The National Rifle Association Its Tramways and the London & South Western Railway

Book excerpt: This unique reference work chronicles the interconnected histories of Britain’s NRA and the British Railways Companies. The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom was founded in the mid-nineteenth century and was granted a Royal Charter of Incorporation by Queen Victoria in 1890. Created for the encouragement of the Volunteer Rifle Corps and the promotion of rifle shooting throughout Great Britain, its popularity soon influenced the development of railway expansion. The London and South Western Railway Company even built unique tramways to connect the NRA’s camps and ranges. This book sheds light on the fascinating relationship between the NRA and the British Railways Companies. Beginning in the 1860s, the NRA held annual marksmanship competition at Wimbledon Common, a site chosen for its accessibility from across the existing railway network. The NRA later established its new home at Bisley Camp in Surrey, some 35 miles outside London. The L&SWR built a spur from Brookwood Station and offered a discount on return fair to uniformed volunteers.