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Post by carltona on Nov 7, 2012 14:31:26 GMT
I was looking at an old map which showed some sort of rail connected depot or factory adjacent to W Ruislip station. This is where the USAF base was until recently. Can anyone tell me what this was?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2012 16:06:44 GMT
It was rail connected until the late-1970s, after which the current Brackenbury Village estate was built on part of it's site. I am typing this about 100 yards from where the rail connection used to be! (indoors of course). The remainder of the air base was closed c.5 years ago and the "Ickenham Park" estate is being built on that part - now approaching completion - and new properties available if you have megga megga bucks  To be pedantic, it was called "RAF West Ruislip" (so said the notice at the entrance) whereas the Underground depot is "Ruislip depot". RAF West Ruislip was west of the Met/Picc, whereas Ruislip depot is east of the Met/Picc. |
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Post by carltona on Nov 7, 2012 16:23:58 GMT
Thanks for confirming that. My father actually worked for the USAF on the site in the early seventies. I was assuming that the rail connection was removed before the Central opened in 1948. Wrong! Looking on wikipedia RAF West Ruislip dated back to the first world war era and was a records office as well as a depot before the US forces took over.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2012 16:48:08 GMT
Thanks for confirming that. My father actually worked for the USAF on the site in the early seventies. I was assuming that the rail connection was removed before the Central opened in 1948. Wrong! No problem - When I first visited Ruislip depot in c.1965/66, it was certainly rail connected and used, but was protected (or rather 'separated from the outside world') by iron gates which were only opened when trains visited. Of course they used the link road (which still exists) to and from West Ruislip station, which passes under the former signal cabin side. Quite when rail traffic ended, I can't put a date on it. |
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Post by ruislip on Nov 8, 2012 2:11:56 GMT
Ahhh the memories of the USAF facilities at West and South Ruislip  If they were still extant today, it would most likely be known as "Joint Base Ruislip." |
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metman
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Post by metman on Nov 8, 2012 8:39:14 GMT
I remember the Ruislip base. My friend from the US used to take me there to get cheap beers etc in the early 2000s! Good times.
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Post by ruislip on Nov 8, 2012 13:02:17 GMT
Up until 1972, the two bases were under one commander (a USAF Colonel). South Ruislip was Headquarters for 3d Air Force(moved in 1972 to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk), while the facility @ West Ruislip came under the command of RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire. Sometime after we left in 1975, the US Navy took over the West Ruislip facility--becoming associated with headquarters for our European fleet.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2012 13:46:24 GMT
Thank you for that. It's interesting to know more about the land on which I am sitting |
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Post by programmes1 on Nov 8, 2012 13:50:52 GMT
Thank you for that. It's interesting to know more about the land on which I am sitting I'm sure that there are some photos on the web I've looked but can not find. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2012 14:54:42 GMT
If you go to old-maps.co.uk, enter your post code (which I assume to be HA4 7DW). Select the 1960 Middx 1:10,560 map. You will see that the track alignment is clearly shown fanning off in a South Westerly direction parallel in part with the Met line. There appears to be at least four sidings adjacent to buildings. One stretches back as far as Austins Lane, terminating roughly where Tweddale Road is today.
Hope this helps!
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Post by carltona on Nov 8, 2012 15:02:30 GMT
I originally looked at Sabre maps 1:25,000 historical OS maps. It appears to be late 1940s. The rail lines are fairly detailed but some sidings are not shown. Could anyone tell me if there is a reason the GW signal box has been retained, it has been disused for twenty years now?
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Post by programmes1 on Nov 8, 2012 15:22:53 GMT
It's funny you should mention the BR box as on another forum someone is selling the frame.
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If they were still extant today, it would most likely be known as "Joint Base Ruislip."
