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defiant1uk

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Everything posted by defiant1uk

  1. Yes - that was us with one of the small 20hp WW1 simplex locos and big British army wagon from our collection. All being well, it will be back this year! Cheers,
  2. Dear All, Hopefully the right place to post this! Just a short note to give an update on the Tracks to the Trenches event plans, as September is getting worryingly (for the organisers) closer! This First World War centenary event is heavliy focused on the battlefield logistics - in particular the narrow gauge light railways. We have made great strides in the development of both our site and the event. The event website (http://www.ww1-event.org) is being updated as regularly as we can. The latest news is that the on-line advance ticketing facility is now live! Over the last few months, and continuing during the summer is the development of a section of British Trench. This features the fire-trench (with step), communications trenches, machine gun pit and small first-aid post. Coupled to this trench, in the "service trench", is a trench tramway (or foreway) - which will keep it supplied and assist with medical "evacuations". Our main event field is complete (which will house the bulk of th eliving history area), and the larger "field railway" is rapidly taking shape. Over the next few months the site will start to see roads/pathways installed. The Titanic Brewery are supplying a large Real Ale bar which will be located our large marquee - the preview of which sounds like a mini beer-festival alone! We are hoping for a special edition beer this year - brewed to a 1914 recipe. We have also been securing various road vehicles - watch our website for some press-releases very soon! More are always welcome. All the latest entry forms (Trader, Living History, Vehicle/Exhibit) are now on the event website (www.ww1-event.org) in the entry forms section. We look forward to hearing from you all soon - please feel free to discuss anything with us. We are still open to ideas! Cheers,
  3. Following a chance conversation with a happy customer of our book, I've been told that part of the train ferry link-span from Richborough still survives - but at Harwich (& listed)! Apparently in the 1920's (following decommissioning of Richborough) the full link-span assembly was being transferred by barge between the harbours, but bad weather was encountered. The whole thing sank - but the link-span gantry (I think) was later salvaged, leaving the span on the sea bed..... More photos here: http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=8154.0
  4. Just picking up on this - being slightly commercial (fund-raising our Trust for the Centenary event next year), I'd like to mention the new book that we have just released - Railway Gazette - Special War Transportation Number. This is a re-print of a special edition written in 1920, covering First World War Railway & the Inland waterways and Ports operations. There is a whole section on the special train ferries, Richborough Harbour and Tank transport on the railways..... more details are available here: http://www.wdlr.org.uk/tracks2trenches/site/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Railway-Gazette-flyer-advert-version.pdf Cheers, Gareth
  5. Hopefully this is the most appropriate forum section to post this in. I am a volunteer with the Moseley Railway Trust (MRT) – a railway museum based near Staffordshire, UK. For many years the trust has been publishing and selling (to the Trade & public) specialist railway books. The MRT’s latest venture in this area is a joint venture with Railway Gazette International who have long since published a magazine about modern railways and the rail industry. This new venture is to reprint their 1920 special edition on (First World) War Transportation. This sponsorship arrangement has been kindly instigated to help us raise funds to prepare for our First World War museum area and to support our Tracks to the Trenches 2014 event (www.ww1-event.org) . Back in 1920, this (then) contemporary publication would have been the first time that most readers would have become aware of the machines and techniques used to achieve the recent victory – much of it had been secret until then. Key topics covered are the vast standard gauge (also known as Broad Gauge to the railway crews) and narrow gauge railway operations – as well as the work of the lesser known Directorate of Inland Waterways and Dock operations (covering canals, harbours and train ferries). Since 1920, copies of this special edition have been highly prized collectors’ items. We have had the original professionally scanned and enhanced, to maximise the reproduction of the many pictures. New colour covers and a foreword have been added. The book is “A4” size, and contains 160 pages - the bulk supplies have just arrived from our printers. On the off chance that this publication is of some interest to you, I the public flyer for the book is available here. Please feel free to contact the Trust directly for any possible trade arrangements - www.mrt.org.uk Yours sincerely, Gareth Roberts
  6. Good Morning. The MRT has recently issued the following press release. Release follows:- The Moseley Railway Trust will mark the centenary of the start of the First World War with a major event, entitled Tracks to the Trenches – 2014. The event will be on September 12, 13 and 14 2014. The Trust is confident that this will be one of the major narrow gauge and First World War centenary events of 2014. The First World War was one of the key turning points in European history – and narrow gauge railways played a major part in the war. All combatants made considerable use of tactical 60cm gauge railways, supporting the colossal demands which the first truly modern war put upon logistics systems. This moment in history helped define and standardise the gauge of many post-war industrial railways (Ashover, Nocton, Leighton Buzzard, etc), through the use of readily available War Surplus materials. The Trust is pleased to be able to confirm the booking of the first visiting steam locomotive to the Tracks to the Trenches - 2014 event; Baldwin 4-6-0T No 778 from the Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire. No 778 has not made many visits to other lines since restoration was completed in 2007, so this event will provide some unique locomotive/rolling stock combinations and photographic opportunities. These 10-12-D class locomotives (the classification designated by the manufacturer) were supplied en-masse to the British War Department from 1917 onwards in all theatres, eventually totalling nearly 500 by 1918. They were the most common steam locomotive operated by the War Department Light Railways during the Great War. Based on a very similar design previously supplied to the French Army in Morocco, they had a limited life expectancy on the Battlefield of a mere 6-8 months. Gareth Roberts, one of the event organisers of the Tracks to the Trenches event commented - Today, only a very small number of these machines have survived and an even smaller number are operational. We are extremely grateful to the Greensand Railway Museum Trust and the Leighton Buzzard Railway for making available this locomotive, fully restored to original appearance, for this important WW1 Centenary commemoration. A website has been set-up for the Tracks to the Trenches event – it’s at http://www.ww1-event.org. The Trust would be very pleased to hear from individuals or groups who wish to participate in/bring vehicles to the event – contact can be made via the website. The Trust is also seeking sponsorship for elements of the event – there are opportunities from main event sponsor to individual donations.
  7. Many thanks for the feedback & input so far! Very useful. i've managed to find a copy of the Engineer with the article in - but certainly keen to get a copy of the Motor Traction magazine too! I've started the drawings, but more info always helps. Thanks again, Gareth
  8. Thanks Richard - thats really helpful as I wasn't aware of that article! All helps with the research....
  9. Dear All, I am a volunteer member of a narrow gauge railway museum charity called the Moseley Railway Trust (http://www.mrt.org.uk), who operate the Apedale Valley Light Railway in North Staffordshire, UK My main interest is in the Light Railways (& trench tramways) of WW1. I have been involved with & lead several rolling stock projects and locomotive restorations so far. One of the next projects that I am considering is a "crewe Tractor" - a small locomotive designed for the light trench tramways. It was based upon a Ford Model T chassis & could revert to road use if required. I would be very interested to hear from anyone with a complete chassis that might be suitable for the above please?! Tucket Brothers seem to be the main commercial source of these vehicles in the UK - but I guess there may also be private sales too? At the moment I'm still researching the design & sourcing rail wheels before going too far. I'd appreciate any leads or advice that this forum could provide please? I'd really like to get hold of a simple 2D plan of the vehicle chassis & would really appreciate any leads please. It may be of interest that i'm also the event organiser for the Trust's major "Tracks to the Trenches - 2014" WW1 centenary event where we hope to be able to present a lot of these types of "tractors" & vehicles. The event has its own website here: www.ww1-event.org I look forward to hearing from you all soon. Thanks in advance, Gareth Roberts
  10. I am a volunteer member of the Moseley Railway Trust (www.mrt.org.uk), based near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. I am also one of the key members of the event organising team. We are in the early stages of starting to plan a significant event in 2014 to raise the profile of the often overlooked, tactical narrow gauge railways & the troops who constructed/operated them as used by all combatants during WW1. These WW1 light railways played a pivotal role in both the war & shaping industry in the post war years – bringing many (as we define them now) modern advances. More details about WW1 railways here: www.wdlr.org.uk Our museum has a large collection of ex-WW1 items, by bringing various other visiting items, we hope to be able create a unique interpretive event representing as many of the combatents (German, French, US, Dominion) as possible. Our site includes a significant field area & is adjacent to a country park, in addition to our railways. We are starting to investigate other complimentary visting items/attractions etc (including living history groups/vehicles) to add further depth & interest to the displays. I would be very interested to hear from anyone with ideas/offers of assistance/equipment who may be able to help or attend please. Photos from last year's Opening Gala attached for info - there was a small WW1 element within that event! I hope to hear from you soon. Best regards, Gareth Roberts
  11. Hi All, Thanks for the welcome. Sounds like in interesting project - not seen one of those before. I have seen WW2 jeeps converted to rail use. Hi Tony - there was talk a few years ago of us providing some equipment fir a WW1 display at War & Peace. Can't remember why we didn't make it happen at the time - possibly due to a conflict in dates. Thanks Mark - guilty as charged! the trust is www.mrt.org.uk Cheers, Gareth
  12. Dear All, Just a quick introduction. My main interest is in WW1 vehicles - primarily the tactical narrow gauge (60cm) temporary railways used by all sides (www.wdlr.org.uk). I have a personal collection of several of the British & american freight cars/wagons. I am also a significant shareholder in a French WW1 steam loco (due to steam next year). I was heavily involved with the Salvage Squad episode covering the WW1 armoured narrow gauge petrol loco several years ago. I have been reading the forum posts on the WW1 lorry recreations/restorations - these are very intreiguing & have many similiarities to the Ng wagon project I have been working on. I am starting to research a new project at the moment - a convertable road/rail tractor based on a Ford model T. There were about 120 of these "created" by the London North Western Railway at their Crewe works in c1917. They were know as "Crewe Tractors" - I have some photos on my webserver - http://www.wdlr.org.uk/wdlr/images/crewe_tractor/ I hope to get some useful advice from this forum! Best regards, Gareth
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