Arrow indicates direction of camera shot for the residential
housing shown below
|
Fuel tanks can be seen to the
right of the locomotive.
|
On the map,
four large fuel tanks can be seen located to the left of the Marks Tey
to Bures line just below Chappel Station.
The road to the left (Station Rd) leads to Bures to the North and the
A604 to the South.
Two trains ran daily from Cambridge to Chappel with high octane fuel (120),
returning empty to Cambridge.
The train stationed itself between the North end of the viaduct and Chappel
station, fuel was then unloaded from the tanker wagons via hosereels down
the embankment, to the storage depot below.
The wagons could carry ten tons of fuel oil and were equipped with steam-heating
coils to aid loading and unloading.
A reasonably
hazardous occupation, considering the Luftwaffe strafed and bombed the
viaduct on many occasions. There were many tense moments for signalmen
and trainmen whenever one of these petrol trains was stationery, when
enemy aircraft or a "flying bomb" could be heard overhead.
If they didn`t hit the viaduct, a stray bomb hitting a fuel storage tank
would no doubt have caused considerable damage.
This fuel was used
too service the local airfield fighters and bombers. Both train and road
tankers travelled mainly at night time, to avoid detection by enemy aircraft.
Transporting High Octane fuel, along potholed country roads, no doubt
took some courage by the USAAF drivers.
One local resident confirms, there were two deliveries per night to Rattlesden,(Nr
Bury) with the tanker returning empty during the day.
During the second quarter of 1943, 103 fuel trains were unloaded at the
Chappel Fuel Depot
During 1974/75 these tanks were demolished
and by the mid 1990`s they had been replaced with residential properties.
Two fuel tanks clearing showing
the embankment of the
viaduct at the rear.
|
Policeman standing outside Policehouse.
Looking at the top left map, this is the first house south of
the
tanks
|
Entrance to the station with new housing on the site of the tanks
|
Residential housing on the site of the former tanks
|
Acknowledgment to Paul Lemon,
Colne Valley Railway
Eric Doe, Prickets Hall Farm
Research
by Alan Beales
|