Surviving UK industrial railway systems

[ricoblade]

In terms of outbound rail traffic from Aldwarke, the Deepcar traffic (mostly loaded ingots) ended towards the end of 2022. The last inward working to Aldwarke might have been inward steel from Tinsley (SMACC) for Thrybergh rolling mill in January 2023 - there were a few similar movements in 2021. The last main line movement was in November 2023 to collect a single BBA wagon.

The steelworks railway had its own flows of billet from Aldwarke to the rolling mill at Thrybergh, and also on the bridge over the main line to Roundwood. Although the Roundwood 11" mill making wire rod had closed years before, there is another mill there known as "Rotherham Bright Bar."

There's a bit more info in this post which was talking about some obscure internal wagons, but then expands into a discussion of the internal railway system with some good drone footage from YouTube:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...xp-pxq-pxv-pxw-pxx-wagons.279814/post-7147874

The photos by "Yorkshire Steelworker" of the steelworks railway are very interesting:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/40928931@N05/

The system is still in situ, but the site itself seems to be a bit moribund - not closed but limited activity and financially struggling.

I thought of this thread yesterday when I was on a Sheffield to Adwick stopper and I think you get a different view into the steelworks coming north out of Rotherham than from the main line. I'm sure I saw a yellow shunter but it was quite late so I'll try and get a photo next time.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

The former Caphouse Colliery, now the National Coal Mining Museum for England, used to have loads of derelict track (both narrow gauge and standard) on site back when it had the more modest name of the Yorkshire Mining Museum, along with a fair few bits of abandoned rolling stock. I recall talking to a volunteer there about it and him telling me there were plans to make it an added attraction... though I've no idea if they have anything functional so many years later.

I visited there in March last year, and although there were traces of track on the site, there were no working locomotives or wagons. There is one small loco (possibly a Hunslet) and an old wagon on the site, but these are not in use as they're on a very short length of track isolated from everything else.
From Wiki Maps, there's what looks to be a fairly large yard with old wagons and possibly some locos, but it's away from the main area and I didn't go there.

 

[Dr_Paul]

I don't have any information to add to this thread, but will offer a comment. Industrial railways, be they the odd private siding, a yard or a complete system, are -- or in most cases, it's a case of were -- the kind of thing that made railways interesting. Looking at old large-scale OS maps and at photographs on various websites bring home to me the sheer amount of industrial lines that existed across Britain, and how less interesting railways are today, not much more than EMUs and DMUs and featureless suburban and main lines. Growing up in south-west London, there was not much in the way of industry and thus of industrial railways to see, one or two private sidings, often disused by then, and so I was unaware of how much existed in other parts of the country.

 

[renegademaster]

The Thames tideway tunnel has(had? , might have been dismantled now) a narrow gauge system for construction.

 

[Western 52]

Is there a loco based at Machen quarry these days? They had one used to pull wagons through the loader many years ago, but ages since I've been there.

 

[Meerkat]

The Thames tideway tunnel has(had? , might have been dismantled now) a narrow gauge system for construction.

Does this count as an industrial (mono)rail system?

The private monorail tunnel under North London

Under North London, there exists a private underground monorail service, some 20km long running from Elstree to St John's Wood in the centre of town.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

Under North London, there exists a private underground monorail service, some 20km long, running from Elstree to St John’s Wood in the centre of town. You can’t ride on the monorail, and it’s not an escape route for Royals or rich oligarchs, it’s actually owned by the electricity grid — and it’s their inspection railway.

 

[702]

I don't know if this counts as industrial, and it's a monorail, but there is an inspection monorail under the second Severn Crossing.

 

[themiller]

Near the Cumberland infirmary in Carlisle, there’s a compound which I understand belongs to Storeys and has track which is used for training/ testing purposes.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

An interesting clip Adrian, thanks. My earlier comment about the loco situation at Ford's was mistaken. They do still have a few, or did so in 2019 (IRS 18EL), so suspect still similar today. The loco in the clip is English Electric (Vulcan Foundry) EEV D1124, an 0-4-0 so ideal for sharp curves.
Since my 1986 visit they seem to have acquired two more locos, a Sentinal 0-4-0DH and a 4w Clayton DH, two others (Robel 4wDM and Hudswell HC D1396-albeit the latter since rebuilt) still going strong since before my visit. They have of course long since lost their ex BR fleet, and their English Electric 0-6-0DH EEV D1229 which was laid up on the occasion of my visit, suffering from engine fume ingress in to the cab apparently.

 

[MarkyT]

The Thames tideway tunnel has(had? , might have been dismantled now) a narrow gauge system for construction.

I can't see it being compatible with the tunnel once flooded!

Does this count as an industrial (mono)rail system?

The private monorail tunnel under North London

Under North London, there exists a private underground monorail service, some 20km long running from Elstree to St John's Wood in the centre of town.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

This one clearly is designed to remain for future inspections, via cameras on the vehicles that can be remotely operated from the control room. I assume the vehicles would also be used to transport personnel and resources for any repair work necessary.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Do they actually use that system for their day to day work? Looks interesting!

Indeed they do. The railway is in almost daily use to move boat components up and down the 1:13 incline between the canal and the narrow road access.

 

[Western 52]

Indeed they do. The railway is in almost daily use to move boat components up and down the 1:13 incline between the canal and the narrow road access.

There can't be many narrow gauge industrial systems left, apart maybe from some used for things like tunnel construction.

There was a narrow gauge line in Essex used by a brickworks near Rochford I think. Probably long gone?

 

[MarkyT]

(though I gather a "pilot loco" from the steam era is sometimes used to mean an assisting engine on the front of a train).

Also a general purpose shunting loco assigned to stations and depots. At stations, moving stock around to and from sidings, attaching, detaching vans etc. At depots, moving dead locos around, coal wagons etc.

 

[PeterC]

There can't be many narrow gauge industrial systems left, apart maybe from some used for things like tunnel construction.

There was a narrow gauge line in Essex used by a brickworks near Rochford I think. Probably long gone?

Closed in 1995

 

[Adrian Barr]

Are there any military sites with railway connections?

Are there still military systems with main rail connections such as Bicester, Tidworth etc?

In a 2022 Freedom of Information request the MoD listed its current rail facilities:

The MoD has railhead facilities at: Ashchurch, Bicester, Glen Douglas, Kineton, Longtown, Ludgershall and Warminster. Marchwood Port is owned by Solent Gateway Ltd, however the MoD holds some rolling stock at the railway located in the port.
https://assets.publishing.service.g...7f6002963924/FOI2022-01200_reply_Redacted.pdf

A January 2025 press release by the MoD says that the main "Defence Fulfilment Centres" are at Telford and Bicester, with Longtown (near Carlisle) reopening soon after the completion of a new distribution centre building.

The Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, has paid her first visit to the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S)-owned Defence Fulfilment Centre (DFC) in Telford.

Operated by Team Leidos, the £83m cutting-edge, end-to-end logistics centre at MOD Donnington is a hub for the storage of the UK’s Defence inventory and ensures the efficient delivery of critical equipment and supplies across the globe. This includes clothing, medicines, and many other essential items needed on the front-line.

Touring the facility that employs close to 400 staff, the Minister experienced how the DFC supports UK Armed Forces. It is one of two major storage and distribution locations for the MOD, the other at MOD Bicester, with a new facility at Longtown in Cumbria currently nearing completion.
https://des.mod.uk/minister-visits-telford-for-first-look-inside-logistical-heartbeat-of-uk-defence/

Bicester has handled general stores traffic in its recent history, rather than munitions. Bicester still has a fairly extensive internal railway, although the site has been "consolidated" in recent years as mentioned in this local council document:

In 2008 the MoD's Operational Efficiency Programme identified the opportunity to rationalise the logistics function at Graven Hill in Bicester by undertaking a phased withdrawal and using the value of surplus land to develop a specifically designed, fit-for-purpose logistics hub at site C.
http://modgov.cherwell.gov.uk/documents/s22581/Bicester Fulfilment Centre.pdf

Drone shot of Bicester exchange sidings:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/robmcrorie/51418452724/

Donnington /Telford appears to have a similar role, being equivalent to a modern distribution warehouse in the logistics industry. A 2014 BBC News article mentioned a proposal by the MoD to "consolidate its operations in Bicester and Donnington, Shropshire, to just one of the sites" but it looks like that idea was rejected in favour of retaining both. The actual military presence at both sites seems to be declining, but this doesn't affect the distribution centres.

Donnington isn't listed as an MoD railhead in the Freedom of Information request quoted earlier. The Defence Fulfilment centre appears to be a few miles from the DB Cargo operated but little used "Telford International Railfreight Park" which is available for general use. Plots at this site (both rail and non-rail) are listed in DB's list of property available for rent, with a link to a some good imagery on a 360 degree "virtual tour" -
https://uk.dbcargo.com/rail-uk-en/services/available-property

Despite the general lack of traffic, the Donnington Freight terminal does see occasional MoD workings, such as this movement of military vehicles from Warminster (via Pengam) in 2018:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbe71/28540919117/ (Photo: Chris Beardsmore)

Or this Donnington - London Gateway container train in 2024: https://flickr.com/photos/d1021/54182815157/ (Photo: Mike Hemming)

Glen Douglas on the West Highland line is still active as a "road and rail munitions transfer point" serving the Royal Navy at HMNB Clyde (Faslane). Main line trains run into the modestly sized exchange sidings, and there's a short branch down to the unloading area illustrated in this rare view : https://www.tetratecheurope.com/pro...s-transfer-point-for-the-dio-at-glen-douglas/
There must be a locally based pilot engine kept inside one of the sheds, and I think the branch from there to the unloading area would count as an "internal railway".

DM Glen Douglas - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Glen Douglas sees occasional rail traffic, now generally containerised. Empty FYA flats return from the site in February 2024 behind 66739:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/170846903@N02/53529161128/ (Photo: Rikki Cameron)

Eastriggs near Gretna is no longer an MoD site, but the rail connection is active again in its new civilian role (for example the tank wagons off the Preston Docks bitumen flow went there for storage recently).

From the website:

The secure 17 acre Eastriggs site includes rail sidings and a locomotive shed as well as potential for further expansion. It is suitable for secure rail storage as well as rail based engineering and maintenance operations. Our longer term vision includes development of the site for the movement of aggregates as well as a variety of rail freight.
https://www.rail-sidings.org/

You can even drive a shunter there as part of an "Eastriggs MoD experience," and visit the intriguingly named "Devil's Porridge Museum."
https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/eastriggs-mod-experience

MoD Kineton is described as the "largest ammunition depot in western Europe" and still sees regular traffic. It's railway history and internal railway is described in detail here:
https://rogerfarnworth.com/2018/08/09/mod-kineton-and-its-railway-history/

Exchange sidings pictured in 2021: https://flickr.com/photos/robmcrorie/51191299907/ (Photo: robmcrorie)

Shoeburyness had at least one shunter on site and fairly extensive sidings. This 2010 photo shows that the main line loco worked into the site, seen here crossing the high street!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/justindperkins/3532474831/ (Photo: EastBeach68)

MoD shunter 264 hauling a stored SouthEastern CIG unit at the site in 2004:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/justindperkins/3533300682/ (Photo: Justin Perkins)

The traffic here was munitions for disposal on the firing range at Pigs Bay. The site is still active (and still has WTT schedules to it) but I don't think there has been any rail traffic for years. The range status for today says "Explosions may be noticed in the vicinity of the Thames Estuary" (!)
https://www.qinetiq.com/en/shoeburyness

Ludgershall (serving Tidworth camp) sees very occasional MoD traffic, but still has some rolling stock stored there. I'm not sure what MoD locos (if any) are currently based there, but I like this shot of Army 433 shunting warwells there in 2002:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/93293618@N05/53507955572/ (Photo: FEWS FOTS)

A rare working of military vehicle traffic from Ludgershall in 2020: https://www.flickr.com/photos/65580215@N02/49627120708/ (Photo: John Rudd)

A railtour in the sidings in 2022, showing some of the site layout: https://www.flickr.com/photos/justinfoulger/52220614318/ (Photo: Foulger Rail Photo's)

I think it's current role may be as a railhead for occasional use, rather than being an active MoD "depot" as such.

Warminster isn't much more than a couple of sidings, which were dormant for a long time, but have railed MoD vehicles within the past few years, as seen in this 2019 photo of a working to Scotland:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/93293618@N05/48789678282/ (Photo: FEWS FOTS)

It's not been a source of regular rail traffic for many years, but I think there is still a substantial army presence in the area at "Warminster Garrison."

Ashchurch: With regular rail traffic of MoD vehicles to and from the site ceasing some years ago, I was surprised to find out the site was still active, but a recent MoD press release states that:

An advanced storage facility with capacity to house over 900 Army vehicles has been delivered at DE&S-managed MOD Ashchurch under the Vehicle Storage and Support Programme (VSSP).
https://des.mod.uk/storage-facility-for-over-900-army-vehicles-completed-at-mod-ashchurch/

This 2023 shot shows an MoD train of containers to Westbury (for onward movement to Marchwood?) coming off the branch:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/142805908@N08/53139112585/ (Photo: Dave Gommersall)

I'm not sure if Ashchurch would really qualify as having an "internal railway" - its more a set of sidings at the end of a short branch, with main line trains ran running directly into the site (judging from that photo) rather than using the small fan of rather short exchange sidings near the station. Nevertheless, there were MoD shunters based there, as seen in this 2012 shot:

https://flickr.com/photos/bryanboskett/7092644289/ (Photo: Bryan Boskett)

Marchwood is still very much active as a military port, with extensive sidings.

MoD shunter 01542 pictured there during a charity event in 2021: https://flickr.com/photos/186817470@N06/51434337833/ (Photo: Michael Rome)

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MoD services
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These days, there don't seem to be the kind of daily MoD trips that were once common. In EWS days the core network was a daily working on the Carlisle - Didcot - Marchwood axis, with daily trips connecting into it from Carlisle to Longtown, Didcot to Kineton and Bicester, and other workings as required.

Trains on the current GBRF contract seem to run "as required" instead of being daily trips. Most MoD traffic now seems to be containerised (perhaps reflecting the change to modern warehouses and logistics operations) and sometimes MoD trains run to civilian ports or non-MoD container terminals. The VGA van fleet seems to be mainly used as barrier wagons, or on the increasingly rare special movements of MoD vehicles to convey the chocks and straps used to secure them to the wagons. I can't find any photos of trains conveying military vehicles since 2020, but that doesn't mean they won't resume if required.

There are an extensive array of "as required" GBRF schedules from Bicester and Kineton for MoD traffic, replacing the former EWS / DB practice of using Didcot as the hub for these workings. These "Q paths" cover all the sites mentioned, plus Haverfordwest (which was used as the offloading point for occasional movements of military vehicles to West Wales over many years, although I'm not aware of any recent movements).

Bicester WTT paths:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...3/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=ZZ

Kineton WTT paths:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...3/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=ZZ

I think Bicester, Kineton and Marchwood are the sites with the most regular MoD traffic, with the other railheads seeing occasional trains. It will be interesting to see how much rail traffic Longtown produces once it reopens.

Telerail produced three good quality videos on military railways in the early 90s, covering the sites at Marchwood, Chilmark, Bicester, Longtown and Eastriggs. They are still available on DVD - the £30 price tag is a bit much but they usually have a three-for-two offer, and the sample video clips provided are worth a look:

https://www.telerail.co.uk/product/military-railways-marchwood-and-chilmark/
https://www.telerail.co.uk/product/military-railways-the-bicester-military-railway/
https://www.telerail.co.uk/product/military-railways-the-longtown-military-railway/

RAF Chilmark was a unique ammunition supply depot secretively situated in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside. This video traces the work of this interesting and unique depot during the spring of 1994 when supplies were being transferred to the Nato depot at Glen Douglas in Scotland, prior to the complete closure of Chilmark during 1995.

I remember the Chilmark traffic being railed from exchange sidings at Dinton (near Salisbury) on Speedlink services, as seen here in this 1990 photo which has an informative caption:
https://flickr.com/photos/nicjoynson/52498242827/ (Photo: Nic Joynson)

A slightly longer post than intended, but it's interesting to see that a surprising number of these sites are still open as railheads, even if traffic to them is very irregular.

 

[Western 52]

Many thanks for posting such a comprehensive review of the MOD systems which remain! You mentioned Haverfordwest, which still has paths in the WTT to Kineton and Bicester. I've never known these actually run.

There are also some disused former military lines, some now in alternative use, such as Moreton on Lugg, or derelict, such as Trecwn.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Not sure if anything still comes in or goes out by rail, but doesn’t the Liberty Steel Aldwarke/Roundwood/Thrybergh works complex in Rotherham have quite an extensive internal rail system?

There were six locomotives visible when I passed this morning; four were parked in a huddle outside one of the buildings and didn't appear to have moved for some time, the other two were standing separately on the sidings and may or may not be in use.
The photos below (which are lousy having been grabbed from a passing train!) show the group of four and one of the individual ones respectively (the latter is near the brick building to the left of the shot).

 

[Big Jumby 74]

The single loco in view, '34' is YE (Yorkshire Engine Co) 2594, built 1956, and listed in the Industrial Railway Society's 18EL as out of use, but that was as of 2019.