Photos from a Great War Society event last year working with original War Department Light Railway equipment - the UK adopted light railways for moving supplies, troops and even artillery pieces after seeing how successful the French Decauville systems were. The setting of the event was the Battle of Arras in early 1917, where the WDLR was majorly used for the first time in the preparation of a battle
1918 20hp Petrol Tractor build by Simplex - the small 20hp Simplex's were always built completely open like this one
40hp 'Protected' Simplex petrol tractor, as restored by Salvage Squad on Channel 4 a number of years ago - the 40hp Simplex's came in three armoured versions - 'open' which had armoured ends but a normal metal roof, 'protected' which was as above, with armoured sides, visors and roof and 'armoured' which was identical to the protected but instead of a roof it had a properly enclosed armoured top with small visors to see through, which weren't very popular as they got hot extremely quickly and were often converted to 'Protected' versions
H class water wagon which can hold 1500 gallons of water, built in 1917 at Darlington and this one was used in Salonika
Another 20hp Simplex
1916 Hunslet steam locomotive, used on the WDLR and then shipped off to Australia where it has recently been repatriated from
It is a mix,the kit is from Meridian models. But I have altered/modified so much. The interior is all scratch and I put rivetted overlays on the front and rear pieces. The doors are scratch. It is driven by an Arnold Kof so I have had to modify the interior detail to hide as much of the motor as possible. The only bit of the Meridian kit you can see is the roof. They also sell the "armoured" version which I have started building.If there is anyone interested I will take pics as I go along. It runs almost silently.
Hi Barry, I'd love to see more pictures! Built on an Arnold Kof, that's 9mm track isn't it? I didn't know Arnold is still in business. Seeing your model I am thinking seriously to do some with Roco HOe, and some Lima engines from the scrap box. Chris, thanks again for attributing, great!