In 1933 work started on the construction
of the new train ferry dock to the east of the
Admiralty
Pier. The dock was built like a large lock because
the linkspan which connected the train ferry to the
land had to be more or less level to operate. A large
steel gate was raised from the floor of the dock once
the ferry had entered and the water in the dock pumped
to the required level.
The
Southern Railway
built three train ferries to operate in conjunction
with the new dock, the “Hampton Ferry”, “Twickenham
Ferry” and “Shepperton Ferry”. On 28th September 1936
the “Hampton Ferry” was manoeuvred into the dock and
the first railway freight trucks were shunted aboard.
The dock was used mainly for freight but carried one
passenger service daily in each direction - the famous
“Night Ferry” London to
Paris sleeping car service. The old dock was closed
in 1988 when a new train ferry dock was built on the
Admiralty Pier extension.
