Plateau Railway Station

[Guest Simon Bull]

Before the Battle of Cambrai, many of the tanks were entrained at Plateau station. Where was this?

[Stephen Nulty]

Hi Simon

I found a reference in "The Work Done By Railway Troops in France during 1914-1919" by David lyell which states

"During the Somme battle....the railway construction troops took in hand the budilidng of the following lines to serve the troops in that area:- (1) from Meaulte to Plateau and on through MAricourt to Trones Wood......"

I don't have a map to hand, but perhaps that gives an indication?

[Tom Morgan]

The "Plateau line" was a name often used for the "New Maricourt Line." I don't think there was actually a Plateau Station. The station where tanks were off-loaded was the Loop Station.

Assuming that this 1916 off-loading facility is the one being referred to, it used to be possible to make out the locations of the lines by looking for the remaining hedges, but these have all been ploughed up now.

On the photo - the red dot is Fricourt. The green dot shows the lines of the pre-war narrow gauge railway. The blue dot shows the army's standard-gauge line coming in and also marks the site of the Loop Station. The yellow dot is the Loop itself.

Tom

[Guest Simon Bull]

Thanks gents - I knew of the Loop, but had not realised it was, in effect, the same place as the Plateau.