WW1 and WW2 Train Ferries

Our speaker for our October Meeting was one of our group members Gordon Adams. The first half of the presentation covered World War 1. The decision to use Train Ferries was made by the Army to replace Tugs towing barges across the English Channel.  In 1916 it was assumed that the war would last another four years. A decision was made to purchase three new ferries based at Richborough and Southampton. Subsequently a fourth ferry was purchased from Canadian Railways which had been built in Birkenhead. This was vessel but the most interesting but carried out the least crossings. Services started in early 1918 with the major railway cargoes being tanks carried on open wagons and Ambulance trains. Road vehicles were also carried. Following the end of the war the ferries were used for returning army equipment from France and then laid up in 1920. The three initial ferries were purchased for use on a new service from Harwich to Zeebrugge together with the towers and linkspans to enable loading and unloading at all tides. The fourth ferry was sold and converted to a tanker.

Prior to the start of WW2, The Southern Railway had introduced a second train ferry service between Dover and Dunkirk and three ferries had been purchased. All six ferries were requisitioned at the beginning of the War and used for a variety of non railway activities. Unfortunately, one of the Harwich Ferries was lost near the French Coast early in the war. During 1943 it was realised that the there was a need to re-equip French and Belgian Railways and jointly with the USA over 2000 locomotives were ordered to be shipped to France following D day. The remaining five ferries were equipped with gantries to enable loading and unloading of rail vehicles initially sailing from Southampton. The Didcot Southampton and Newbury Railway was rebuilt to enable additional trains carrying troops and Railway vehicles to Southampton.

The five ferries were joined initially by two American Sea Train ferries which could ship large quantities of locomotives and operated between South Wales and Cherbourg. The remaining five ferries operated from Southampton. The two Harwich Ferries sailed to Dieppe and mainly carried British Built Locomotives. The three Dover Ferries sailed to Cherbourg and mainly carried US Locomotives. There are illustrations of them carrying ambulance trains. In addition, several LST’s (Tank landing craft) were equipped to carry freight wagons. Once the English Channel was safe two of the Dover Ferries were transferred to operate between Dover and Calais. One of the Harwich ferries was transferred back to the Navy so that left two boats operating from Southampton until the last Harwich Ferry operating was sank leaving Dieppe and the remaining Dover Ferry transferred to Dover. The 1000^th British Built main line locomotive was shipped to Calais from Dover on the 9^thMay 1945.

Following the end of the ferries returned to pre-war duties. The only existing items remaining are the WW1 towers and linkspan at Harwich which are now grade 2 listed structures.