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'The Strategic Steam Reserve'

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scarby

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There was an article published in a railway magazine in the early 1980's, in the April issue no doubt.

In it, someone who was a passenger on a train fell asleep and ended up in some carriage sidings. Awaking, out of the window they saw hundreds of mothballed steam locomotives. Not only that, the types were the ones at the very top of the preservation movements' list.

It was surprising that they did not see a load of GWR broad gauge locomotives as well.

Yes, this is one of the stories that has for some reason been re-told down the years, along with others such as there being a Blue Pullman set in a shed in Scotland (this came from the fact that they were listed as preserved on one Combined Volume when a group was trying to save one).

My honest opinion is that the SR, steam or otherwise, is just a myth. It appeals to the imagination, because let's face it, who wouldn't like to discover a Class 29, a steam locomotive, or in fact even something as mundane as a siding of 08s, especially if they were stored in "time capsule" condition from c 1968-69? I suppose the only outside chance of any such discovery would be if for some reason someone had managed to store a loco away and it had been "forgotten", but I can't even see such a surprise emerging. Though one or two locos on certain preserved railways seem to have almost fallen into such a state!
 
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CaptainHaddock

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The tunnels at Box are empty, and have been since WWII. Other non-rail connected stone mines are still kept for government storage (at Westwood, for instance) but not presently used. Even the Naval Stores at Copenacre are now abandoned. With all these facilities actually existing it's easy to see why conspiracy theorists might believe a strategic steam reserve existed. But it didn't.

The idea that the fleet of heritage steam locos would form a strategic reserve is a bit unlikely, there wouldn't be enough of them of a type to be of much use.

It's a great story but the myth that the SSR was at Box Tunnel was a deliberate myth designed to throw enthusiasts off the scent. The real SSR is actually at Heapey in Lancashire!

http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/Oubliette/Heapey.html
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There was an article published in a railway magazine in the early 1980's, in the April issue no doubt.

In it, someone who was a passenger on a train fell asleep and ended up in some carriage sidings. Awaking, out of the window they saw hundreds of mothballed steam locomotives. Not only that, the types were the ones at the very top of the preservation movements' list.

It was surprising that they did not see a load of GWR broad gauge locomotives as well.

Is this the story you're thinking of? It can be found at this link.

http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/Oubliette/RefusesToDie.html

""Exactly what occurred, I cannot completely recall and certain details I'm afraid, escape me completely. However the bulk of the story I can substantiate by diary entries made by my self during the autumn of 1975.

I was returning to Aberystwyth, to begin the winter term at my college and I caught an early morning train at Birmingham New Street, at approximately eight o'clock.

The train then made its way to Shrewsbury, where I had to change trains. I'm not sure what time the train arrived, as I had fallen asleep during the journey. When I awoke, the train had stopped but we had not, it seemed arrived anywhere, as the train was not standing at a platform. Instead I was in some sidings.

The train a DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit, RL) I think was segregated into compartments and I was alone. I ventured to look out of the window to see where I was, as I was feeling completely disorientated.

In the sidings where we had stopped there was the fuel oil tanks and the general bits and pieces one often sees in railway sidings.

But in addition to this, there were two or three lines of locomotives. I am completely ignorant of steam locomotives, so I cannot describe their type except that they were large and in good condition. They were painted in dull black and bore large white painted numbers on their boilers. [4]

The cabins were boarded over, as were the tops of the tenders, as I could see the boards, which overlapped the sides a little. The connecting rods were also removed but I cannot remember if they were lying in the cabins-I think they were.

As to how many engines there were, I cannot remember but there were many of them. Further details than this escape me, as the more I think about the experience, the more the facts become blurred.

I got out of the train and began to walk along the sidings, where I was discovered by a railway worker, who led me back to the station, which was nearby. It was Shrewsbury. I then continued my journey to Aberystwyth, arriving there late afternoon.

I'm sorry I can't identify the types of engine but my knowledge of steam locomotives is minimal."
 

LE Greys

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The latest one I heard was the Woodhead Tunnel. Presumably it also includes the track for doing a 'Wallace and Gromit'-style relaying operation all the way to Hadfield.
 

LE Greys

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And the one under the Beckton Alps (East London) - apparently. (or was that a whole train?)

Wasn't there a loco that once disappeared into a peat bog after a big hole opened up in the line? They couldn't recover it, so just filled in the hole and relaid the line over the top. It's in an anoxic environment, so won't rust, now there's a challenge for the preservation movement.
 

Peter Mugridge

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There was an article published in a railway magazine in the early 1980's, in the April issue no doubt.

In it, someone who was a passenger on a train fell asleep and ended up in some carriage sidings. Awaking, out of the window they saw hundreds of mothballed steam locomotives. Not only that, the types were the ones at the very top of the preservation movements' list.

It was surprising that they did not see a load of GWR broad gauge locomotives as well.

Given that the story involves Birmingham, is it not unreasonable to suggest that he actually woke up in Tyseley?
 

deltic1989

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LE Greys:1146468 said:
And the one under the Beckton Alps (East London) - apparently. (or was that a whole train?)

Wasn't there a loco that once disappeared into a peat bog after a big hole opened up in the line? They couldn't recover it, so just filled in the hole and relaid the line over the top. It's in an anoxic environment, so won't rust, now there's a challenge for the preservation movement.

I read about this in 'shadows in the steam', it would appear to be a true story.
As for the SSR, my opinion is that it may have been considerd by the government of the day but never implimented. It would be difficult to hide a large quantity of withdrawn locomotives without someone stumbleing upon it, and when the danger passed and time came to dismantle the reserve a few people would probably notice a britannia or a 9F on the back of a low loader off to the scrappy.
 

tbtc

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It would be difficult to hide a large quantity of withdrawn locomotives without someone stumbleing upon it, and when the danger passed and time came to dismantle the reserve a few people would probably notice a britannia or a 9F on the back of a low loader off to the scrappy

This is it - if this is remotely true then there'd have been dozens/ hundreds of people involved (not just at the time, but in the upkeep/ maintenance - who is getting all the spare parts for these locos?).

Funny though these conspiracies may seem, there's no way that Governments can keep things under wraps for so long (and nothing had leaked out under the "thirty year" (?) releasing of old Government papers?
 

Tiny Tim

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Why would a SSR have to be secret anyway? Locos retained by other countries are known about, why would a British SSR need to be secret now?

In the paranoid days of the Cold War the UK government might have considered the option of squirrelling away some steam locos. I'm sure that it soon became obvious that this was impractical.

As for conspiracy theories based on an April Fools hoax, I think that's how the delightful story of the Bristol Zoo Parking Attendant started.
 

moonrakerz

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It's a great story but the myth that the SSR was at Box Tunnel was a deliberate myth designed to throw enthusiasts off the scent.

Of course it is a myth ! EVERYONE who lives nearby knows that Box and its surrounding tunnels is where the RAF keep the dead (and living ?) aliens from all those crashed UFOs - and it's the location of a "secret" underground nuclear reactor - and the location of a (another !) "secret" NATO underground bunker - and - and - and ....................... Shergar too ?????
 

MP33

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Another place any strategic reserve would be mentioned is in the "War Book". When I was in the Civil Service I never saw this top secret book, which I believe was a number of loose leaf volumes adapted for editing/additions.

I did however see an extract which dealt with the National Grid. So there was a top secret publication which every Tom Dick and Harry knew about and no mention of any locomotives.
 

fsmr

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Of course it is a myth ! EVERYONE who lives nearby knows that Box and its surrounding tunnels is where the RAF keep the dead (and living ?) aliens from all those crashed UFOs - and it's the location of a "secret" underground nuclear reactor - and the location of a (another !) "secret" NATO underground bunker - and - and - and ....................... Shergar too ?????

What a load of Sherlocks
everyone knows that it is all happening in secret tunnel in North Wales near Mold just off the back road by the second telegraph pole on the left

I know all this as i met a guy in a bar up there years ago whos uncles gardeners cousin worked with a guy who was a security guard there when the locos and UFOs arrived sometime between 1950 and 1968 he wasnt sure of the exact date

Makes sense, steam loco upkeep and intergalactic reverse enginering are very similar you know;)

not quite sure about how Shergar fits in though although cryogenics are amazing these days
Apparantly there is a secret rail access tunnel to the site somewhere in Wiltshire that leads all the way underground up there built with alien technology

I will get my coat now:roll:
 

LE Greys

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What a load of Sherlocks
everyone knows that it is all happening in secret tunnel in North Wales near Mold just off the back road by the second telegraph pole on the left

I know all this as i met a guy in a bar up there years ago whos uncles gardeners cousin worked with a guy who was a security guard there when the locos and UFOs arrived sometime between 1950 and 1968 he wasnt sure of the exact date

Makes sense, steam loco upkeep and intergalactic reverse enginering are very similar you know;)

not quite sure about how Shergar fits in though although cryogenics are amazing these days
Apparantly there is a secret rail access tunnel to the site somewhere in Wiltshire that leads all the way underground up there built with alien technology

I will get my coat now:roll:

Don't forget your fez with the tinfoil lining. :lol:
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Run by a Mrs Trellis?

No, she's the secretary, although I hear she is under investigation for excessive unauthorised use of office stationary.
 
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