Train Ferries of WW1 and WW2

We were pleased to welcome Gordon Adams from Reading to our October meeting to give a presentation on train ferries of World War 1 and 2. By 1916 the army had identified a need for a better means of transporting equipment to France than barges towed by tugs. Various sites for ports were considered, the final choices being Richborough and Southampton. Richborough had the advantage of being the closest to France and having rail links with the Kent and East Sussex Railway and the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. By 1917 the port had its own workshops. The construction of train ferries was approved for use between Richborough and Dunkirk and Calais, and between Southampton and Dieppe. Services began in 1918. After the war the ferries were acquired by Great Eastern Ferries Ltd for a service between Harwich and Zeebrugge.

Between World War 1 and World War 2 the Southern Railway commissioned 3 ferries - Twickenham Ferry, Hampton Ferry, and Shepperton Ferry for the Dover - Dunkirk route. They were requisitioned for use in World War 2, along with the World War 1 ferries. Southampton was again used as a port of departure. Photos were shown which identified the locations used in Southampton Docks. Slides gave statistical information regarding the quantities of locomotives and rolling stock shipped through the port.

The Southern Railway ferries returned to civilian use after the war with the Twickenham and the Shepperton surviving into the 1970s.

Our thanks to Gordon for an insight into this little known history involving our part of the world.