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Light Track from Arras, The by TR Heritage NArrow Gauge at War Vol 3 Soft Cover
Light Track from Arras, The by TR Heritage
Soft cover
Copyright 1931. Second edition 1999
79 pages
Contents
Page
Preface iv
Historical Background ix
Foreword xii
Introduction xiv
Chapter One: The Formation of the 31st 1
Chapter Two: "Q" Dump 9
Chapter Three: Operating 16
Chapter Four: Tales of the Trains 29
Chapter Five: The German Offensive, March, 1918 38
Chapter Six: The Turn of the Tide 45
Introduction to Chapter Seven 58
Chapter Seven: The 19th Company 60
Chapter Eight: Apres la Guerre 68
Appendix One: Details of Track and Rolling Stock 70
Appendix Two: List of Officers, NCOs and Men of the 31st Company 74
Appendix Three: List of Officers, NCOs and Men of the 19th Company 76
Appendix Four: Tractor Crews, Marcoing 78
Diagram of Duty Board 79
Diagram of Meal Indicator 79
A CLASSIC BOOK OF NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS AT WAR...
Our earlier books 'Narrow Gauge at War (Volumes 1 and 2) told the story of the War Department Light Railways, the network of 2ft. gauge railways laid down on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918, to supply ammunition, food and other necessities to the British and Dominion Armies. This, the third volume in the series, is entirely devoted to the reminiscences of a front line WDLR soldier.
T. R. Heritage served with the 19th and 31st Light Railway Operating Companies during 1917 and 1918, the period when the Light Railways were operating at peak mileage and maximum efficiency. In his engaging and (at times) humorous narrative, the author describes his recruitment into the WDLR, the first experiences with the unfamiliar locomotives and petrol 'tractors', and the many derailments and incidents as the novice troops learned the hard way the disciplines of tracklaying.
Heritage tells how the raw troops quickly gained experience, and soon were operating virtually a timetabled service delivering ammunition with near clockwork efficiency. Nevertheless the enemy did their best to disrupt proceedings, with artillery and air attacks that put the railwaymen in real danger and caused much hard work in repairing the lines, in conditions of mud, rain and blackout. Despite the
privations of trench life, there are many amusing anecdotes, both of life on the trains, and off duty, and of encounters with Australian and American troops and French civilians.
Heritage's tale is a classic story, not just of men at war, but of a unique period in narrow gauge railway history. Never before had narrow gauge railways been built in such quantities, at such a speed, and operated in such an intensive way. It is the only known 'personal' tribute to the Light Railway Operating troops, and as such is an essential work of railway literature. Plateway Press are proud to make this book, lost for almost 70 years, available once again.
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