Lulworth Ranges Railway.

[Justin Smith]

Does anyone know any details of the railway just east of Lulworth castle ? It's shown on OS maps and on Google satellite view.

I believe it's used for the army firing ranges, but when was it opened? What gauge is it ? What locos (if any) does it use?

 

[swt_passenger]

Moving target silhouettes are mounted on electrically powered remote controlled vehicles. Not sure about the exact gauge but a Google image search for “Lulworth Range Target Railway” will give you some ideas, including a track map.

AIUI these systems are not really considered as personnel carrying systems. Otterburn has similar rail target systems, there’ll be a few around the country.

 

[Llanigraham]

Remains of some on Salisbury Plain,on Dartmoor and at the Castlemartin Ranges in Pembrokeshire.

Lots were 2' gauge, possibly using ex-WW1 trench railway track panels.

Most are listed here:

Category:Military railways in the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A​

• Amesbury and Military Camp Light Railway

B​

• Bicester Military Railway
• Fort Borstal
• Fort Bridgewoods
• RNAD Broughton Moor

C​

• Cairnryan Harbour
• Catterick Military Railway
• Chatham Dockyard
• Chattenden and Upnor Railway

F​

• Faslane Branch
• Fovant Military Railway

L​

• Longmoor Military Railway
• Fort Luton
• Lydd Ranges

M​

• Marchwood Military Port
• Martin Mill military railway
• Melbourne line
• MOD Kineton

R​

• Railway Operating Division
• Rowtor Target Railway
• Royal Arsenal Railway

S​

• Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway
• Spurn Point military railway

W​

• War Department Light Railways

 

[John Webb]

I think the gauge may be 600mm, as used in WW1 trench supply line railways, as there was plenty of that left over at the end of WW1 that could be reused for target movements on ranges.

This view is of a target carrier on the Otterburn range - click on photo to go to the larger image on the Geograph website - this one appears to be IC engine driven?

Tank Range, Bushman's Road, Otterburn Ranges

© Copyright Andrew Curtis and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

[Gloster]

The system at Lulworth dates from 1987, was built as standard gauge, had six self-propelled remotely-controlled target trolleys and one crane/maintenance tractor, all built by Wickham. The trolleys appear to have 3rd and 4th rail supply. Otterburn is given as 2’6” and Lydd as 2’, both with petrol-mechanical trolleys.

Source: Locomotives of the Ministry of Defence (Hateley, IRS, 1992). Note the date: the Army might have changed everything since.

 

[notverydeep]

The access road to the four track depot is still apparently active and the depot signposted as MPRS, which apparently stands for Multi-Path Railway System.

The depot is located here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FF1ED1XwWZehRuBH9 and the system can clearly be followed on the satellite images.

You can see the MPRS from the Lulworth Range Walks on the hills above with binoculars (or even better a bird watching telescope) about 875 metres away at the nearest point, but these walks won't be open when it is in operation!

The ranges also have rail mounted targets that move up and down a single self-contained track, including one about 250m long enclosed within a loop of the MPRS itself. Others are close to the range walks in various places across the ranges near Tyneham and Worbarrow Bay including here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yTNdTJxkHEBf3qBw6 close to the path from Tyneham Car Park to the beach.

While online details are scant, there is a facebook post from 2018 which describes how a power failure on the Lulworth MPRS was rectified here: https://www.facebook.com/Landmarc.S...ry-school-in-dorset-in-the-/1218824864919053/

Great collaboration by our team at the Lulworth Gunnery School in Dorset in the South West! The site suffered a significant power outage, which impacted the whole gunnery range, the Multi-Path Railway System (MPRS) and parts of the camp itself.

Swift action from the Landmarc team meant that power was restored quickly for the soldiers on the range and in the camp but unfortunately the MPRS still remained without power.

It gets a mention in a Defence Safety Authority online document from 2020 about ranges in general (on pages 270 and 271 of 323):https://assets.publishing.service.g...Part_3_Volume_2__June_20__Updated_Page_22.pdf

Multi Path Railway Sysytem (sic) (MPRS). The MPRS at Lulworth is a unique target railway system based on a tube train system. Maintenance and operation is provided by the DIO Industry partner and governed by the rules set out in JSP 790.

I holiday close by regularly and would definitely be up for a Branch Line Society railtour of the system, but I won't be holding my breath...

 

[Zontar]

Does the army still have its rail capability? Do they maintain it?

 

[Steelman]

The army does have a railway capability but it is reserve only. 507 STRE (Specialist Team Royal Engineers), part of 65 Works Group provide p/way support. They draw from the rail industry and are very specialised. They have a twitter feed and are also on facebook:

https://x.com/507stre?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/507-...appersmart-activity-7218533937315246080-Y_om/

The regular army rail operating side closed in 2010 with 275 Railway Squadron which was TA only closing in 2014.

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

I think the gauge may be 600mm, as used in WW1 trench supply line railways, as there was plenty of that left over at the end of WW1 that could be reused for target movements on ranges.
This view is of a target carrier on the Otterburn range - click on photo to go to the larger image on the Geograph website - this one appears to be IC engine driven?
Tank Range, Bushman's Road, Otterburn Ranges

© Copyright Andrew Curtis and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Looks like a JAP engine, as used on early Wickham trollies. Possibly pre-war.
Pat

 

[Gloster]

The book mentioned in #4 says there were three wartime and four 1990 trolleys there; all were Wickham built.

 

[Zontar]

The army does have a railway capability but it is reserve only. 507 STRE (Specialist Team Royal Engineers), part of 65 Works Group provide p/way support. They draw from the rail industry and are very specialised. They have a twitter feed and are also on facebook:

https://x.com/507stre?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/507-...appersmart-activity-7218533937315246080-Y_om/

The regular army rail operating side closed in 2010 with 275 Railway Squadron which was TA only closing in 2014.

Interesting.

Do you know if they maintain these range railways?

 

[Steelman]

Interesting.

Do you know if they maintain these range railways?

None at all, it's all contracted out now. They would save a lot of money if they were to use 507, but's that another story.

 

[Zontar]

None at all, it's all contracted out now. They would save a lot of money if they were to use 507, but's that another story.

The army loves to contract stuff out...mitie rubbing their hands

 

[Justin Smith]

Thanks you all for your info.

 

[Kevin51]

Just looking at a map of Dorset for no particular reason and notice what looked like railway on the map where the ranges are. Zoomed in and sure enough it was shown as Lulworg ranges railway. So what is it for? Do they practice firing at trains for some reason.

 

[DelW]

Just looking at a map of Dorset for no particular reason and notice what looked like railway on the map where the ranges are. Zoomed in and sure enough it was shown as Lulworg ranges railway. So what is it for? Do they practice firing at trains for some reason.

I think that ranges often have targets mounted on rail vehicles and moved by remote control. Probably narrow gauge though?

 

[Kevin51]

I think that ranges often have targets mounted on rail vehicles and moved by remote control. Probably narrow gauge though?

Yes I found some pictures on the internet that shows some sort of a target on a track.Thinking about it that seems a logical way to have something moving for a tank to fire at. Relatively cheap and easy to repair if any tank if off target a bit.