View source for War Department Light Railways

{{Short description|Narrow gauge trench railways run by the British War Department in WW1}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
The '''War Department Light Railways''' were a system of [[narrow gauge]] [[trench railway]]s run by the British [[War Department (United Kingdom)|War Department]] in [[World War I]]. Light railways made an important contribution to the Allied war effort in the First World War, and were used for the supply of ammunition and stores, the transport of troops and the evacuation of the wounded.

==Track gauges==

Different [[track gauge]]s were used in different parts of the world including [[2 ft and 600 mm gauge railways|600mm]], {{Track gauge|760mm|lk=on}}, {{Track gauge|1000mm|allk=on}} and {{Track gauge|1050mm|lk=on}}.

The military light railways in [[France]] were of {{track gauge|600mm}} gauge and used a variety of steam and petrol locomotives from [[France|French]], [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[United States|American]] builders. The Germans installed their {{Track gauge|600mm}} gauge [[Feldbahn]] system early in the war.  [[Trench railways]] of the [[World War I]] western front produced the greatest concentration of [[minimum-gauge railway]] locomotives observed to date.{{sfn|Small|1982|page=56}}

==Development==

[[File:Alco WDLR locomotive 1995.jpg|300px|thumb|right|[[ALCO]] locomotive built for the WDLR, seen running on the [[Ffestiniog Railway]] in 1995]]

Britain came to the belated realisation that it needed a flexible and reliable method of supplying the front lines, bringing shells, timber, and fodder from the rear areas and their standard gauge supply points. [[Narrow gauge railway|Narrow gauge]] [[light railway]]s were the solution.

Hundreds of locomotives were built by companies such as [[Hunslet Engine Company|Hunslet]], [[Kerr Stuart]], [[ALCO]], [[Davenport Locomotive Works|Davenport]], [[Motor Rail]] and [[Baldwin Locomotive Works|Baldwin]] to work these lines. Also, [[Ford Model T|Model T]] Ford conversions were used. Thirty or so Companies were formed within the [[Royal Engineers]] to staff the lines. These were mostly British ex-railwaymen pressed into service, though Australian, South African and Canadian gangs served with distinction. An American unit also served under the British flag.

Each area of the front would have its own light rail to bring up materiel.  The British perfected [[RORO|roll on roll off]] train ferries<ref>{{cite book |last1=Duckworth |first1=Christian Leslie Dyce |last2=Langmuir |first2=Graham Easton |date=1968 |title=Railway and other Steamers |language=en |location=Prescot, Lancashire |publisher= T. Stephenson and Sons }}</ref>{{page needed|date=April 2020}} to bring fodder and supplies direct from England via train ferries to France. Northern French rail lines were under direct military control of the Army in the area.

By 1917, the Canadians led the way in showing the utility of light railways. Having built thousands of miles of new frontier track in Western Canada in the previous decades, these "colonials", led by J. Stewart, supplied the [[Canadian Corps]] who went on to victory at [[Vimy]]. From this the light railways were expanded to {{convert|700|mi|km}} of track, which supplied  7,000 tons of supplies daily.  The ebb and flow of war meant that rail lines were built and rebuilt, moved and used elsewhere, but by the latter years of [[Battle of Passchendaele|Passchendaele]], [[Amiens]] and [[Meuse-Argonne Offensive|Argonne]], light railways came into their own and pulled for the final victory.

==WDLR locomotives==

A large number of locomotives<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wdlr.org.uk/wdlr/ |title=War Department Light Railways |website=Wdlr.org.uk |access-date=2014-08-04}}</ref> (mostly of {{Track gauge|600mm|lk=on}} gauge) was ordered for the WDLR.  These included:

===Steam===
[[File:C01357-military rail transport Frizeville 1917.jpg|thumb|Western Front (Belgium), Ypres Area. Locomotive believed to be a Baldwin 4-6-0T]]
[[File:Narrow gauge construction.jpg|thumb|[[Baldwin Class 10-12-D]] in [[Michigan]] in 1921 after the end of the war]]
* [[Robert Hudson (company)|Hudson]] 0-6-0WT (built by [[Hudswell Clarke]])
* [[Andrew Barclay & Sons Co.|Barclay]] 0-6-0WT
* [[Hunslet Engine Company|Hunslet]] 4-6-0T
* [[Baldwin Class 10-12-D]] 4-6-0T
* [[ALCO]] 2-6-2T

;Dimensions{{sfn|Davies|1967|page=152}}
<!-- under construction -->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Dimension
! Hudson
! Barclay
! Hunslet
! Baldwin
! Alco
|-
| Wheel arrangement
| 0-6-0WT
| 0-6-0WT
| 4-6-0T
| 4-6-0T
| 2-6-2T
|-
| Driving wheels
| {{convert|1|ft|11|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|1|ft|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|2|ft|0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|1|ft|11.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|2|ft|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| Tank capacity<br/>Imperial gallons<br>L<br/>US gallons
| {{convert|110|impgal|L USgal|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|110|impgal|L USgal|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|375|impgal|L USgal|abbr=on}}
| ({{convert|476|USgal|L impgal|abbr=on|disp=or}})
| {{convert|396|impgal|L USgal|abbr=on}}
|-
| Fuel capacity 
| {{convert|3.5|lcwt|kg lb|abbr=on|lk=in}}
| {{convert|3.5|lcwt|kg lb|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|15|lcwt|kg lb|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|15|lcwt|kg lb|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|15|lcwt|kg lb|abbr=on}}
|-
| Cylinders 
| {{convert|6.5|x|12|in|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|6.75|x|10.75|in|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|9.5|x|12|in|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|9|x|12|in|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|9|x|14|in|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| Working pressure 
| {{convert|180|psi|kPa|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| {{convert|160|psi|kPa|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|160|psi|kPa|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|178|psi|kPa|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|175|psi|kPa|abbr=on}}
|-
| Tractive effort  at<br/>75% working pressure
| {{convert|2970|lbf|kN|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| 2,672 lbf
| {{convert|5415|lbf|kN|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|5398|lbf|kN|abbr=on}}
| 5,512 lbf
|-
| Weight<br/>in working order
| {{convert|6.98|LT|ST t|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| {{convert|6.38|LT|ST t|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|14.05|LT|ST t|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|14.50|LT|ST t|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|17.09|LT|ST t|abbr=on}}
|}

===Internal combustion===
[[File:C01360-40HP petrol locomotive 1917.jpg|thumb| Western Front (Belgium), Ypres Area, [[Poperinghe]]. A 40 hp Simplex petrol locomotive that was damaged by shellfire and returned to the railway yard for repairs]]
[[File:C01361-40HP petrol locomotives 1917.jpg|thumb|Western Front (Belgium), Ypres Area. A pair of petrol-electric locomotives]]
* [[Motor Rail]] (Simplex) {{convert|20|HP|abbr=on}}, petrol
* Motor Rail (Simplex) {{convert|40|HP|abbr=on}}, petrol
* [[British Westinghouse]] {{convert|45|HP|abbr=on}}, [[petrol-electric]]
* [[Dick, Kerr & Co.]] {{convert|45|HP|abbr=on}}, petrol-electric
* [[Baguley Cars Ltd|Baguley]] {{convert|10|HP|abbr=on}}, [[petrol-paraffin engine]] based on a [[McEwan Pratt]] design

;Dimensions{{sfn|Davies|1967|page=162}}
<!-- under construction -->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Dimension
! Simplex 20&nbsp;hp
! Simplex 40&nbsp;hp
! Petrol-electric
! McEwan Pratt
|-
| Overall length
| {{convert|8|ft|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|11|ft|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|15|ft|1|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|9|ft|0|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| Wheel diameter
| {{convert|1|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|1|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|2|ft|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| n/k
|-
| Weight loaded<br/> (long tons-cwt)<br>short tons <br>tonnes
| {{convert|1|LT|18|Lcwt|ST t|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| {{convert|6|LT|3|Lcwt|ST t|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|8|LT|0|Lcwt|ST t|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|1|LT|18|Lcwt|ST t|abbr=on}}
|-
| Cylinders
| 2
| 4
| 4
| 2
|-
| Horsepower
| {{convert|20|hp|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|40|hp|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|55|hp|abbr=on}} (engine)<br/>{{convert|45|hp|abbr=on}} (motors)
| {{convert|10|hp|abbr=on}}
|}

===Captured===
A few captured German [[feldbahn]] locomotives were also used but these usually had short lives because no spare parts were available for them.

==Other locomotives==

Both the French Army and the U.S. Army had their own locomotives, which included:

===French Army===

* [[Decauville]] Progrès type 0-6-0T
* [[Pechot Bourdon]] 0-4-4-0T articulated locomotive
* [[Kerr, Stuart]] Decauville/Joffre type 0-6-0T+t (based on the Decauville Progrès type)

===U.S. Army===

* [[Baldwin Locomotive Works|Baldwin]] [[2-6-2T]]

==Preserved locomotives==

===Baldwin===
[[File:Baldwin Inaugural run.jpg|thumb|250px|right|10-12-D No.778, one of the many that went to India, now runs at [[lblr|Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway]]]]
Probably the most famous of these war service engines were of [[Baldwin Class 10-12-D|class 10-12-D]], built by the [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]], U.S.  Nearly 500 were built and those that survived the war found new homes around the world.  Many went to India and after the war a few went to railways in Britain including:

* [[Ashover Light Railway]]
* [[Glyn Valley Tramway]]
* [[Snailbeach District Railways]]
* [[Welsh Highland Railway]]
* [[Rainham Cement]] in Kent
Four of this type of locomotive have been repatriated from India and preserved in the UK, two in full working order, and the other two undergoing restoration in 2021.

===Hunslet===
Hunslet 4-6-0 Locomotive no. 1215 of 1916, was repatriated from Australia in 2008 where she had worked since 1924 on the sugar cane railways of Queensland, before ending up at Rowan Bay Bush Children's Home in a playground around 1962. She is currently in full working order at the [[Moseley Railway Trust]]'s Apedale Valley Light Railway, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.

Hunslet 4-6-0 Locomotive no. 1218 of 1916, formerly of Gin Gin Mill, is currently with D.Revell, Weewaa, New South Wales, Australia.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.wdlr.org.uk/wdlr/images/preservedaus/1218_1.jpg| title=(untitled photo)| website=War Department Light Railways}}</ref> This is the locomotive which is now preserved at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia, although she may be in store and not on public display.

Hunslet 4-6-0 Locomotive no. 1229 of 1916, formerly of Cattle Creek Mill, is currently stored at ANGRMS, Woodford QLD, Australia. Awaiting restoration.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.angrms.org.au/cpages/hunslet.pdf| title=ANGRMS Collection: Hunslet| publisher=Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society| date=2010-06-05}}</ref>

Hunslet 4-6-0 Locomotive no. 1239 of 1916, retrieved from a public park in Mackay, restored at the Rail Workshops Museum, currently on display at the Rail Workshops Museum, North Ipswich, Queensland, Australia <ref>{{cite web| title=Train from WWI restored by volunteers at Ipswich| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-11/retired-train-drivers-bring-100yo-ww1-locomotive-back-to-life/9137296| access-date=11 November 2017| first=Jessica| last=Hinchliffe| website=ABC News| date=10 November 2017}}</ref>

===The Motor Rail & Tramcar Co Ltd,===
Surplus Motor Rail internal combustion locomotives were sold off after the war and provided service for decades in industrial narrow gauge railways systems, such as the [[Leighton Buzzard Light Railway]]. The larger (40HP) locomotives came in 'open', 'protected', and 'armoured' versions resulting in the curious spectacle of fully armoured locomotives appearing in an industrial context. Many locomotives were overhauled and/or modified by Kent Construction & Engineering Co. Ltd of [[Ashford, Kent|Ashford]] which can complicate identifying locomotives (for example "Mary Ann" - the Ffestiniog Loco).

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! WDLR Number
! Year<br>built
! Works<br>Number
! Type
! HP
! Notes
|-
| 
| 264
| 1916
| {{whyte|4w|PM}}
| 20
| Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
|-
| LR2182
| 461
| 1917
| {{whyte|4w|PM}}
| 40
| Armoured version. Greensand Railway Museum Trust
|-
| 
| 507?
| 1917
| {{whyte|4w|PM}}
| 40
| "Mary Ann". Open type. Works number uncertain Ffestiniog railway (since 1923), and the first loco to run on the preserved [[Ffestiniog Railway]] (in 1954).
|-
| LR3041
| 1320
| 1918
| {{whyte|4w|PM}}
| 40
| Originally a protected version. [[Apedale Valley Light Railway]].
|-
| LR3090
| 1369
| 1918
| {{whyte|4w|PM}}
| 40
| Protected version. Apedale Valley Light Railway.
|-
| LR3098
| 1377
| 1918
| {{whyte|4w|PM}}
| 40
| Protected version. National Railway Museum on loan to Leighton Buzzard Light Railway.
|-
| LR3101
| 1381
| 1918
| {{whyte|4w|PM}}
| 40
| Protected version, restored as Open Version. Recently at Amberley Chalk Pits Museum
|-
| LR2478
| 1757
| 1918
| {{whyte|4w|PM}}
| 20
| Apedale Valley Light Railway
|}

==See also==
{{portal|Trains}}
*[[British military narrow-gauge railways]]
*[[Trench railways]]
*[[Light railway]]
*[[Railway Operating Division]]
*[[John Stewart (financier)|John Stewart]]
*[[Foley, Welch and Stewart]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book| last=Davies| first=W.J.K.|title=Light Railways of the First World War|publisher=David & Charles|location=Newton Abbot|year=1967}}
* {{cite book| last=Small| first=Charles S.| title=Two-Foot Rails to the Front| publisher=Railroad Monographs| year=1982}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite magazine |last=Baker| first=Stuart|title=Gas Mechanicals |magazine=Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette|year=1983}}
* {{cite book| last1=DeNevi| first1=Don| last2=Hall| first2=Bob |name-list-style=amp |title=United States Military Railway Service America's Soldier Railroaders in WWII| publisher=Boston Mills Press| location=Erin, Ontario| year=1992| isbn=1-55046-021-8}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Dunn| first=Rich| title=Military Light Railway Locomotives of the U.S.Army| magazine=Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette| year=1979}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Dunn| first=Rich| title=Military Light Railway Rolling Stock of the U.S.Army| magazine=Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette| year=1982}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Hughes |first=H.C. |title=Hunslet's Only Single |magazine=Railway Magazine |date=February 1966 |pages=106–107 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Seidensticker| first=Walter| title=Brigadeloks and Zwillinge in the Trenches| magazine=Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette| year=1980}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Telford| first=Robert| title=Belligerent Baldwins |magazine=British Railway Modelling| year=1998}}
* {{cite book| last=Westwood| first=John| title=Railways at War| publisher=Howell-North Books| location=San Diego, California| year=1980 |isbn=0-8310-7138-9}}

{{World War I}}

[[Category:Military railways in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War I military equipment of the United Kingdom]]