Narrow Gauge in the Arras Sector

Narrow Gauge in the Arras Sector PDF Author: Joan S. Farebrother
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1473869587
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 375

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Book Description
The Arras sector of the Western Front in World War I (WW1) was held partly by the British and Dominions 1st Army from September 1915, and almost wholly by the 1st and 3rd Armies from March 1916. No less than in the Ypres sector to the north and the Somme sector to the south, the struggles of the French and then British troops in this sector were pivotal to the outcome of the War. The sector included countryside in the south, but in the north a major part of the industrial and coal-mining area of northern France, around Lens and Bthune. In this book the contribution of metre and 60 cm gauge railways to the Allied war effort in this sector is examined in the context of the history of the metre gauge lines already established. The build up of light (60 cm gauge) lines from 1916 is examined in detail area by area, and the contribution of the related metre gauge lines is reassessed, from British and French sources. After the War the role of these railways in the reconstruction and recovery of this devastated region of France is described. Later the surviving part of the 60 cm gauge network served the sugar beet industry east of Arras. The history is followed through another World War to the closure of the last of these railways in 1957.The book refers to previous works on British War Department light railways in WW1, but contains sufficient general information for readers new to the subject. It also describes how to find key locations now, and how and where rolling stock can be seen. Six walks and an urban tour are included for those who wish to explore the territory in greater depth.

Narrow Gauge in the Arras Sector

Narrow Gauge in the Arras Sector PDF Author: Joan S. Farebrother
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1473869587
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 375

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Arras sector of the Western Front in World War I (WW1) was held partly by the British and Dominions 1st Army from September 1915, and almost wholly by the 1st and 3rd Armies from March 1916. No less than in the Ypres sector to the north and the Somme sector to the south, the struggles of the French and then British troops in this sector were pivotal to the outcome of the War. The sector included countryside in the south, but in the north a major part of the industrial and coal-mining area of northern France, around Lens and Bthune. In this book the contribution of metre and 60 cm gauge railways to the Allied war effort in this sector is examined in the context of the history of the metre gauge lines already established. The build up of light (60 cm gauge) lines from 1916 is examined in detail area by area, and the contribution of the related metre gauge lines is reassessed, from British and French sources. After the War the role of these railways in the reconstruction and recovery of this devastated region of France is described. Later the surviving part of the 60 cm gauge network served the sugar beet industry east of Arras. The history is followed through another World War to the closure of the last of these railways in 1957.The book refers to previous works on British War Department light railways in WW1, but contains sufficient general information for readers new to the subject. It also describes how to find key locations now, and how and where rolling stock can be seen. Six walks and an urban tour are included for those who wish to explore the territory in greater depth.

Narrow Gauge to No Man's Land

Narrow Gauge to No Man's Land PDF Author: Richard Dunn
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description


Railways and War Before 1918

Railways and War Before 1918 PDF Author: Denis Bishop
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Military railroads
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Book Description


The East Kent Railway

The East Kent Railway PDF Author: John Scott-Morgan
Publisher: Pen and Sword Transport
ISBN: 1526726866
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 435

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Book Description
The East Kent Railway was one of Britain's less well known light railways, a part of the Colonel Stephens group of lines, the East Kent Railway was meant to open up the newly discovered Kent coal field and help to make its shareholders wealthy, however things took a different turn, when the projected colliery's along the line did not materialise the way the promoters had first envisaged. The only colliery to produce quantities of coal being Tilmanstone near Shepherdswell, which opened in 1912. There were other pits started along the formation of the line from Shepherdswell to Wingham, but in the cases of the other pits, only the surface buildings or test shafts were constructed, before the work was abandoned. This was largely due to flooding and the poor calorific quality of East Kent coal, which had to be mixed with other coal to be effectively used. There were four colliery's completed in Kent, the East Kent Railway only served one of them and this together with the other three lasted until the latter part of the 20th century. The railway operated a loss making passenger service to Wingham and for a few years to Sandwich Road halt on the line to Richborough Port line, however the service to Wingham Canterbury Road came to an end in October 1948, after British Railways had taken control. The East Kent Railway lasted through two world wars and was nationalised in 1948, becoming part of the Southern Region of British Railways, it closed to traffic in 1984, during the coal strike.

Tracks to the Trenches

Tracks to the Trenches PDF Author: David R. P. Guay
Publisher: Fifth House Publishers
ISBN: 9781927083369
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
"Tracks to the Trenches is a photographic history of the role that Canadian soldiers and railroad men played in the construction of rail lines to the Allied front during World War I."--

The Light Railways of Britain & Ireland

The Light Railways of Britain & Ireland PDF Author: Anthony Burton
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1473859948
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 202

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Book Description
First published in 1985 by Moorland Press, The Light Railways of Britain & Ireland has remained unavailable for more than twenty-five years, until now. Re-released by Pen & Sword, this is a thorough and engaging book that covers, in depth, the fascinating story of Britain's last railway development, the Rural light railways, constructed as a result of the Light Railways Act 1896.Rigorously detailed, it charts the overall history of the last great railway boom in Britain the light railway boom from 1896, to the beginning of the Great War in 1914. During this period a large number of narrow and standard gauge lines were constructed in both Britain and Ireland, in order to serve and open up areas in both countries that, at the time, lacked adequate transport links. This book tells the story of how these lines were constructed and why, in most cases, they eventually failed, due to post-First World War road competition.Authored by two highly acclaimed writers of transport history, this is a true testament to, and a timely reminder of, Britain's last railway development.

Britain's Railways in the First World War

Britain's Railways in the First World War PDF Author: Michael Foley
Publisher: Pen and Sword Transport
ISBN: 152678680X
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 292

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Book Description
It is easy to believe that the only part that Britain’s railways played in the First World War was to carry the soldiers to the ships that would take them to France. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Without the help from the railways it is unlikely that the war would have been over as quickly as it was. In Britain’s Railways in the First World War Michael Foley examines how the railway system and its workers proved to be a vital part of the war effort, one contemporary writer even commenting that he thought they were as significant as the navy. The book describes how the enlistment of railway troops for the Royal Engineers to meet the increasing transport demands of the military was to bleed the civilian system dry as skilled railwaymen were sent to work at the front. In addition, the military commandeered thousands of Britain’s railway vehicles, sending them to each of the theatres of war, and turned the already stressed railway workshops away from maintaining what remained of the country’s railways and rolling stock so they could produce armaments for the forces instead. The book also reveals how the British were so far behind their enemies and allies in the use of railway support to the front lines that they had to plead for help from Canada.

Tracks to the Trenches

Tracks to the Trenches PDF Author: Moseley Railway Trust
Publisher: Mainline & Maritime
ISBN: 9781900340694
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description
The Moseley Railway Trust, at its Apedale Valley Light Railway base in Staffordshire, has amassed a collection of narrow gauge railway equipment that is unique in the UK, and of national significance. As part of the World War One commemorations, the Trust put on three hugely successful 'Tracks to the Trenches' events, each with a different theme, in 2014, 2016 and 2018. This fully illustrated album is a collection of images from all three events, and provides unique coverage of not just the collection, but the outstanding dioramas recreated by the visiting re-enactors.

Railways at War

Railways at War PDF Author: J. N. Westwood
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description


British Military Railways Overseas in the Great War

British Military Railways Overseas in the Great War PDF Author: Paul E. Waters
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781900340526
Category : Military railroads
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description
Detailed history of British Military Railways overseas during WW1 - all theatres covered, from the Western Front to the Falkland Islands