Longmoor Military Railway - Route

Route

Authorised for construction from 1902, activities date from 1903 when a 18 in (457 mm) gauge tramway was laid to assist in removing seventy corrugated iron huts from Longmoor Military Camp Camp to Bordon.

The railway was relaid to 4 ft 8 1⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge in 1905–1907 and was initially known as the Woolmer Instructional Military Railway. It was renamed the Longmoor Military Railway in 1935. The Liss extension was opened in 1933. The stations and junctions included:

• Bordon – the northern terminal, adjacent to Bordon station and with access to British Railways via the LSWR owned Bentley and Bordon Light Railway
• Oakhanger Halt - serving the village of Oakhanger, Hampshire.
• Whitehill Junction - serving the village of Whitehill, Hampshire.
• Two Range Halt
• Woolmer - serving the hamlet of Woolmer.
• Longmoor Downs – the original terminus, and largest station on the line, serving the military camp.
• Weaversdown Halt – originally a passing place at the hamlet of Weaversdown, a station was constructed which served the eastern side of Longmoor Military Camp.
• Liss Forest Road - serving the hamlet of Liss Forest.
• Liss Junction – with access to the exchange sidings, and onwards into Liss British Railways goods yard.
• Liss – the southern terminus, with a platform adjacent to those serving the Portsmouth Direct Line (still running).

An additional loop ran eastwards from Longmoor camp via a station at Hopkins Bridge to Whitehill Junction, completed in 1942. This provided circular running to the line, allowing for improved training without the need to turn trains at the terminals.

As a training railway, it was often being constructed/deconstructed. The layout would often change, and at one time housed a machine which could lay 1,500 yards (1,400 m) of track a day. At its peak, the railway ran to over 70 miles (110 km) of operational laid track and sidings.