Warwickshire's Industrial Railways

Kineton Central Ammunition Depot

Ministry of Defence- Army Department

A major ammunition storage Depot was constructed during World War II over a large area to the south of the LMS' ex-Stratford & Midland Junction Railway (SMJ) Fenny Compton to Stratford-on-Avon line just to the west of Burton Dassett station. It included some of the route of the disused Edge Hill Light Railway. The ammunition magazines were set out over a wide area and the depot was served by a yard branching off the LMS leading to an extensive network of sidings serving the magazines. Following closure of the through former SMJ line in 1965 the operation of the 4 mile stub from Fenny Compton (with connection to the Banbury to Leamington Spa main line) serving the Depot was taken over by the MoD. The line later passed into MoD ownership. Part of the route was re-aligned and re-graded when the M40 motorway was constructed, passing under the line.

Some of the storage magazines had no road access so small railcars were used as staff transport. Some were fitted out as fire tenders. During the 1980s the extensive network of sidings was cut back when internal road transport to serve a central rail/road transfer facility was introduced. Some of the redundant sidings were hired out to provide storage for out of use main line rolling stock. The Depot and railway are still in use. The above information and more can be obtained from the Industrial Railway Society's Preliminary Draft Handbook Industrial Railways & Locomotives of Warwickshire.

Roger Monk

Ref: kineton130 R Monk Army 254, a Diesel Hydraulic locomotive, departs from Fenny Compton with an enthusiasts special

Ref: kineton131 R Monk Army 254 stands at the former SMJ Fenny Compton down platform with the returning enthusiasts special

Ref: kineton138 R Monk Army 254 is seen running around the observation saloon at the former SMJ platform at Fenny Compton

Ref: kineton141 R Monk Army 254 poses for the camera at the former SMJ Fenny Compton station's down platform

Ref: kineton134 R Monk Army 254 enters through the Depot gates past the derelict WWII design signal box at Burton Dassett

Ref: kineton139 R Monk Army 254 is preparing to depart from Burton Dassett with the Industrial Railway Society's special train

Ref: kineton133 R Monk MOD No 9122 a four-wheel personnel transport Railcar built by Baguley-Drewry in 1975 stands in the sidings

Ref: kineton135 R Monk Looking east from the observation saloon as the train passed under the former A41 bridge at Burton Dassett

Ref: kineton132 R Monk Army 9114, a Fire Tender Railcar, seen standing outside Kineton Central Ammunition Depot's locomotive shed

Ref: kineton140 R Monk Army 402, an 0-4-0 Diesel Hydraulic locomotive, is seen under repair inside the well kept locomotive shed

Ordnance Survey Maps and Schematic Plans

Ref: Ref: CAD_Kineton_map Mark Lewis Combined Aerial Photograph & Current Ordnance Survey Map producing sketch of Kineton Military Railway 1947