Nick Johns Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) I received that Longmoor railway book. Despite being unhelpful in identifying this photo or the tank locomotive, it is a really fascinating book!! Log on to Google maps and use location Longmoor hampshire GU33 from the aerial photo see a lot of the original buildings survive, alas the A3 road now runs through what was the station/junction Edited March 29, 2013 by Nick Johns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 It is hard to say for sure, but i think that the trucks are a mixture of Y Types (Daimler or AEC) and Commers. The steamer could either be a Foden or Clayton. A fabulous photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Looking very, very closely at this truck, the bonnet, radiator and front mudguard are in fact visible in front of the cab; it looks very much the same as the truck nearest the railway line in front of the steam wagon. What appears to be it's front wheel is, I think, another wheel which has been leant against the cab door. I too looked at this view, but did not consider the chance of an additional wheel being placed beside the truck. Perhaps it could be the trucks own wheel being off for servicing the bronze bush or similar. However upon looking over that part of the image I did notice the bonnet of a truck and took it to be another truck parked slightly ahead and aside with the rest of the truck hidden behind the first. Areas of shadow under the first truck could suggest wheels for a second behind. The size of the panel about the cab seems too long for a conventional bonneted cab, which made me consider the option of the forward control type. In reality we shall never know. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locolines Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Can we be certain that this is Longmoor? Several points for discussion: 1) A lot of civilians in the photograph. 2) Although the railway with the train on it looks as if it could well be standard gauge, the stacks of track panels to the left are certainly of a much narrower gauge, possibly 2'? Maybe this is a military depot which was served by the main line but also has its own internal narrow gauge system. 3) The wagon behind the locomotive bears the initials of the London & North Western Railway. Longmoor is way outside this railway's territory. Not conclusive in itself I know, but raises a question. Still trying to identify the locomotive.... I am not too sure it's the LMR either , although railway wagons such as the LNWR one pictured roamed far from the normal stamping grounds. It's obviously pre 1923 though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locolines Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I did some checking at I am pretty certain it's not the LMR. The loco is an 0-4-0 tank which is a type the never used, mainly they went for a larger loco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris C8 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 I have been informed it could be a RAF Camp as there are some RAF signs on the trucks and trailers and the small trailers could be for fuel. Just need to find a RAF station / camp that had a railway line at the end of ww1 and just after . RAF Henlow? Manston,? Calshot,? Halton,? Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Keith gave me the opportunity to study the photo in more detail. Some things which i could not make out on the scans were that the flat trailers all have RAF painted on the side. I didnt notice that to start off with but i noticed first of all that the AEC Y Type at the top right has a circle on the side of the cab which looks like an RAF establishment marking (not the roundel - but a white circle with a number inside). On the same lorry the letters RAF can just be made out on the side of the body above the wheel. The lorry top left (also a Y type) has the white circle marking on the side as well. So, if these are all RAF it is unlikely to be taken at Longmoor. Also the odd looking limbers are not limbers but look to be fuel/oil bowsers or possibly water sterilisers instead. Anyway, it looks likely to be an RAF depot. I am sure that will narrow down the number of possible locations a little bit. Any suggestions please? Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Keith gave me the opportunity to study the photo in more detail. Some things which i could not make out on the scans were that the flat trailers all have RAF painted on the side. I didnt notice that to start off with but i noticed first of all that the AEC Y Type at the top right has a circle on the side of the cab which looks like an RAF establishment marking (not the roundel - but a white circle with a number inside). On the same lorry the letters RAF can just be made out on the side of the body above the wheel. The lorry top left (also a Y type) has the white circle marking on the side as well. So, if these are all RAF it is unlikely to be taken at Longmoor. Also the odd looking limbers are not limbers but look to be fuel/oil bowsers or possibly water sterilisers instead. Anyway, it looks likely to be an RAF depot. I am sure that will narrow down the number of possible locations a little bit. Any suggestions please? Tim Hi Tim, I think the location could be the RAF MT Repair Depot at Harlescott near Shrewsbury. It would appear to have closed around 1932 according to Hansard. Shrewsbury was a railway centre, so its seems a good location to bring equipment in and was the only depot rebuilding RAF kit at that time I believe. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris C8 Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 (edited) On one of the huts it says HQ [ Head Quarters ] I dont think its HO [ Head Office ] Thanks for all your help so far. Keith Edited March 30, 2013 by Morris C8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I realised the locomotive was a rarity, but had not appreciated quite how much! To be confirmed in a few days by a photograph of one of the Platt locomotives, but thanks to a very helpful industrial railway enthusiast (and I have subsequently done the research to back it up) it looks very much as if this loco was one of nine produced by Daniel Adamson of Hyde, Manchester for Platt Brothers of Oldham (textile machinery manufacturers) sometime between 1866 and 1896. Six of these were 0-4-0 tanks, the remainder 0-6-0s. The interesting bit is that four of the 0-4-0 locos, named OLDHAM, GREENACRES, CHADDERTON and WERNETH, were sold to the Government in 1916. One was photographed at the Ministry (ROD) locomotive dump at Tattenham Corner at the end of the war in the company of other locomotives that had been returned from France. So these locos may have seen service abroad. So far nothing has come to light concerning their 'in service' use, but I have a 'line of enquiry' out there amongst the industrial railway gurus which may possibly yield something. If I can perhaps have a high res. copy of the loco part of this photo, it will be most helpful. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 One suggestion that I have been given is Mossband which later became Longtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I think those trailers are water carriers with the two filters mounted high up. If you look at posting number 43 on the 'WW1 Water Cart' thread, you will see a definate similarity. I think that you can even see the hand pumps on the back. Wonderful photograph! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hair Bear Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 When you say 'Longtown', are you referring to what became RAF 14MU at Carlisle? There is (or was - late 1980's) a large shunting yard in close proximity, and the wagon's markings would suit that area too. Didn't RAF Rudloe Manor have a narrow gauge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Yes near Carlisle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 The locomotive is confirmed as one of the Platt types - example in 'as built' condition below. Unusual design but quite successful in service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtskull Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Wow! That is some dedicated research. Now, where might we find records showing where they worked when in War Department service? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie370 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Given the possible link to an RAF MT Depot, it might be worth asking these guys; http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/forum.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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