Contents and Labels with thanks from John Cosford

CAD KINETON – LOCOMOTIVES 1952 to 1960

CAD Kineton Locomotives 1952 - 1960.doc

DSDA KINETON (formerly Central Ammunition Depot, Kineton) – Information

Run by the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency, DSDA Kineton is the largest and most modern ammunition compound in Western
Europe. Its role is to receive, store, processes, issue and
distribute explosive and non-explosive munitions and materiel to UK
Armed Forces worldwide. The facilities include 58 Standard
Explosives Storehouses (SESH) and 185 Explosive Storehouses (ESH),
known as igloos, spread over the Edgehill and Marlborough
Sub-depots, operating road and rail transfers. Additionally, the
site operates 14 ammunition processing buildings for the repair and
periodic maintenance of munitions from manufacture, in stock, and
returned from units and other depots. DSDA Kineton is also
responsible for managing the Agency’s 6 Munitions Compounds located
around the country, monitoring the service provided to DSDA
customers ensuring the munitions support on a geographical
basis.

DSDA (Defence Storage and Distribution Agency) Kineton (formerly CAD Kineton) is an arms depot in rural Warwickshire, on and under
the site of the Civil War battle of Edge Hill. Its role is to
receive, store, processes, issue and distribute explosive and
non-explosive munitions and materiel to UK Armed Forces worldwide.
The nearest towns are Leamington Spa and Stratford on Avon. It was
created during World War 2 and has been greatly expanded and
modified since.

DSDA Kineton is one of the most secret places in Britain so information only slips out by mistake, as part of another issue or
in parliamentary questions. DSDA, who manage the site, are a
limited company and as such issue an annual report which gives a
small glimpse of what is going on.

The site has its own railway line for moving munitions in and out. Also it has a very extensive sidings system which would be
needed in case of a big war for handling the sheer volumes of
munitions necessary. In peacetime these sidings are rented out to
railway companies for storing rolling stock. The railway system
continues underneath the Warwick countryside so that trains can be
loaded and unloaded directly into bunkers. Thus minimising work and
keeping them safe from both observation and attack. There is also
an extensive underground road system.

• Vast 2500 acre (10.1 km2) complex
• 200 widely dispersed buildings
• 21 miles (33.8km) of railway track
• 22 miles (35.4km) of perimeter fence
• 300 military and civilian personnel
• 
  

  DSDA 2007/2008 Annual Report can be found at: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0708/hc08/0818/0818.pdf

  
  

  Some aerial photos of DSDA Kineton: http://tony-crowe.fotopic.net/c881931.html

  
  

  Aerial map: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=52.1539251&lon=-1.4593792&z=14&l=2&m=b

  
  

  

  Photos of military trains on the SMJ in 1985 and 1991: http://mikeh-railways.fotopic.net/c981155.html

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