ABOVE: The former Underground coach used for our tour, by the main yard. First right is the late Doug Eacock, Membership Secretary from our 1983 until 1996 AGMs. BELOW: A photo stop at the centre of the railway, where the two triangles meet beneath the Reading to Basingstoke line (on the bridge ahead), the trackbed is still evident from passing trains today. (Ian Mortimer.)
ABOVE: Doug Eacock is in pole position, right is Tony Jervis, our long suffering (don't ask) BLN Editor for 30 years from 1974 to 2004 and no stranger to MoD establishments. (Rest Angus McDougall.) BELOW: The same location from a different angle; left are John Williamson (the taller one) and Pete Chilton.
ABOVE: On the main line above a 08831 running light engine passes a parcels train in the other direction. The 'NO SMOKING' signs on the coach are very appropriate for an ammunition depot! BELOW: Bramley Ammunition Depot Ground Frame, the main line is in the background (Reading off right.)
PREVIOUS, THIS PAGE & FOLLOWING: On Sun 1 Mar 1987, the day the depot closed, our member, Gerald Daniels, British Rail Salisbury Area Manager, arranged three farewell tours. Over 1,000 people went and the main line connection was done https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/870301br.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS20xP1K1vQ click Browse. (Tom Gilby & Pat Dennison.) PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: At Ordnance Gate Platform. (Tom Gilby.)
REST: With the Depot empty and closing imminently, 'Bramley Bunker' participants could wander around freely photographing anything and everything (unlike our 1980 & 1981 tours where photography was restricted to a few locations). However, most MoD sites didn't allow cameras in. The difference was our two all days tours covered all the through lines and the longer branches. (Remaining photos by Angus McDougall, 1 Mar 1987.)
ABOVE: The Basingstoke direction (trailing) Depot connection is left and that Ground Frame is right. The large modern looking building background right is the Carriage & Wagon Shop, Loco Shed and Railcar Shed (see track plan earlier). The lower smaller building left of it is the Depot Railway Offices. BELOW: In the other direction, showing the south connection from the exchange sidings, taken during the 1½ hour lunch break on our 5 Nov 1980 tour. An InterCity train for Bournemouth passes, heading towards Basingstoke. Note the footbridge - probably totally unacceptable by modern standards.
[BLN 1419]………. ABOVE: One of the 'Bramley Bunker' tours in the exchange sidings looking towards the north connection and Reading. This area is now a housing estate. LEFT: The gent with the camera and dark glasses is the Salisbury Area Manager, Gerald Daniels, who organised the three trips. At the Depot the two units were separated (due to the tight curves) for the internal tours which were about 13 miles (of the 33 miles of track).
ABOVE: Going round the depot the two units kept a safe distance apart. BELOW: The southern (Basingstoke end) mainline underbridge - see track plan.
[BLN 1419] ABOVE: An MoD locomotive added to the photographic interest - all movements in the depot were radio controlled via a central control room. MoD railways were immaculately maintained, even though this was the final day of operation here. LEFT: A 'Bramley Bunke'r passes beneath the brick arch mainline underbridge at the centre of the rail system here.
Details must be checked 1419 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN. 686] Sun 26 Mar; SRPS: Linlithgow (08.15-22.34) direct to Dalmeny and stations via Kirkcaldy to Dundee (10.00-20.45) via Aberdeen to Inverness (14.06-16.32) return via Moy & Tomatin Loops, reversal at Perth (Dundee Loop) and in Dundee P4. 37403 and another Class 37 double heading over the Tay Bridge. Standard £99, First £149. Book at http://bit.ly/3lUkYE6 or ring: 0131 202 1033. 687] The Secret Railway in the Woods: This is the first ever book about Bramley Central Ammunition Depot (CAD), Hampshire, between Reading and Basingstoke (the mainline passed through it on an embankment south of Bramley station). It was railtoured by our comprehensive all-day visits on 5 Nov 1980 & 24 Jun 1981 for 68 members. These were a bit like ever decreasing circles! The book covers, in detail, one of the largest but lesser known military railways in the UK, as well as the rôle of the Depot and all its key buildings. Born out of WWI, playing a key role during WWII and remaining operational until 1987, little has been published on the Bramley Military Railway at Bramley CAD. The secure site was 1,200 acres with a nine mile outer perimeter fence, 64 stores and 33 miles of standard gauge track. Shrouded in official secrecy, it did not even appear on Ordnance Survey maps until after closure. Drawing heavily on first-hand accounts and primary sources, this book explains the background to the CAD, its history and role from 1917 to the present day, railway operations (passenger and goods), track layout (line-by-line), all principal building, all sidings, locos and rolling stock. A4 hardback, 285 pages, 161 photographs (120 colour and 41 monochrome - many previously unpublished), 87 maps, plans and diagrams detailing every aspect of the railway as well as detailed information about the wider history of the Depot and its role. The Secret Railway in the Woods by Chris Hegg (our member, who is taking the financial risk) & Laurence Bindley can be preordered at https://oenpublishing.co.uk (which will determine print run). It is not currently available via bookshops or on Amazon etc. £38.95 including UK P&P. BLS Members can obtain a 5% discount, promotion code: ACKNOW5 at checkout. The pre-order deadline is 11 Mar 2023 (delivery April). 688] PROPERTY SECTION, Dinnet station building: On the (Royal) Deeside branch, between Aboyne and Ballater, the station was 36¾ miles from Aberdeen and 6½ miles from Ballater. It OP 17 Oct 1866 and CP 28 Feb 1966 (the same dates as for opening of the line and withdrawal of passenger services). http://bit.ly/3kBNmKP has photos (some of when the station was open), details, floor plans; PDF with e-BLN or 01224 860710 for a hard copy. Part of the former platform remains; offers over £150k. 689] :HELP SAVE THE DOON VALLEY RAILWAY:: (MR p10) During our Nov AGM weekend we had a very warm welcome and excellent visit to this standard gauge, volunteer run, heritage railway and museum at Dunaskin, Waterside, 12 miles southeast of Ayr. See BLN 1416.2684 of 21 Jan 2023 for report/photos. https://youtu.be/cmk_5S6wAko is an excellent four minute video of the railway. Unfortunately, the owners of some of the buildings they currently lease (expires May 2025) intend to put them up for sale. The Railway has until 31 Jul 2023 to raise £250,000 to buy the Ticket Office, Gift Shop, Toilets, Exhibition and Artefacts Room, Volunteer Rest Room, Signal Box Café, Museum, Joiners & Metal Shop and grounds. See https://doonvalleyrailway.co.uk/ for details and to help. Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group owns the loco shed, wagon repair workshop, station and platform. The rest of the Ironworks site is owned by two other people. The ride is nearly a mile. 690] :DC RAIL Is looking for staff:: See https://www.dcrail.com/vacancies for full details. CONTACT DETAILS: A full two page BLN & Committee directory was provided with BLN 1415 ●Editor: Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684 562862 07790 652351. ●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam [email protected] @BLSFixtures (Paper post via BLN Editor above please.) ●Printed by Willow Printing & Design Ltd [email protected] 75/79 Back Cross Lane, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS, WA12 9YE 01925 222449. ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP.