The Strategic Steam reserve and a Soviet Great Britain

[Lt. Campers]

One of the great mysteries of the Cold War have been the persistant rumours
of secret hoards of steam engines that are supposedly hidden away in disused
engine sheds, railway tunnels and mines - to once again appear on the railways
of Britain, Europe and the former USSR in the aftermath of a nuclear attack.

Why did steam engines disappear into secret stockpiles:

It was widely believed in the late 1960's that a nuclear attack could damage all
or most electrical circuits in the country due to the immense electromagnetic
radiation given off by a nuclear blast.
Obviously this would render the new diesel-electric locomotives being introduced
useless, along with a large proportion of motor vehicles and probably most aircraft,
steam trains however would remain unaffected due to their total non-reliance
on electronic circuitry.

Often referred to as the Strategic Steam Reserve - the locations of these locos
has been kept a closely guarded secret and are still the subject of great debate
even today.
Only Sweden has come clean about their Strategic Steam Reserve.

[P-N]

Very interesting.  You can put money on the fact that if the UK still has such steam engines there won't be any coal to run them 

[ecocks]

And I will bet the US government has a few stashed away under various mountains and deep inside hillsides.  Along with all sorts of other stockpiles as well - food, weapons, water, batteries, candles, horseshoes, lanterns, clothing, etc.

[P-N]

And I will bet the US government has a few stashed away under various mountains and deep inside hillsides.  Along with all sorts of other stockpiles as well - food, weapons, water, batteries, candles, horseshoes, lanterns, clothing, etc.

Not forgetting Area 51 - a few alien space craft, little green marsions and other high tech gadgetry acquired from beyond our solar system. 

[Lt. Campers]

Recently released documents reveal the true extent of the Soviet steam train
reserve - that would steam roll into action from various disused railway
tunnels across the former Soviet Union.
This would be Brezhnev's counterstroke in the event of the west detonating a
high altitude nuclear explosion, producing an electro-magnetic pulse, that would
cripple and short circuit the Soviet transport network.
With a specially trained brigade of soviet steam engine drivers, waiting on standby
for the nuclear alert. They will be busy working up steam in their tunnels waiting
for the signal from the Kremlin to chuff into action.  
Amougst the rolling stock waiting to be deployed from these mysterious tunnels,
their were persistant rumours that the Soviets kept their dreaded missile trains,
out of reach and out of sight from NATO 's american built, spy satellites.  

Red Star express - the hunt for the Soviet steam reserve

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[clanholmes]

Stills for illegal alcohol

[Lt. Campers]

Swedish Strategic Steam Reserve engines hidden since 1954

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Heres a great article on the Swedish Steam reserve coming out of mothballs as Sweden
sees no need to keep these loviathans of the age of steam under wraps any longer.

Yes incredible though it may seem today, the Swedish government had stockpiled an
amazing 200 steam engines in remote locations dotted around the Swedish countryside in
the event of a nuclear attack on Sweden.

The Swedish Strategic Reserve in railway history

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A closely guarded secret throughout the Cold War, the Swedes maintained these loco's
in full working order in the event of a major war. Steam locomotives were hidden in remote
un-marked sheds at edges of dense forest to ensure the transportation of soldiers and
equipment and maintain the basic infrastructure of the country.
The announcement in 1992 that the government had decided to sell off the 200 steam
engines in storage, most of which were to be scrapped with only a few going to steam
preservation groups. Was greeted by a mixture of jubilation and consternation by steam
train enthusiasts around the world and particularly in Britain where the Swedish embassy
received many petitions to 'Save the steam engines'
Fortunately many were handed over to the Swedish National Railway museam, who's
officials went out in search of the slumbering locomotives of yesteryear, still under
wraps in unmarked sheds. The SWR Video below dramatically recalls the moment when
one Strategic Reserve Shed is tracked down.

Anyway heres


The Steam engines that emerged from the Cold War - fast forward to 06:33 mins

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Two of the three Strategic Reserve locomotives emerging from a hidden storage
shed at Sandtrask, near the Artic Circle - July 2008 - after 54 years in hiding

One of the three Swedish strategic reserve loco's of the Cold War B-1037 from
Sandtrask. Now in full working order makes her debut under steam with her new
owners in Gothenburg, Sweden







The history of Locomotive B-1037 built in 1910 and still in mint condition. Thanks
to her disappearence into the Strategic Reserve back in 1954.

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Former Swedish Strategic reserve train enters British service

In 1972 the Swedish government decided to reduce the number of steam engines held in
reserve in the event of hostilities and invited a Yorkshire steam line society to inspect
a couple of engines up for sale.

WD 90733 - Strategic reserve locomotive working on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway



The steam engine, although built in the UK was destined for continental European service
and her history is typical of the select few hundred steam engines earmarked for storage
by the Swedish government. In the event of an EMP nuclear attack, if ever the east / west
confrontation of the superpowers during the Cold War, ever turned hot.

Built in January 1945 by The Vulcan Foundry Ltd Newton-le-Willows, works number 5200.
The Locomotive was shipped to the continent and sold to the Netherlands State Railways
where it became their 4300 class number 4464.

In 1953 it was sold to the Swedish State Railways (Statens Jarnvagar)

It was given the classification G11 and re-numbered 1931

After undergoing trials at Halmstad in Southern Sweden it was given a heavy overhaul and
conversion to Swedish form, at Orebro and then entered service in February 1954. It remained
in service in the Halmstad, Landeryd, Nassjo, and Falkoping areas until October 1956 when it
was withdrawn.

Between November 1958 and February 1959 some minor restoration work took place at Boras
prior to being taken to an isolated forest clearing at Mallansjo where it was stored undercover
until the end of 1972.

Both engines were examined by a small group of KWVR members in September 1972 and 1931
being the slightly better of the two engines was purchased and repatriated. It arrived back
in the UK at Hull on the 12th January 1973 and offloaded at Ingrow the following day.

Only a minimal amount of work was necessary to put the locomotive back into service, and
the restored 1931 entered Keighley & Worth Valley service as a works train on Sunday,
November 4th 1973.
Keighley & Worth Valley railway technicians praised the Swedes for doing a great job in
mothballing the engine to preserve many of its key parts.


Keighley & Worth Valley Railway - Locomotive and carriage list

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[Lt. Campers]

Inside the Strategic Steam Reserve

The Strategic Steam Reserve has been a subject of great debate on the internet,
particularly amoungst steam train enthusiasts.
Students studying the Cold War are also intrigued by the possibility of the Superpowers
ferretting away steam locomotives back in the late 1950's, as a means of keeping
the rail network moving following a high altitude EMP detonation. Like the soviet
Goldeneye satellites Petya and Misha from the James Bond film. In fact the plot
from the film Goldeneye, namely that the Soviets had the technology to develop a
devastating ( first strike weapon ) like Goldeneye. Has taxed NATO defence analysts
for years.

Soviet first strike satellite Petya, orbiting earth





We know from historic fact that Sweden stored away a large number of steam
engines, preserving them to a high state of readiness in secluded engine sheds
dotted about the Swedish countryside.

Typical Strategic Steam Reserve engine shed, somewhere in Sweden



To operate the steam engines in the event of an emergency, a number of Swedish
railmen enjoyed the status of reservists. Which means that at certain times of
the year they will be called up on exercises. To take the trains out of storage and
run them anonymously along quite stretches of the swedish rail network, checking
the engines performance.
These same railmen would be pressed into National Service in the event of an
EMP strike on Sweden. So you can just picture the scene of railwaymen reporting
to their engine sheds amidst the scene of devastation, with nearby power pylons
and relays spluttering from burnt out circuits and generators. As they go about their
task of unveiling their engines ready for them to build up a head of steam before
shunting out of the engine sheds.


Locomotives of the Strategic Reserve under polythene wraps, just waiting to be
called up




What greets the railmen as they enter the sheds are three large steam locomotives
covered completely in huge polythene wraps, securely fastened down to prevent
damp air getting in at the engines. A large proportion of the steam reserves engines
are B class engines which have a reputation amoungst railwaymen of being useful
multi-purpose steam engines, capable of fulfilling a variety of roles. Ideal for
preservation in the steam reserve in the event of a call up.


The British Strategic Steam Reserve

Having seen the Swedish setup, whats the possibilty of secret hoards of steam
engines being stored in other countries during the Cold War ?
Lets examine the case for the British Steam Reserve, perhaps the hottest topic
with rail enthusiasts. With arguements for and against their existence against a
background of no hard proof and only circumstantial evidence for its existance.
The favourite location being box tunnel which is on the same Great Western
rail link that would have transported the Prime minister and the British cabinet
to their underground city bunker in Corsham.
Many believe its only an urban myth perpetuated by dewy-eyed steam engine
fanatics who love to report they've seen an unidentified steam engine
running along their rail line.

I could go into more detail but its amply covered on the following website
which argues the case that it does exist.

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At last a video on the British Steam Reserve

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The Soviet Steam Reserve

Yes the Soviet Steam Reserve does exist although many of its engines have either
been sold off or scrapped following the fall of the Soviet Union. By all accounts this
was the largest steam reserve of all the countries who mothballed their old
locomotives in the event of a national emergency. These reserves would meet
the perceived need to defend the Soviet Union from imminent attack from the
west.
Large numbers of steam locomotives were prepared, oiled and ready to be steamed,
all (it is said) facing west and able to take part in defending the motherland.
They stayed there long after steam had been removed from the countrys rail network.
Thankfully the perceived threat never became reality but as a result many of the
locomotives are available today for special tours and enthusiast charter trains in
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic states.
In fact if you encountered a steam locomotive running along one of Ukraine's rail
tracks in the past 5 years, the chances are that it came from the Soviet Steam
Reserve.
Rumour has it that many of the steam engines facing west were locomotives built
to run on western european rail tracks. One can only speculate as to whether
these were intended as Soviet troop trains to reinforce the western front.

Although it only contains a limited amount of information on the Soviet Steam
Reserve. Red Star Steam does have a lot of good information on Russian
steam trains in the former Soviet Union.

Red Star steam

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Perhaps this is a steam locomotive from the Soviet Steam reserve ?

[Lt. Campers]

The Soviet Invasion of Britain

Following the recent declassification of the War Book giving details of the British
governments actions in response to an escallation of East - West tensions
during the Cold War.
Some interesting details emerge on government actions during the transition
to war. Namely that many works of art and other artifacts of great importance to
the British State, namely Magna Carta, the Mace of the House of Commons
and perhaps even the Crown Jewels would be moved to Edinburgh.
Naturally the Prime Minister, the Royal family and most of the British Government
would have retired to Turnstile, this being the huge underground HQ set deep
in the Wiltshire countryside.
While regional County Councils and civil servants would also retire to their
blast proof basement shelters, euphemistically called Regional Seats of Government.
The Royal Observer Corps would be manning some of the 872 ROC Posts, dotted
about the countryside, ready to report to UKWMO Regional HQ's on any nuclear
bombs falling on Britain.

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UK hit by Electro-Magnetic pulse weapon

Lets assume that the Soviets attack with an Electro-Magnetic pulse weapon
high over the UK, devastating the National Grid and short circuiting, every electrical
device in Britain. Leaving junction boxes, car fuses, generators, in short everything
with an electrical device burnt out. Blinding the British defense network.
Soviet spy trawlers, stationed offshore around the British coast would soon report
to the Soviet Navy and Moscow centre that all radar and radio communication
devices are out of action, following which russian Spetnaz's and Soviet assualt
troops start landing near London, to secure key targets before the British can
respond.


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Soviet troops secure their key objectives

Upon securing his initial objectives, the Soviet commander soon learns from his
embassy in London, that the British have been busy transporting all manner of
historic treasures and other artifacts of national importance to Edinburgh.
Grasping the importance of such information and hoping to win a special
commendation on top of his Order of Lenin for invading Britain. The Soviet
commander gathers a special team of commando's to drive north and secure
the British artifacts. But his team are up against two major problems namely
the Motorway to the north, the M1 is blocked with refugees made worst by
the scores of abandoned cars and lorries rendered useless by the Eletro
Magnetic Pulse.
With all British cars and other vehicles paralysed by the EMP blast. The Soviet
commander is limited to UAZ military jeeps and troop lorries that have been
landed on the invasion beaches but these vehicles are in short supply until
such time as the Soviets can secure a british port. Where the russians have
encountered stiff resistance.
The only other cars at his disposal are a small number of East German cars,
Wartburgs and other eastern european cars and bikes provided by their
Warsaw Pact allies.

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From Russia with Love - Classic Top Gear checks out the cars from the USSR

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Top Gear 1986 edition, takes a critical look at cars from the Eastern Bloc at the
height of the Cold War

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Realizing that his team of commando's and spetnaz's can make greater
progress using the East German civilian cars and motorbikes. He orders them
north along the old Great north road, namely the A1 to Edinburgh, marked clearly
on many of his Soviet military Maps of Britain.

Soviet Military Maps of Great Britain

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British intelligence still holding out in the basements and subways of London,
gets word of this and passes on the information to Turnstile but is unable to
get through to Edinburgh.
The military chiefs at Turnstile are also cut off from Edinburgh but realising the
seriousness of the situation are determined to send their own special forces
north to Edinburgh. With all cars and other vehicles out of action, the British
turn to the fastest steam locomotive under wraps, in the British Steam Reserve
namely the A1 Peppercorn.
With the wraps off and the steam engine building up steam in Box tunnel,
Wiltshire. British commando's board the train before she steams out of her
Box tunnel hideout, in a race against time with the Soviets.

Top Gear - Tornado steam train steams into Wiltshire

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What follows now is an account of Top Gear's - Great North Race, as recreated
for the new series on BBC2, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard ( the Hampster )
Hammond and James May.
Although their race differs to the one, I've mentioned above. Nethertheless I have
set a plausible scene where the British Steam Reserve comes to the rescue at a
critical moment in history.
Finally as Clarkson and company have often likened driving former eastern
european cars to driving many classic cars of the 1950's - its a good match.

Setting the Scene - Top Gears Race to the North

Contains full details of the race as shown in the 2009 series of Top Gear

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Top Gear - The Great North Race, part 1

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Top Gear - The Great North Race, part 2

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Top Gear - The Great North Race, part 3

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Top Gear - The Great North Race, part 4

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[Lt. Campers]

Following the Soviet invasion and occupation of Great Britain in 1989, with Mrs Thatcher
and other senior ministers of the conservative government, imprisoned in the
Tower of London & the former Royal Family exiled forever to Australia.


Soviet plans for securing Manchester following the Russian invasion of Britain

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A Soviet government is installed in London, leaving the british to adapt to a new way of
life under the communist regime. Although Britain suffered many hardships following the
war; ten years on the british are still waiting to see the full benefits of the one party state.
As food shortages persist throughout the UK, with more women being called up to work as
labourers of the Soviet state. Rationing persists in many parts of Britain, leading many to
turn to the black market for the few luxuries of life.





Heres what Britain might have looked like under Soviet rule


Comrade Dad, part 1

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Comrade Dad, part 2

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Comrade Dad, part 3

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[yankee ne vod]

Funny..I am reading this..and all of the sudden, on TV comes the History show "Bunkers"  HAHA!

[Lt. Campers]

Heres the latest Freedom of Information Act request for the British MOD to shed light
on the tale of the British Strategic Steam Reserve.

As you would expect the MOD have no knowledge of a stockpile of British steam engines,
being kept under wraps in the event of a Soviet EMP attack on the UK.
Although ( when you think about it ) the British Steam Reserve can be seen in many parts
of the UK, namely on the Severn Valley Railway, Bluebell Line, Watercress Line, etc. all
open and available to the public. On many of the steam preservation lines.

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