Chatham Dockyard

Chatham Dockyard

Following on from the last picture of the previous page, we are still looking from the same

bridge, but now in the dockyard direction. Note that the line has become decidedly rural by

this point! David Glasspool

Chatham Dockyard

Now onto the dockyard itself. This interesting view from 6th March 2003 shows a single track

running roughly parallel with the shipbuilding sheds on the right, with lines branching off sharply

right towards the buildings. This line continues through the gap between the buildings in the

background, leading to the distinctly Georgian area of the dockyard. One of the mobile

mechanical cranes can be seen just right of centre. David Glasspool

Chatham Dockyard

Being a dock railway, the track formations are unlike those found on standard British Rail lines.

As can be seen here, a line intercepts this pair of points just after the divide, and a line branches

off sharply to the left, disappearing into the darkness of the shipbuilding shed. The mobile crane

at the end of the right-hand spur is that seen in the previous picture. Many of the remaining points

have ceased permanently, but strategically-located examples are kept in an operational condition

to allow the preserved rolling stock to be used. David Glasspool

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