Southern Railway Traffic Control Centre

During World War Two this underground HQ was constructed within a preexisting cave system. The caves were selected due to the natural protection they offered due to being surrounded on three sides. Their protection was further enhanced by a 4ft thick concrete burster slab.

The caves were excavated further to create the underground HQ. Within the HQ there was a meeting room, telephone exchange, battery room, relay room, night officers bedroom, instrument room and a 60ft escape shaft that also served as ventilation.

The underground HQs purpose was to serve as an emergency control centre for Southern Railway. Southern Railway had their telephone exchange within the underground HQ which had direct Post Office lines and extensions giving the staff within the headquarters direct contact to traffic and engineering officers. This was in use 24hrs a day. It also housed the Railways traffic control. The HQ was large enough to house 30 staff and once complete housed the office staff from Southern Railways HQ in Waterloo.

Within the control room of the HQ there were diagrams of all important junctions served by Southern Railway this allowed staff to make emergency or alternative arrangements should any issues arrive from Enemy activity. This also enabled the HQ to be in use 24hrs a day.

While the underground HQ was in use it is rumoured that the Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited.

The HQ remained in use until the 1960s at this point the HQ was sealed and forgotten about.

These photos were taken a year ago and to our knowledge this location is now sealed.