Category Archives: 2018 event

An alternative to trains & football….

Posted on July 11, 2018 | Leave a comment

…is it really possible?

Well – yes, we like to think that on Saturday & Sunday (14 & 15th) we can offer a real alternative with live action horse displays around the site and the field gun in action.

There are rather splendid first world war cavalry (think War Horse!) demonstrations in action a couple of times each day in the main arena, a spectacle that many really find fascinating to watch.

In addition to these displays, at regular intervals during the day we will have draught horses in action hauling a General Service wagon (the horse drawn equivalent of an off-road lorry!) and a team of horses demonstrating haulage of the large field gun and limber – ultimately bringing it to a firing position.

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Tracks to the Trenches also brings an unprecedented range of First World War Living Groups and displays – bringing some of the history to life, in the replica (& quite authentic) Trench and alongside the vehicles and railway displays.

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Posted in 2018 event, Apedale Valley Light Railway News, Booked Attractions

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BattleBus – mission acomplished!!!

Posted on July 9, 2018 | Leave a comment

The TTTT organisers are extremely pleased to confirm the attendance of the London Transport museum’s “BattleBus” (and mobile exhibition) to Apedale this year & we are extremely grateful to the museum’s staff for being so obliging.battle_bus

Buses like these were used during the First World War to ferry troops to the front line – their use both preceded and complemented the later narrow gauge railways. So, the Bus is an important part of the story we want to tell. Watch out for it on active display around the site!

Although everything is in place to ensure that the bus attends – we always welcome support (publicity & monetary) as these things are difficult to arrange and often costly.

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Posted in 2018 event, Event News

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Two Hunslet 4-6-0T’s to debut at TTTT

Posted on July 9, 2018 | Leave a comment

Not one but two WD Hunslet 4-6-0Ts made their debut at Tracks to the Trenches 3 this year!  In addition to the War Department Locomotive Society running No. 303 for the first time, Accucraft UK Ltd (key supporters of the TTTT trilogy) will unveil their own 1:19 scale, live steam version of this locomotive during the event (likely to be 14th July)!

Hunslet produced 155 of these 2’ (60cm) gauge locos during WW1 for service behind the trenches in France, sharing their duties with Baldwins and Alcos procured for the same role.  After the war they were scattered to the four winds, examples ended up in South America, Australia and Palestine as well as England and Scotland.  In 2005 The War Office Locomotive Society repatriated No. 1215 (No. 303) from Australia and its restoration is now complete.  A percentage of the retail profit from each UK sale will be donated to this locomotive, a greater percentage if ordered directly from Accucraft (UK) Ltd.

The model is internally gas fired and has slide valve cylinders. The boiler is fitted with a water gauge with blow down valve, lubricator with drain and pressure gauge. It will be available in either 32mm (gauge 0) or 45mm gauge (gauge 1), the latter as per the 3’ gauge locos supplied to Balfour Beatty in Scotland. The model will only be available in satin black (with no running number) and will carry a UK RRP of £1950.00. They will carry item numbers S19-29A (45mm gauge) and S19-29B (32mm gauge).Hunslet 4-6-0T

Photos to follow during the event, but for now – here is the real thing!

 

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Posted in 2018 event, WDLR

Only 3 days to go….

Posted on July 9, 2018 | Leave a comment

….and things are hotting up!
An unusual project is underway (we always need one before an event)….
Project...

…plus the toy box is getting rather full (but always room for another)!IMG_1960IMG_1959 IMG_1953

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Posted in 2018 event, WDLR, WW1 Rollingstock

Get yourself connected….

Posted on July 9, 2018 | Leave a comment

As we get ever closer to living in the modern age (or the 13-15th July TTTT weekend), our resident engineers have put down their Hammers & Spanners and resorted to using a computational device.

Please see our Event WebCam page!

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Posted in 2018 event, Apedale Valley Light Railway News, Venue Development

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Last minute visitor…..

Posted on July 5, 2018 | Leave a comment

edgar1We are pleased to confirm that this rather pretty new-build Decauville will be joining us at Apedale for Tracks to the Trenches.

…and we promise (especially if the owner’s reading this) to be more careful with Edgar than the French were.fullsizeoutput_ea1 The photo, by the way, is a bit of mystery (but likely to be taken at a French Fort) – the background is full of interesting things like Crochat petrol-electrics, a Kerr Stuart “Joffre”, a pair of RL-type Orenstein diesels, and what looks like a Gmeinder.

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Posted in 2018 event, Booked Attractions, Event News, French Artillery