On the 27th of September 1825 George Stephenson’s steam locomotive, Locomotion No. 1, left Shildon in County Durham on its maiden passenger journey, transporting hundreds of passengers 26 miles along the Stockton and Darlington Railway. This marked the first steam powered rail journey open to commercial passengers.
Model of the Berliner’s carriages
In the following two centuries, the British Army has utilized rail networks both at home and abroad, in peacetime and war, to transport supplies, ammunition and equipment, as well as personnel, quickly and efficiently over long distances.
The operation of military trains and rail networks was originally the responsibility of the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers until 1965. 1965 saw the Movement Control and Transportation Elements of the Royal Engineers absorbed into the Royal Army Service Corps, a union which resulted in the formation of the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT).
And perhaps the most famous passenger service operated by the RCT was the British Military Train, otherwise known as The Berliner.
Operated by the 62 Transport and Movement Squadron RCT from 1965, The Berliner took military and civilian passengers on a daily four-hour 145-mile journey from West Germany, through Communist East Germany, and into West Berlin. Originally the train was purely practical, serving to resupply the British Garrison in Berlin, but in time it became a means of maintaining Western access rights to and from Berlin.
The journey was filled with ceremony and political posturing as British military personnel met with their Soviet counterparts to exchange documents, and all passengers had to have official permits to travel. These were written in English, French and Russian. During the journey passengers were locked onboard and were prohibited from taking photographs of the world outside (although NATO intelligence officers would keep a careful note of any military asset movements they spied from the train).
For all the restrictions and Cold War intrigue, many passengers could expect a journey of luxury, with the meals and wine served on board being fondly recalled.
With German Reunification in 1990, and the end of the Cold War, The Berliner ran for the final time on 7th February 1991.
No. 1 Railway Group RCT Locomotive in the yard at 3 Reserve Depot RAOC, near Taunton
Whilst The Berliner garnered the glory, other units of the RCT were busy transporting equipment and supplies. These included the famous Longmoor Military Railway which, upon the line’s closure in 1969, was retitled 79 Railway Squadron RCT and oversaw military rail operations bo
th in the Untied Kingdom and in Germany. Within the UK, rail operations were supported by 275 Railway Troop RCT, a Territorial Army unit.
Her Majesty Queen Elizbeth II names the Bicester Military Locomotive the Conductor.
At the same time, the Army Department Railway Staff (ADRS) RCT operated smaller rail lines within military installations across the United Kingdom, such as the Bicester Central Ordnance Depot, Oxfordshire, through which over 40 miles of track ran. The majority of ADRS personnel were civilian, although they were commanded by regular RCT personnel, and they worked closely with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC). One of the locomotives that operated on this line was Conductor, a Thomas Hill (Vanguard) diesel locomotive. Conductor, titled after the senior Warrant Officer position of the RAOC (and later RLC), was formally ‘named’ by Queen Elizabeth II at an unveiling ceremony during an inspection of the depot in 1978.
All extant RCT Railway units would be rebadged as RLC in 1993.
Following a defence review, 79 Squadron RLC was disbanded in May 2012, and 275 Railway Troop RLC was disbanded two years later in 2014. Whilst the corps no longer possesses units specifically dedicated to railway operations, 17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC continue to exercise movement by rail, ensuring that the skills and capabilities are not lost.
Alex Crisp – Museum Curator
The image at the top of the page is shared courtesy of the National Army Museum. It shows the Berliner stopped at the East German station of Marienborn. The train’s commanding officer (centre) is escorted by the Train Conducting Warrant Officer (with briefcase) and a Russian Speaking NCO to meet with their Soviet counterparts. Here the documents inside the would be inspected before the train continues on its way.
I had the joy of being a Railwayman with 79 Railway Sqn RCT in the early 1980’s. We were based in Moenchengladbach and would travel (by road) to various depots around BAOR to operate the rail infrastructure at those sites.
62 Transport & Movement squadron arranged the passengers and movement of the Berliner. The train was pulled by an East German locomotive whilst the actual carriages were maintained and serviced by 79 Railway Sqn RCT. This meant that the service team had to relocate to Berlin for a week (oh the hardship !) a couple of times a year
Without wishing to burst any bubbles the picture above showing the Train Commander, the WO and interpreter was staged, most likely in Berlin. It certainly would not have been at Marienborn as photography was absolutely verbotan (you stood a good chance of being shot) plus the carriage is empty. On actual transports all passengers had to remain seated and were asked not to stare at the ceremony.
Jon, a former student of mine is working on a project at the museum at Helmstedt and they are interested in the train to Berlin run by the British Forces. Would you be interested in helping?
Please ask him to email us – information@rlcmuseum.com – and one of our team will reply. Thank you
I was posted to Berlin 1961, I was vip staff car driver with 62 extra and, my wife and sautéed joins me 1962 had Marie’s quarters close to Berlin stadium, we went to the conservative there,I drove harry seconbe and dusty Springfield on there visits there, what a great posting.