Station Name: MODEL ROOM HALT

[Source: Nick Catford]


Date opened: 1950s
Location: North side of Model Room sidings
Company on opening: Marchwood Military Railway
Date closed to passengers: c1990
Date closed completely: c1990
Company on closing: Marchwood Military Railway
Present state: Demolished
County: Hampshire
OS Grid Ref: SU40231064
Date of visit: Not visited

Notes: Model Room Halt was built opposite the Model Room sidings which served the WW2 complex of offices and workshops in the old administrative area. The Model Room housed the equipment for cargo-handling. A single platform was provided along the south side of the full length of the workshops. It was the only substantial platform on the line being of concrete construction with brick facing.

The RCTS / SEG 'Marchwood Volunteer No.2' Rail Tour calls at Model Room Halt on 21 July 1979. The railtour was booked to run from Model Room Halt to Hythe Frost Lane to enable tour patrons to visit the Hythe Pier Tramway. This was cancelled however due to an administrative error by British Rail. A shuttle service was, however, arranged to run from Model Road Halt to the Jetty and back and this was hauled by an MoD diesel. Just prior to the tour, British Rail advised the organisers that owing to a misunderstanding, Department of Transport clearance for the tour train to run between Marchwood and Hythe had not been obtained. Unfortunately, although this is a straightforward procedure, the omission came to light too late for the necessary authority to be obtained. However, after considerable efforts, arrangements were made for a shuttle coach service to operate between Marchwood Port Gate and Hythe Pier, so that the visit to Hythe Pier Railway could still take place.

The Model Room workshops were closed and demolished c1990. The halt was closed at this time and also demolished.

See also feature: The Military at Marchwood
See also feature: Marchwood Military Railway


See other halts on the Marchwood Military Railway: Mulberry Halt, Port Gate Platform & Jetty Halt

See also the Fawley branch: Marchwood, Hythe, Hardley Halt & Fawley


Army No.92 has just left Model Room Halt and heading for Jetty Halt. The open windows of the Mk1 corridor stock and the protruding heads suggest the presence of enthusiasts; this was the open day of 23 July 1977. The Model Room buildings, together with the platform, seen here in the right background were subsequently demolished.
Photo by Keith Adams, courtesy of Andy Crespin

1965 1:2,500 OS map with the site of Model Room Halt indicated. This and the original site of Port Gate Halt are the only halts on the Marchwood Military Railway to be shown on OS maps.

Army No.92 Waggoner poses, for the camera opposite Model Room Halt in September 1975. Note the crane in the left background. The points lever is one of around seventy on the current system at Marchwood, all points being of this type with the exception of the trap points near Marchwood Junction which are the property of, and controlled by, Network Rail.
Photo by Andy Crespin

NBL Army No.413 undergoing, or awaiting, repairs following accident damage in August 1976. The location is Model Room platform. The damage was caused by a collision with the passenger coaches which at this time comprised the two ex-BR suburban coaches. Although unconfirmed, this collision may have been the reason for the suburban stock being replaced by the pair of BR Mk1 corridor coaches. Army No.413 was NBL w/n 27648 and a check of NBL works numbers suggests she was built early 1957. Like most non BR-built diesel shunters, No.432 displays her makers name on a stylish plate above the radiator grille. Barclay applied a smaller, plainer plate in the same position as did Hunslet and Hudswell - Clarke. The Hunslet plate was rather large and somewhat 'shouty' while Hudswell - Clarke usually, but not always, applied a plate bearing simply 'Hudswell'. No.413's worksplate of the familiar NBL diamond shape can be seen on the cabside and she is fitted with electric lighting. The BR examples lacked the headlight on the nose and otherwise used oil lamps. They also had a smaller radiator grille than that seen here, which has adjustable louvres, so this may have been an aftermarket modification.
Photo by Andy Crespin

North British Army No.413 at the Model Room on 19 August 1976 following the collision with the passenger stock. The damage to No.413 is less apparent from this angle - compare with the view above. North British diesel locomotives gained a poor reputation with British Railways but the reasons for that are complex and not relevant here, but they were extremely well built structurally - a fact which has seldom been acknowledged. This is perhaps evident from the collision involving No.413; one of the carriages was written off (although it was probably riddled with corrosion by this time) while No.413 appears to have suffered only superficial damage.
Photo by Andy Crespin


The RCTS / SEG 'Marchwood Volunteer No.2' Rail Tour comprising DMU set L416 is seen waiting at Model Room Halt on 21 July 1979. The tour was a round trip to Marchwood Military Port from Waterloo. Some sources state the DMU rasped its way to Marchwood from Paddington but which version is correct is unclear and it should be remembered that railtour timings and routes, such as those given, were provisional and often subject to last minute changes. Apparently 21 July 1979 was the occasion of one of MoD Marchwood's open days. Standing next to the DMU is Marchwood's then internal passenger train formed of the two ex-BR Mk1 coaches. In charge is one of the Ruston & Hornsby LSSH diesels. The buildings seen here and the platform have now been demolished.
Photo copyright Alan Holmwood


The site of Model Room Halt in October 2015. The building and platform were demolished c1990.



 

 

 

[Source: Nick Catford]




Last updated: Sunday, 21-May-2017 15:42:51 CEST
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