Royal Arsenal Railways

(Click On Small Pictures To Enlarge )

(psb = Photo Supplied By) 

Text Information will follow soon, but for now a few photos below showing various aspects of the

Royal Arsenal rail network.

Loco Photos

There are more photos further down this page.

Surviving Railway Stock

Here follows a list of railway stock that had links or ran on the lines at the Royal Arsenal Woolwich; that can be still viewed today at various locations around the UK.

Maunsell N Class 2-6-0 Tender Engine, No.31874

Preserved locomotive built at the Royal Arsenal Woolwich to alleviate unemployment after the First World War can now be seen on `The Watercress Line` in Hampshire UK. www.watercressline.co.uk

Hawthorn Lesile 0-4-0 ST `Invincible` (Photo Above).

(The following information is taken from `The Isle Of Wight Steam Railway` website.)

'Invincible' was supplied to the Woolwich Arsenal in 1915 where she worked with seventeen other engines of the same design, shunting the extensive railway system there. 'Invincible' remained at Woolwich until 1955 when, following a period in store she was overhauled, given a new boiler and transferred to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. Her task was to haul coal and stores wagons from the British Railways exchange sidings to the Establishment, she became a familiar sight as much of the route followed the streets through the town. Following the closure of the Establishments railway system in 1968 'Invincible' was purchased by Tom Jeffris of Southampton who placed her on loan to the Wight Locomotive Society in 1971. Westinghouse air brake equipment was fitted in the winter of 1972/73 allowing her to haul passenger trains and, with W24 'Calbourne' out of service for the next four years, 'Invincible' was the Railways only source of steam motive power. Following the death of Mr Jeffris ownership of 'Invincible' passed to the Wight Locomotive Society in 1979. www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk

Avonside Locomotive No.1748 `Woolwich`, dated 1916 (Oil fired).

Hunslet 0-4-4-0 Hunslett 88hp Diesel Locomotive N0.4524 `Carnegie`, dated 1954.

In 2000, the `Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills` trust bought some rolling stock from Bicton Gardens, near Exeter, most of which originally came from Woolwich Arsenal. Carriages (on Woolwich Arsenal under frames) and other wagons were also purchased. www.royalgunpowdermills.com/railway_system.htm

Further Military Railway Website's That May Be Of Interest