| Air Ministry Loop - 1942 to 1955 Posted by grahame at 06:34, 6th October 2026 |     |
Google's AI suggests ...
The Air Ministry Loop was a historic World War II railway chord constructed at Thingley Junction (near Corsham and Melksham, Wiltshire) to facilitate military freight movements.
History and Purpose
* Construction: Built in 1942 as a west-to-north curve connecting the line toward the Melksham branch/Lacock sidings, enabling direct rail traffic movements bypassing restricted or congested routes.
* Wartime Function: Handled heavy freight and logistical support linked to the extensive underground shadow factories and storage depots operated around Corsham and the Ministry of Aircraft Production.
* Closure & Removal: Officially taken out of use in February 1955 and fully dismantled by July 1959
History and Purpose
* Construction: Built in 1942 as a west-to-north curve connecting the line toward the Melksham branch/Lacock sidings, enabling direct rail traffic movements bypassing restricted or congested routes.
* Wartime Function: Handled heavy freight and logistical support linked to the extensive underground shadow factories and storage depots operated around Corsham and the Ministry of Aircraft Production.
* Closure & Removal: Officially taken out of use in February 1955 and fully dismantled by July 1959
I am posting in "Railway History" as this is NOT a campaign but, yet, ... not this year, not next. By 2040? With population and housing growth ... adding 2 electric trains an hour from Bristol Temple Meads calling at Keynsham, Saltford, Oldfield Park, Bath Spa, Bathampton, Freshford, Avoncliff, Bradford-on-Avon, Holt, Melksham, Lacock, Corsham, Box, Bathampton, Bath Spa, Oldfield Park, Saltford, Keynsham and Bristol Temple Meads (alternate trains opposite way round the loop).
Crayonista? Maybe? Case - funnily enough there are issues for sure, but when you scrape the surface you find some surprisingly coherent reasons.
