BAOR DEPOT INFORMATION FILE	© Martyn Witt 2004	Return to Introduction
ARSBECK
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DEPOT DATASHEET
Serial:		KOL 2
Unit served:		6 Petroleum Depot RASC (RAOC from 15 Jul 1965). 217 Mobile Civilian Artisan Group remained at Arsbeck after fuel depot closure.  The Property Services Agency kept permanent way stores in the depot from late 1970s.
Serving railway:		DB
Tariff Station:		Wegberg
Original occupant:		Built for HM Forces (Occupation costs)
Date of British occupation:		1948
Main user:		Army
Co-user:		Nil
Operating Manager:		Officer Commanding 79 Railway Squadron
Operating Agent to Handover Point:		DB
Operating Agent from Handover Point:		Army
Usual Locomotive:		Two Type 'C' locomotives, stabled at locomotive shed in RAF Brüggen.  Details of narrow gauge prime movers not known.
Ruling Gradient:		1:240
Length of track:		4,323m (Arsbeck, standard gauge).  Does not include later spur and 2-road siding - approximately additional 1,300m.. Details of 60cm track not known.
Turnouts:		10, including Klinkum exchange sidings (12 with later spur)
Map sheet:		4803 1:25,000/ L4902 1:50,000
Operating staff:		Two locally-employed civilian drivers and one shunter employed as crew, based at RAF Brüggen.
Notes:		The petroleum depot had an internal 60cm Decauville system narrow-gauge system, serving the stacks of packed fuel.  This was not operated by RE railwaymen but by Labour Group or locally-employed civilians, and appears to have fallen into disuse by the late 1960s (?).  Almost all traces had been removed by the late 1970s, although some track at level crossings remained.  In the late 1960s (?) a new standard gauge spur was laid (probably by the Permanent Way Troop of the TA Railway Squadron during Annual Camp), east of turnout 13R (7R under later numbering), heading approximately due north for about 500m into a twin siding.   After the petroleum depot closed, the site became a training area, and was one of the only places where low-level tactics could be practised with a railway, and so the Arsbeck railway was frequently used to simulate demolitions and derailments, as well as railway ambush and siege-breaking tactics and similar enjoyable training!  Locomotive and carriage hulks were usually left at Arsbeck to facilitate such training.  The line crossed Federal Route B221 - road traffic lights were operated by the shunter prior to proceeding over the crossing.
Depot Diagram date:		1964

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