have been used for leave trains in recent years. Probably not since the days of national service would there have been enough sailors travelling at one time to justify a train. Not to mention the messing about that would be necessary at Keyham as the line joins the Cornwall Main Line through a trailing connection. It might just be used if they were doing an exchange of crews on a major vessel, when most of the crew would move at once. But we haven’t had much in the way of major vessels in recent years.

 

[VT_Valenta]

From my ten years plus of visiting Devonport Dockyard, the last locomotive to visit the Island platform was indeed the GBRf Class 66 (HMS Argyll) in 2017. It's the only time i've ever seen a train on that strech on line.

There has never been a passenger service in the ten years I've been visiting the dockyard. Transport for based service personnel is normally done by road (mass movement of personnel such as a crew change) or individually by rail warrant from mainline train stations.

You do of course still have the standard gauge line buried into the Dockyard road around the Refit Complex which is connected to this line, for moving things in and out the yard should the need ever arise.

 

[Goofle]

Now they take either normal trains or buses.

Most service people travel via private cars these days in my experience (although I can only speak from personal knowledge of the RN). A combination of out of the way military bases, unusual hours and (much though I hate to post it on a rail forum) expensive rail travel means cars are (usually) the most convenient, cheapest and usually quickest option.

 

[irish_rail]

Most service people travel via private cars these days in my experience (although I can only speak from personal knowledge of the RN). A combination of out of the way military bases, unusual hours and (much though I hate to post it on a rail forum) expensive rail travel means cars are (usually) the most convenient, cheapest and usually quickest option.

You'd be surprised how often large number of "matelots" turn up mid afternoon all suited and booted at Plymouth North Road to await a coach onto the barracks. It happens anecdotally at very least monthly. They presumably all travel down on service trains then congregate in the entrance hall at North Rd waiting for their coaches. Dedicated trains would be good in theory but I'd say extremely unlikely in our wonderful modern railway.

 

[Goofle]

From my ten years plus of visiting Devonport Dockyard, the last locomotive to visit the Island platform was indeed the GBRf Class 66 (HMS Argyll) in 2017. It's the only time i've ever seen a train on that strech on line.

There has never been a passenger service in the ten years I've been visiting the dockyard. Transport for based service personnel is normally done by road (mass movement of personnel such as a crew change) or individually by rail warrant from mainline train stations.

You do of course still have the standard gauge line buried into the Dockyard road around the Refit Complex which is connected to this line, for moving things in and out the yard should the need ever arise.

I can’t remember seeing any traffic using the rail link either, or indeed the rails in the yard!

You'd be surprised how often large number of "matelots" turn up mid afternoon all suited and booted at Plymouth North Road to await a coach onto the barracks. It happens anecdotally at very least monthly. They presumably all travel down on service trains then congregate in the entrance hall at North Rd waiting for their coaches. Dedicated trains would be good in theory but I'd say extremely unlikely in our wonderful modern railway.

I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest. I’d guess it’s usually on a Monday, they disembark from trains from across the country, meet somebody in rig at a sign near the doors that separate the foyer / ticket area from the platforms then get herded onto (road) coaches sat waiting!