Two years on from the first Tracks to the Trenches event on the Apedale Valley Light Railway (operated by the Moseley Railway Trust), the Newcastle-under-Lyme (Staffordshire) located railway and museum hosted a second event on the same theme last weekend (13-15 May).

With a focus on gathering a large collection of working First World War narrow gauge railway equipment, the wider transportation and role of the soldier was also covered through the numerous working displays across what is an increasingly extensive site at Apedale.  The event team have been able to build on the last event, which achieved great recognition nationally, and further diversify the exhibits on display.  The railway is also host to a number of projects which include WW1 equipment and several of these have been completed since the last event and made their public debut over the weekend.

Below: Throughout the event passenger trains were operated, interspersed with demonstration goods trains, the latter made up of appropriate rolling stock.  With six steam locomotives available and regular swaps made, a wide variety of formations were observed throughout the day.  Here the Hudswell Clarke, 1238 (and recent visitor to Beamish) arrives at the reconstructed Silverdale Station with the passenger train.  To the left the Baldwin 4-6-0T usually based on the Leighton Buzzard Railway waits to couple to the train and take it on its next run.

Below: One of a number of 20HP ‘Bow Frame’ type Simplex petrol locomotives (often later rebuilt as diesel locomotives) at the event.  The ‘LR’ on the numberplate refers to the ‘Light Railway’ of ‘War Department Light Railway’ (WDLR).

Below: Another familiar exhibit, the War Department liveried Foden steam lorry.  To the right is a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, a 1925 chassis converted to represent the armoured cars created in 1914 following requisition of all available examples.

Below: The Rolls Royce is seen in the company of the Vauxhall ‘D’ staff car, restored and owned by Vauxhall and again a recent visitor to Beamish.

Below: The Kerr Stuart ‘Joffre’ visiting from the West Lancashire Light Railway waters from the restored H Class tank waggon with the assistance of two Beamish visitors – a Lister D petrol engine and a water pump.  We had hoped to supply some other exhibits – circumstances didn’t work out but hopefully for the 2018 event at Apedale we’ll have a good spread of suitable exhibits…

Below: There was a lot of attention to detail, making the most of various photographic sources showing the narrow gauge railways behind the front lines, including appropriate level crossing notices and direction signs.

Below: I really like this!  It is a pump car (trolley) manufactured for the US Army by the Sheffield Velocipede Car Company.  This is a replica, drawings for which appear online should anybody fancy making their own.

Below: Representing the German’s extensive light railway provision during WW1 was this Deutz tractor, seen coupled to two restored K Class side tipping skips.

Below: One rather nice display was the creation, during the event, of a waggon type used on the trench tramways (more lightly laid and located immediately behind the front lines).

Below: A replica of the passenger ‘coach’ made to convey King George in his inspection of the lines of the British sector in 1918.  A photograph exists showing it in use, propelled by a 20HP Simplex.

Below: Another visiting 20HP Simplex, this example being from the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.  Built in 1916, it was restored on the WHHR between 1997 and 2009 and is notable in probably having served on the Western Front – many of the surviving petrol locomotives from the period being surplus equipment that had not left WDLR stores and therefore not seen active service.  They were later sold to numerous dealers who rebuilt or reconditioned them for sale and further use in industry – having a profound influence on the shape of UK industrial narrow gauge railways as a result of their quantity and ubiquity.  This example saw a peacetime role fulfilled on a peat bog railway.

Below: Mary Ann is the well-known 40HP Open Simplex usually based on the Ffestiniog Railway. Its next port of call is Beamish next week…

Below: Another view of Mary Ann as it runs on the field railway, an extensive system of light railway track that enables the demonstration of industrial narrow gauge equipment in an appropriate environment.

Below: A popular exhibit last time and equally so this time, a 20HP Simplex (awaiting restoration) that has discovered a shell-hole.

Below: Graham Lee’s standard gauge Baguley railcar of a type used by the French military on the extant lines in France.

Below: Making its public debut following its recent exciting repatriation is this former US Army narrow gauge petrol tractor, subsequently converted to standard gauge and only a few weeks ago recovered from a Swiss scrap yard.  It is to be restored to its original narrow gauge condition – this is the type of locomotive which Moelwyn (also at the event and also coming to Beamish shortly) was rebuilt from in the 1950s.

Below: At the extreme end of the narrow gauge field railway are a series of trenches, complete with railway and demonstrations of both gas attacks and firearms activity.

Below: Another recreated WDLR waggon is seen on the field railway, adjacent to the horses used by the visiting Lancers.

Below: Typical track of both WDLR and industrial railways – temporary in route and using pre-assembled panels the lines could be moved as required and repaired within minutes of receiving any damage.

Below: Some of the many scenes of WW1 trench life that were set up around the site.

Below: A field gun and ammunition limber.

Below: More displays, based around the tented ‘community’ set up on the events field, around which the field railway operations were also located and will, in due course, be extended to form a full circle with some seriously impressive gradients!

Below: At the end of the day (Saturday) a large gathering of WW1 motive power is disposed of following its day’s work.  This was only part of the total number used and must surely be the biggest such gathering of operational allied narrow gauge motive power since the end of the First World War itself? Another excellent event, which seems to have been well attended by the public and hopefully will enable a further (larger?) event in 2018…