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Tracks to the Trenches - 12-14th September 2014 (Staffordshire)


defiant1uk

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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,

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looks like a great event, Im at Goodwood that weekend otherwise I would have been there!

 

Is that the train & track that was at War & Peace last year?

 

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,

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Sorry guys - we found out our webhost "upgraded" their software last week, which then caused a total collapse of our site. Very helpful!!

 

The site is live again & it will be updated properly shortly.

 

Cheers,

 

Great, will take a look now

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi All,

 

It may be of interest that we have just welcomed the arrival of a rather large "Pechot" French railway wagon, intended as a companion for our resident French Artillery railways 60cm gauge WW1 “Joffre” steam loco.

 

This type of equipment was already approximately 25years old by the start of the Great War, but it was used to great effect by the French, British and even the Germans (captured material) throughout the conflict. Some French forts were still using original Pechot vehicles until relatively recently. This wagon is now, by some margin, the oldest railway vehicle in the collection – dating from 1888 or 1889, depending on where you look.

 

More details on the event website: www.ww1-event.org

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The Duke of Westminster now owns it. I was wondering who had bought that when it came up for sale a few years back.

 

Don't think that's the second of the two original Irish 1920 pattern RRACs which was for sale a few years back. Think it's more likely to be one of the small batch of reproduction 1914 pattern cars made by a UK company for a client in the Middle East

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Don't think that's the second of the two original Irish 1920 pattern RRACs which was for sale a few years back. Think it's more likely to be one of the small batch of reproduction 1914 pattern cars made by a UK company for a client in the Middle East

 

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that this is an original armoured car chassis - the vehicle having been used on the Duke's estate, but gradually loosing its armour over the years. The car was restored relatively recently by a specialist company in the Cheshire area.

 

cheers,

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  • 1 month later...

As we are getting closer to the Centenary event, developments are really starting to speed up!

 

In the last couple of weeks, BBC has screened a 5 part series called "Railways of the Great War" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04dbrkp/railways-of-the-great-war-with-michael-portillo-1-a-railway-war-begins

Some of our collection features in the 3rd episode, giving you a flavour of what is to come next month....

 

The advance ticket purchase facility is remaining live until 1st September - advance purchases benefit from a free copy of the event guide.

 

Everything is coming together very well - with much new railway constructed and a replica section of trench network.

A download-able FREE "Educational Pack" is also available for download directly from the event website.

 

The event website (www.ww1-event.org) is being regularly updated - under the "Event Attractions" tab, we are showing the current status of visiting locos, equipment, groups etc.

This is looking set to be the biggest gathering of WW1 railway equipment for a very long time. In addition to the locomotives, there are many WW1 railway wagons that will be in attendance.

 

See you there? Only ~1 month to go!

 

Cheers,

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  • 4 weeks later...

 

 

Yet more arrivals from all corners of the UK (& France indirectly) - Vale of Rheidol, Deepest Derbyshire, Statfold and Leighton Buzzard. The booked RAILWAY line-up is nearly complete for Tracks to the Trenches. But will there be any last-minute surprise extras? There's only one way for you to find out!!

 

thumbs_bald_dec.jpgthumbs_bald_hudswell.jpgthumbs_3114.jpg

 

ROAD VEHICLES, TANK and LIVING HISTORY displays start arriving today!!

 

 

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No, but I received them from Rob Langham who was there and I am sure he wont mind me posting them:

 

DSCF4069_zpsfafb3cfa.jpg

A shame Thornycroft is spelt with an E:

DSCF4067_zpsae93bf8b.jpg

 

This was the one restored by Stephen Pettifer many ears ago and now in different livery. I understand that the front axle is slightly bent from when he hit something.

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No, but I received them from Rob Langham who was there and I am sure he wont mind me posting them:

 

DSCF4069_zpsfafb3cfa.jpg

A shame Thornycroft is spelt with an E:

DSCF4067_zpsae93bf8b.jpg

 

This was the one restored by Stephen Pettifer many ears ago and now in different livery. I understand that the front axle is slightly bent from when he hit something.

 

Thats it, had new tyres recently by the look of it. Also the bottom tank on the rad looked like it has gone porus.

 

It started easily I noticed, was parked next to me for 2 of the 3 days

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