The Times of 20 Feb 1863 reports that: The right wing of the 61st Regiment of Foot arrived yesterday, by special train on the South Western line of railway, at Portsmouth from Aldershott (sic). The train proceeded over the Government line of rail from the Landport terminus to the dockyard, where the troops immediately embarked on board HM screw troop ship Megaera, Commander SH Henderson, for conveyance to Jersey. Ever since I first caught a bicycle wheel in that line in the 1950s I've wondered _when_ the first spur from the main SW line was taken into the dockyard. It may also be of interest to note that around this period the first tracks were being laid down for some of the cranes that operated alongside the various docks in Portsmouth dockyard, in order to speed up the placing of armour plating on new ships being built. Regards Paul 50.33.50N 02.26.70W http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html