Stokes Bay

The Stokes Bay Military Railways

There were two separate military railways on the Stokes Bay/Haslar peninsula. The first was the line from Monckton Hutments to the Submarine Mining Establishment. The second was the line from Haslar Barracks to Fort Blockhouse. Both were constructed by the Royal Engineers. Baker Brown, writing in The History of Submarine Mining in the British Army (published 1923) claimed that the two were connected but there is no evidence on existing maps and plans that proves this. Also the internal tramlines at both Blockhouse and Stokes Bay are shown on plans as 18" gauge, standard for submarine mining establishments, but the railway running from Monckton Hutments to Stokes Bay is of 60mm (2ft) gauge suggesting that it was laid after the establishment became the School of Electric Lighting in 1905.

The R.E. had a few short lines of narrow gauge railway at Chatham, Gosport and elsewhere, and instruction in the use of such lines was included in the courses for officers and men in the Fortification School at the S.M.E.

The Stokes Bay Military Railway

The Stokes Bay Military railway line was a 60mm narrow gauge line which ran westwards from Monckton Hutments, which were north of Fort Monckton, along the line of the Stokes Bay moat past the married quarters in Fort Road. From there it turned southwards down the Military Road road towards Fort Gilkicker. Where the Gilkicker Lake ended the railway turned westwards then north westwards on to the Submarine Mining Establishment east of Stokes Bay pier. Here it branched into two lines running on an earth embankment. One source (Major Harfield writing in The Military Chest) suggests that the line was built in the 1890s by the Royal Engineers based in Fort Blockhouse and that after they left in 1905 the line was used by the R.E. to supply the School of Electric Lighting. However the line is not shown on plans of the Submarine Mining Establishment in 1892 and is shown on plans dating from after the change of use to the School of Electric Lighting.

The Military steam engines that ran along the line from 1918 to 1934 were Simplex tractors LR 1173 (LR2894) and 1234 (LR2955) both 4wPM and Hunslet engines 1354 (LR3238) and 1355 (LR3239-R.E. and 4530-Army)) both 4-6-OT. They were for 2ft gauge tracks. In 'Blitz' by David Maber it is reported that in 1941 a John Davis was sent to Fort Monckton to man the searchlights. He "recalled the narrow gauge railway that ran towards Stokes Bay pier, the soldiers would often mess about on the platformed carriages that were on the lines." Sometime after 1941 the system was closed and the line dismantled but sections of the line could still be seen up to the 1990s and the route of the railway can still be traced. At least one of the engines No.1355 was moved to Marchwood for training purposes where it became 4530. Another was advertised for sale in 1921 when it was lying in R.E. stores at Monckton Hutments. It was bought back by Hunslet, who refurbished it and sold it to Nepal.

The Stokes Bay Military Railway running from Monckton Hutments

The Submarine Mining Establishment buildings at Stokes Bay after they became the School of Electric Lighting (Searchlights) showing the railway (tramway).

engine

Remains of what may be a boiler from one of the Stokes Bay engines lying in the shingle alongside the embankment at Stokes Bay in 1963. (It could be a stationary boiler) It was removed by the Royal Corp of Transport shortly after its discovery. (photograph by William Parker)

	Imprint of the railway lines in the tarmac of the approach road to Fort Gilkicker. For many years a small length of the railway could be seen in the grass to the left and right of this point.
	The twin embankments upon which the railway ran into The Submarine Mining Establishment, later The School of Electric Lighting (Searchlights)
	The railway embankment running from the Submarine mining Establishment toward Fort Gilkicker.
	A metal sleeper for the Gilkicker railway that was uncovered from the path and discarded into nearby bushes in 2008 confirming that it is 60mm gauge.
	Although it has been suggested that the line was dismantled in 1939 several sections of rail could still be seen in the 1970s. This piece of rail was seen adjacent to the footpath in April 2010.

The Haslar to Blockhouse Military Railway.

This line, also narrow gauge and also constructed by the Royal Engineers, ran from Haslar Barracks, along the length of Haslar Sea Wall and on into Fort Blockhouse. It was used to move equipment and troops between the barracks and the Royal Engineers establishment in Blockhouse. There is no evidence that this line was joined in any way to the line at Stokes Bay but one source (Baker Brown) suggests that it was at some time. It was linked for a short period to the internal tramways that served the nearby Haslar military hospital.

The Haslar to Blockhouse military railway

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For more details of these military railways and others in the area see

The Hidden Railways of Portsmouth & Gosport by Dave Marden ISBN 978-1-905505-22-7

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.