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Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/9/2005 3:06:32 PM

otisabuser2

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I was thinking that the rail targets in Battle of Britain may need some modifications. Places like Basildon and Fulham don't seem quite right for railyards or workshops.

Anyone have some kind of list for 1940 workshops ? Thinking of names like Crewe, Swindon, Nine Elms, Neasden, Ashford and Eastleigh. I used to be into railways as a teenager, but that was some time ago.

This was the era of the big four, GWR, LNER LMS and Southern, iirc, if that's any help.

regards Rob

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RE: Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/9/2005 8:58:33 PM

DBS

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I shall ask my mother-in-law VERY nicely if I can rummage through later father-in-law's prized steam railway book collection - not inappropriate in this cause since he spent the entire war as a young REME officer on the British Army radar development team. Sadly, all the gen on THAT was in his head before, anyone gets any bright ideas; believe me a thought that has oft crossed my mind when trying to puzzle out the more detailed issues of CH and CHL

Interesting bit of old boy network, etc; he was dragged into the team by an older relative, who when they were looking to expand as a matter of urgency at the beginning of the war, started with his own family and grabbed John, an 18-year old TA second lieutenant just about to start an engineering degree. Never did go to university - by 1945 he was a major with the best electrical engineering "education" one could dream of at that time.

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RE: Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/10/2005 12:41:24 AM

HMSWarspite

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Funnily enough, my late father-in-law was in the army in 1936-8ish and was allocated to an early radar establishment in (IIRC Suffolk), with Watson Watt. He was, though only a squaddie in the RA, and not in to the radar itself. He spent the war at a PT instructor in India, and then in the Palestine Police. My Father was in REME but post war (1951-) His was the first intake at Sandhurst not to take casualties in Korea (obviously since that war started).

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RE: Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/10/2005 12:04:10 PM

otisabuser2

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Thanks DBS and Warspite,

I have tried a search of the web, and not found anything useful. I know there are a large number of books out there, but the information we require is rather specific. We do not need loco colours, station styles or track plans, which are there in abundance.

In game already are various workshops which later produced tanks. Think these were researched for GGs earlier Western Front game ( sequel to WIR ).

regards Otis

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RE: Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/13/2005 12:53:33 AM

HMSWarspite

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quote:

ORIGINAL: otisabuser2

Thanks DBS and Warspite,

I have tried a search of the web, and not found anything useful. I know there are a large number of books out there, but the information we require is rather specific. We do not need loco colours, station styles or track plans, which are there in abundance.

In game already are various workshops which later produced tanks. Think these were researched for GGs earlier Western Front game ( sequel to WIR ).

regards Otis

OK - more on topic! My Grandfather was in the GWR at Swindon throughout the war, huge maintenance and manufacturing site (Boiler shop alone was bigger than 1 acre). Built all the GWR locos from way back, and didn't close til the late 70's or 80's IIRC. Also a reasonably important junction (the London-Bristol line meets the line to Cheltenham, etc.)

What specifically do you want to know (my Grandfather died 10 years ago, but my Mum recalls some stuff)? I guess you need to know relative importance, as well as peripheral industry, or war work?
[edit - mind playing tricks - Oxford line splits at Didcot]

< Message edited by HMSWarspite -- 12/13/2005 12:56:25 AM >

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RE: Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/13/2005 1:33:39 AM

otisabuser2

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quote:

What specifically do you want to know

I suppose I'm really after a better list of RAIL targets other than those already in BoB.

Fulham is not right. Basildon is complete fiction.

We probably need about 20 targets. Perhaps 4 to 6 good ones near/in London. Plus one in every other big town/city.

This is a bit more involved than adding Monopoly style names for the London list ( Marylebone, Liverpool St, Fenchurch St and King's Cross ). These are big passenger terminals except King's Cross IIRC, and so have little effect on goods transport hence, manufacture.

So what we really need are large engine sheds and marshalling yards. I beleive Stratford, above docklands is where a large yard used to be servicing the London Docks and east London. This is where the Olympic Village is going to be built.

Otherwise perhaps big junctions ( Clapham Junction ? ) in London

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RE: Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/13/2005 12:53:15 PM

watchtower

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quote:

ORIGINAL: otisabuser2

quote:

What specifically do you want to know

I suppose I'm really after a better list of RAIL targets other than those already in BoB.

Fulham is not right. Basildon is complete fiction.

We probably need about 20 targets. Perhaps 4 to 6 good ones near/in London. Plus one in every other big town/city.

This is a bit more involved than adding Monopoly style names for the London list ( Marylebone, Liverpool St, Fenchurch St and King's Cross ). These are big passenger terminals except King's Cross IIRC, and so have little effect on goods transport hence, manufacture.

So what we really need are large engine sheds and marshalling yards. I beleive Stratford, above docklands is where a large yard used to be servicing the London Docks and east London. This is where the Olympic Village is going to be built.

Otherwise perhaps big junctions ( Clapham Junction ? ) in London

Willesden junction is and was then one of the main northern London Junctions NW London (near Wembley.)

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RE: Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/13/2005 1:12:23 PM

watchtower

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The Marshalling yards at Silvertown (East london docklands) were raided frequently.

Also near Hounslow Heath, Southern Railway had its largest marshalling yard.

< Message edited by watchtower -- 12/13/2005 1:20:15 PM >

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RE: Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/13/2005 5:45:45 PM

otisabuser2

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Willesden looks to be a nice site. Near much of the aviation stuff in MW London and also there is a lot of railway sidings/ sheds and stuff there now.

Hounslow may also be useful. Not much stuff evident on a modern map though. Do you know wherabouts this was ( under current Heathrow airport ? ).

regards Otisabuser

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RE: Calling all trainspotters..... Help - 12/13/2005 6:48:04 PM

watchtower

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quote:

ORIGINAL: otisabuser2

Willesden looks to be a nice site. Near much of the aviation stuff in MW London and also there is a lot of railway sidings/ sheds and stuff there now.

Hounslow may also be useful. Not much stuff evident on a modern map though. Do you know wherabouts this was ( under current Heathrow airport ? ).

regards Otisabuser

Not sure exactly where at the moment.

Also Charlton Junction (as it was then called) was connected to the nearby Woolwich Dockyard and Arsenal.

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