Looking for a photo of the M3 under construction with a temporary railway and YEOMAN wagons at Longcross.

[Trumpers halt]

Hi all,

In the darkest recesses of my mind I recall seeing a photo from the 70s or 80s of the M3 at Longcross being built. Laid along the future alignment of the motorway is a standard gauge track, with a number of hopper wagons with YEOMAN livery on them. If this photo does indeed exist, does anyone have a copy, and know where the connection with the main line between Sunningdale and Virginia Water was made? I assume somewhere behind Chobham Lane.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Yeah, I remember that. I made regular family visits to Bracknell in that era. Pretty sure that there was a pic in at least one of the magazines at the time. (Didn’t take a pic myself.)

 

[Trumpers halt]

Glad to hear it isn't just my imagination! I've tried various searches online without success.

 

[Beebman]

As a suggestion you could ask a question at the SABRE Roads Forum, there's a number of people there who are very knowledgeable about the history of British roads including motorways.

 

[Gloster]

A signalling plan for work in connection with Feltham Panel shows a siding in place on the Down side to the east of the platforms at Longcross, together with a crossover. Both were marked as Clipped & Padlocked on a diagram for work due to come into force on 19 May 1974, but gone from a diagram for work for 8 September.

EDIT: There is apparently a picture in the book ‘Foster Yeoman - The Rail Story.’

There was also a terminal at Bracknell, which I think was in the Up Sidings. It appears to have opened not later than 1970 and have been closed by 1974.

 

[swt_passenger]

Here you go, @Trumpers halt

Foster Yeoman Aggregate PGA - 1st collection PR14000 - 196 | FY08 & Many Yeoman

Paul Bartlett's Photographs

paulbartlett.zenfolio.com

Found the link in RMWEB here:

The Tank Factory and M3 Siding(s)

Hello all Many moons ago i served an apprenticeship at R.A.R.D.E(ch) on Chobham Common, Surrey. Long before i was there it was nicknamed 'The Tank Factory'. If anybody is interested there is a book all about the place which came out this year, i believe. Anyway.......there was a line built into t...

www.rmweb.co.uk

…after a Google search for Longcross sidings.

 

[Trumpers halt]

Superb! That was the picture I was after, many thanks.

Knowle Grove as shown on the current OS 1:25,000 map looks to be the most likely location of the junction, with the siding heading off down the route of the M3. The bridge in the Paul Bartlett picture could be one of two: either Kitsmead Lane or the private bridge that had to be built to connect the two sides of the MOD site that was bisected by the M3. Based on the height of the piers, the 'entrance' gap in the trees behind the train and the abutment on the end of the bridge, I think this bridge is the private MOD one, viewed from North West, just south of new new Dorchester Mews. Of course, I could be wrong! Would love to see an old map or air phot of this temporary layout.