Longmoor Military Railway
Probably taken on the same occasion as the shot of WD 73797 we see one of Longmoor's 350hp LMSR diesel shunters at Longmoor Downs Platform.

Longmoor Military Railway
What a beauty! Well, the shot is even if the loco is something of a Cinderella. This unusual vista was take at Longmoor Downs platform on the military railway on 14th April, 1949 and depicts WD 2-10-0 Kitchener in what seems to be blue livery but still bearing its WD number of 73797. It subsequently acquired the number 601.
As ever, the LMR's internal rolling stock is a joy to behold.

Longmoor Military Railway
A self-explanatory picture of Longmoor's own station name board at Liss around 1950

Longmoor Military Railway
This is arguably the Longmoor Military Railway's best known locomotive in the form of Riddles' WD 2-10-0 No. 600 'Gordon' unusually photographed in the LMR's platform at Liss during, probably, 1950.

Longmoor Military Railway
This is arguably the Longmoor Military Railway's best known locomotive in the form of Riddles' WD 2-10-0 No. 600 'Gordon' unusually photographed in the LMR's platform at Liss during, probably, 1950.

Longmoor Military Railway
This is arguably the Longmoor Military Railway's best known locomotive in the form of Riddles' WD 2-10-0 No. 600 'Gordon' unusually photographed in the LMR's platform at Liss during, probably, 1950.

Longmoor Military Railway
Longmoor has long been famed for its eclectic supporting rolling stock and this classic example is a former SECR birdcage carrying the number 13582. Originally SECR BCL 1100 (Ashford 1910), declassified by the SR to BTL 3368 in 1924. To Longmoor 10/1943 as 13582 (together with 13583/84, SR 3-set 552), later renumbered 5311. To KESR No.61 9/1970 where under restoration.

Longmoor Military Railway
Another of Longmoor's eclectic mix of rolling stock is this oddity which has a distinctly American look to it in my eyes. It's clearly labelled 'Breakdown train' and carries the stock number WD13666.
Out of left field comes a considerable text on this subject from John Stead who suggests this wagon may well be an ex-NER or at a pinch a former L&YR vehicle. But the jury's out at the moment though, so... any other suggestions?
Jack Slaughter contributes, The van is actually an ex-ROD mobile compressor van.

Longmoor Military Railway
Stanier 8F in WD blue livery at Longmoor Downs Platform
Built by NBL 24620/1940
LMSR No. 8246
Shipped to Persia 09/41 and renumbered 41.108
Transfered by rail to Egypt/Palestine 1944 and renumbered 70320
Named 'LT W O LENNOX VC' after a Crimean War hero whilst with Middle East Forces on Egyptian State Railway
Loco only (i.e. sans tender) returned to Derby for overhaul with replacement boiler in 1952
Renumbered 501 and sent to Longmoor with spare tender bought from BR
Sold to BR in 07/57 and renumbered 48774
withdrawn from BR service at Speke Jct.(8C) in May 1965.
Note that the WD, No. 600 I've been told based on further photographic evidence of the pair in tandem at an open day in 1955, has a Stanier tender.
Tony Walmsley has kindly sent me the following additional data regarding the WD 8F's: This loco was one of three 8Fs (48773/4/5) that were bought by BR from the WD and put into service at Polmadie shed in September 1957 for use on Ravenscraig iron ore trains. At the time they were the only 8Fs allocated to Scottish sheds. They then had a uncertain life in BR days. They were withdrawn in December 1962, but reinstated back to Polmadie in February 1963, then withdrawn again in July 1963. The London Midland decided that 3 x usable 8F's shouldn't go "begging" so they were reinstated to Kingmoor shed in November 1963. They were all reallocated a few times with 48774 withdrawn first as you note in 1965. The other two survived through to the end of steam with 48773 being one of the very last 8Fs in steam being subsequently preserved on the Severn Valley.

Longmoor Military Railway
The history of this unique locomotive is a convoluted one and isn't going to be repeated here. Gazelle was always on display in immaculate condition as seen here in this public day view taken in the mid-fifties.

Longmoor Military Railway
The history of this unique locomotive is a convoluted one and isn't going to be repeated here. Gazelle was always on display in immaculate condition as seen here in this public day view taken on 30/4/66.

Longmoor Military Railway
Also stuffed and mounted was Woolmer an 0-6-0ST built by Avonside in 1910.

Longmoor Military Railway
The famed and immaculate inspection saloon parked at Longmoor Downs on 30/4/66. Note the RCTS special train in the background.

Longmoor Military Railway
A busy and sunny day at Longmoor's running shed on 30/4/66 sees WD 2-10-0 No. 600 'Gordon' centre stage with WD 0-6-0ST's 199, on the left and 195 just visible on the right whilst diesel shunter 8227 lurks at the right edge of the picture. One 'Lofty' Ailwood has written to me to say that he was the fireman on 195 on that occasion.

Longmoor Military Railway
A busy scene at Longmoor's running shed on 30/4/66 with 102, 195, 600 and 400 in view.

Longmoor Military Railway
A 1966 open day elicited this view of the unusual combination of a blue liveried Austerity 0-6-0ST juxta-positioned with a Bulleid brake coach near Longmoor Downs platform.

Longmoor Military Railway
Austerity 0-6-0ST 195 in the shed yard on April 30th, 1966.

Longmoor Military Railway
Austerity 0-6-0ST 196 provided brake van rides on April 30th, 1966.

Longmoor Military Railway
The famed immacu;lately turned out WD 2-10-0 no. 600Gordon takes a train load of enthusiasts from Longmoor Downs platform to Bordon on 30/4/66 which was one of the two dates in that month when 600 graced BR metals from Woking to Liss.
Les McWatt adds the following location and background notes: I've been studying this photograph trying to ascertain its exact location and have come to the conclusion that it is not on LMR tracks but the BR Bentley to Bordon branch. The reason being that if you look at the track it is bullhead rail with chairs and keys whereas the LMR used 75lb. flat bottomed rail on base plates with dog spikes. Also, the chap in the driver's seat looks like a BR man and the chap on the right is the LMR driver, Staff Sergeant Tom Hughes, who would have been driving if it were on LMR metals.

Longmoor Military Railway
This sorry sight at the LMR's shed during a public open day on 30/4/66 1966 depicts WD 2-8-0 400 'Sir Guy Williams' with what looks like a firebox that's been opened like a can of beans.
One of the personnel based at Longmoor at that time, Lofty Ailwood, has stated that: this loco opened a crack between the washout plugs top rhs of boiler on a down passenger train at L.F.R. Her crew bailed out the fire, and opened the cladding to see the extent of the problem.
No. 400 was built by the North British Locomotive Company in 1943 with works no. 25205.
This slide has twice been featured in Railway Magazine.

Longmoor Military Railway
n public day at the LMR on April 30th 1966 elicited this view of Riddles designed WD 2-10-0 AD601 'Kitchener' in a sorry state. The loco had been repainted and used in the film 'The Great St. Trinians Train Robbery' and although it still bore its WD number plates on the cab sides there was a spoof smokebox plate in situ which, from memory, was 90150. 'Kitchener' would never raise steam again. Apparently the shed staff, however hard they tried, couldn't remove that 'film' paint job and so the loco was consigned to history but not before being used in load trials for a Barclays diesel, as a rerailing task and finally as a demolition target in Weavers Down pit.

Longmoor Military Railway
Longmoor hosted several preservation projects at the end of the 1960's and one of the best known is the housing of Bulleid pacific 34023 Blackmore Vale. She was steamed on occasions and we see her here reversing into the works/shed yard area on March 24th, 1968.

Longmoor Military Railway
7/4/68 became the stuff of legend when David Shepherd conspired to 'beat the ban' on steam using Southern metals which had been in place since July the previous year. Standards 75029 and 92203 made their journeys from Cricklewood to Liss independenly to the chagrin of most linesiders and here we see the latter backing from the picturesque girder bridge at Longmoor down towards Longmoor Downs platform. Note the Ruston Hornsby diesel shunter no. 8227 at the refuelling point.

Longmoor Military Railway
Beautifully turned out WD 0-6-0ST No. 196 graces Longmoor Downs platform with her presence and even has the temerity to bathe publicly. Note the signal box and quaint ex-SECR stock in the background during the open day on 8/6/68.
Les McWatt writes: The chap in the foreground narrowly missing a shower is the driver Corporal 'Nobby' Clarke and the one on the tank top is the fireman Lance Corporal Frank Collinson. ...... and further ..... the Loco is carrying a red plate with two stars on it. This is to indicate that the train is carrying a Staff Officer, two stars denote a Major General. In this case the it was Major General E.H.G. Lonsdale ( after whom 196 was named) who had travelled to Longmoor to name David Shepherds 9F 92203 BLACK PRINCE.

Longmoor Military Railway
J94 No. 196 'Errol Lonsdale' slurps a drink between open-day duties on 8/6/68

Longmoor Military Railway
92203, with a curtain obscuring the new nameplate, eases back from Longmoor towards Liss on June 8th 1968.

Longmoor Military Railway
92203, with a curtain obscuring the new nameplate, eases back from Longmoor towards Liss on June 8th 1968.

Longmoor Military Railway
June 8th 1968 was the day on which David Shepherd's 9F 92203 was named at Longmoor Downs. The name applied, carried to this day, is Black Prince but this shot taken 'twixt Liss and Longmoor before the naming ceremony sees the nameplate covered by a curtain.
'Lofty' Ailwood points out that the location is on the Longmoor side of Weavers Down with the sewage farm just visible through the trees on the left.

Longmoor Military Railway
June 8th 1968 again and by this time the great unveiling had taken place of David Shepherd's 9F 2-10-0 Black Prince which is seen here posed alongside the signal box at Longmoor Downs platform.

Longmoor Military Railway
June 8th 1968 again and by this time the great unveiling had taken place of David Shepherd's 9F 2-10-0 Black Prince which is seen here having backed down from the main railway into the shed environs.

Longmoor Military Railway
The LMR's Austerity 0-6-0ST 196 Errol Lonsdale is depicted on the approach to Liss Forest Road station from the Liss direction on June 8th, 1968. My thanks go to Les McWatt for pinpointing the location.

Dare I say it but the coaching stock is possibly of greater interest than the engine. Tom Burnham (SEmG) has pointed out that the bogie vehicle is the former LSWR invalid saloon and the rear coach is ex-LNWR 6-wheel district engineer's saloon both of which vehicles are KESR residents.

Longmoor Military Railway
Longmoor hosted both 34023 Blackmore Vale and 35028 Clan Line before the entire preservation package unravelled.

Longmoor Military Railway
35028 Clan Line had been spruced up in time for the June 8th 1968 public day.

Longmoor Military Railway
Also on display during that 8/6/68 public open day was Ivatt Mickey Mouse 2-6-2T 41298 which had been cosmetically restored but to this day hasn't been steamed. She later moved to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre and has since, in November 2008, been transferred to the Isle of Wight Railway's headquarters at Haven Street where she has joined up with the other assets of the The Ivatt Trust.