The first car to be placed on the ramp was an 1898 Benz, a member of the Veteran Car Club that had been loaned for the occasion by Major Allday. Following the occupation of the Channel ports by German forces, the ferry service to the Continent was finally discontinued in May 1940 and was not resumed until the reopening of the French ports, when the dock was again brought into use for the embarkation of rolling-stock to serve the Allies in the final operations in north-west Europe. Required fields are marked *. Hampton Ferry – Dropping Mines WWII. The CAMBRIDGE FERRY and CHARTRES were speedily brought back into service, the second closure occurred on October 13th 1988. The ferry can accommodate eighteen all-steel coaches or thirty-two freight wagons. After rationalisation of other Anglo-European train ferries, the Dover to Dunkerque sailing was the last to survive, though it ended its days on freight carryings only after the Night Ferrypassenger service ended in 1980. It was these three ships, along with SNCF's Saint Germain of 1951, which still maintained The Western Docks today showing the Aggregate yard © Ray Goodfellow, The entrance to the old train ferry dock © Ray Goodfellow, South Pier Boarding Station (HM Customs) © Ray Goodfellow, Sand Fulmar discharging aggregate on the Dunkerque Jetty, the site of the former train ferry dock © Ray Goodfellow. Water was then pumped out and the dock built. The area is now Cruise Terminal 2. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Between December 1939 and May 1940, mines were laid in the Channel and southern North Sea by the two train ferries and two Royal Navy minelayers. As a result Sir Herbert Walker, General Manager of the Southern Railway, was authorised by his Directors to plan a cross-channel train ferry service. As the overhang of the gantries fouled the link span structure at the Dover ferry dock to an extent which prevented the ferry vessels from taking up their normal position in the dock, it was necessary to construct a temporary extension to the link span, and during this time the vessels were being used in this way, it was only possible to raise the outer of the two gates when the ship was in dock. Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF). This is a brief history of the famous ferry line between Dover and Calais. Unfortunately, fissures in the chalk percolating through the bottom caused significant leakage. Courtesy of Dover Harbour Board. Journal of Institute of Civil Engineers, Vol 7 1937. During 1987/88, a new Train Ferry Berth on Admiralty Pier, costing £2.8m, was constructed by W A Dawson. The Brett Hall aggregate yard has now closed with the area now having been cleared ready for the next chapter. However, while work was taking place a steam railway crane toppled over the sea wall causing considerable damage. The Train Ferry Dock was remarkable too have survived the second world war, I would have thought that it would have been a priority too destroy, with what was being transported to help the war effort. Your email address will not be published. When the train deck is at this level an adjustable bridge is fastened to the ship by a socket which fits over a steel pin fitted in the stern. In October, the American Loan crisis led to a complete ban on pleasure travel abroad and the service was severely reduced. Together with sleeping car and goods wagons each ferry had an upper garage deck which could accommodate 25 cars, although cars could not be driven on or off the vessels until a concrete side ramp was finished in June 1937. I was attached to the Southern Region District Engineer’s office at Ashford for several years between September 1961 and November 1967. At the time, there was thick fog and along with Dover Lifeboat, the crew of the train ferry searched for survivors. • Much needed quality employment opportunities for local people. I have many memories of those times- e.g.I must be one of very few drivers to have had a collision with a ferry and come off best! Meanwhile pumping machinery was installed in a chamber 102-feet long, 40-feet wide and 50-feet below the high water mark. Pylons were erected, transformer houses built and a cable supply was specially laid to operate the pumps costing £1,065. Sailing durations ranging from 1 hour 30 minutes on the Calais service to 2 hours on the Dunkirk service. Route to avoid the expensive Eurostar train. After an abortive attempt to rectify this, Elson decided to put the caisson across the mouth of the dock area to reduce the effects of tides and brought in a powerful dredger to remove the faulty chalk layer. Book your next trip today! Ferry travel information for Dover (United Kingdom): overview, schedules, ferry routes and port/terminal information. The service was resumed between Dover and Dunkerque early in December for cargo trains only but in time for Christmas, on 16 December, the sleeping car service was restarted. The gates were 60 feet high, and the pontoon weighed 440 tons without its concrete filling. She was designed to carry rail wagons as well as cars and lorries. I worked in Dover for HM Customs & Excise in the early 1970’s – wonderful to see a shot of the South Pier Boarding office- happy days! After a “hiccup” with the new Admiralty Pier train ferry berth at the end of September 1988 the 52 year old installation was unexpectedly reactivated, staff were re-employed and two rail tracks were relaid. It is recommended to ask motorist at the checkout of the ferry terminal if you can join them in their car (your name has to be on the motorists ticket then). Well hidden by camouflage netting it remained largely unscathed during the war. In addition to the usual responsibilities for track, bridges and stations were repair of fenders, and maintenance of the train ferry dock gates and pump chambers. Laying the dock sill and fitting the two gates posed more problems. Dover Library. These dimensions would give a maximum 30 minutes delay for berthing. On 28 September 1936, the first trains were shunted aboard the Hampton; at the helm was Captain Len Payne. Built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle-on-Tyne, they were the Twickenham, Hampton and Shepperton. With UK Government planning approval TS Maid of Orleans (II) – Past and Present. There are 7 ways to get from Dover to France by train, bus, night bus, car ferry, car, car train or plane. Sealink/Rmt ferry from Ostend, Belgium to Dover and Dunkirk was chosen as the Station. Was nicknamed the Blue train for many British tourists PRINS PHILIPPE Sealink/RMT ferry Ostend... 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