Rolling Stock

The rolling stock used during WW1 on the light railways was developed specifically for the task. In France General Pechot, in conjunction with Decauville had been developing an entire light railway system for the French forces. This system employed a standard range of locomotives and wagons.

French Artillery Railways - Standard gauge rail mounted gun seen being carried on the 60cm light railway (unknown location) c1917 - Note Pechot loco to left of picture - Photo: Georges Mangin/Didier Oberlin

Germany were perhaps the most well prepared for war, when the conflict finally started in the Balkan region. Indeed, Mr T. Dixon-Abbot (of MotorRail & Tramcar fame) had visited Germany well before any sign of conflict and been rather alarmed by the large stockpiles of strategic light railway equipment in storage. It would appear that a standard range of locomotives and rolling stock were developed around 1898.

When the British entered the conflict in 1914, they were perhaps the most ill prepared of all combatants. Over a very short period, Robert Hudson & Government contractors "Rendel, Palmer & Trittion' designed a standard range of wagons and a set of specifications for the locomotives.

When America entered the conflict in 1917, they quickly designed their own equipment. The locomotives were a development of those used by the British & French, but it would appear that the rolling stock was of a new, typically American pattern.

US Boxcar (unknown location) c1917 - US copy of French 'Pechot' bogie - Photo: Georges Mangin/Didier Oberlin