RMweb Premium petethemole Posted February 4, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 4, 2017 There has just been a 2 part article in Backtrack about train ferries. I've left my copies in France but I think that the 2nd part had some photos of locos being loaded at Sothampton using some sort of moveable linkspan. Jamie Not in that article as far as I can see. Part 1 has photos from 1918 of a train ferry loading at the Southampton link span (not Richborough as captioned, see here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/64927-train-ferry-traffic-photos-from-the-nrm/page-2, post 14 + posts 29, 31 and 47/8). Southampton City Archives have several WW2 photos of US rolling stock being loaded at the temporary loading point by the Royal Pier. It's visible on the left in this shot http://www.rotaryclubofsidcup.org/wpimages/wpd20401d9_05_06.jpg (best I can find on the web ATM). Another loading facility for LSTs was at the west end of Mayflower Park, next to 101 Berth. This is the location shown in the first photo in post 12. A photo in Ian Drummond's Southern Rails on Southampton Docks (p123) shows a pannier-fitted Dean Goods propelling wagons onto a LST there. A berth for train ferries was created at the west end of the New Docks as 109 Berth, west of the King George V Graving Dock (Drummond, p122). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted February 4, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 4, 2017 That's the loco but not the picture I was referring to. Gordon Not this one? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted February 4, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 4, 2017 Not this one? I too was thinking of a different photo. This is/was a rear three-quarter view from the same side. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Phil. I don't disagree with you. However here is your photo evidence. image.jpeg image.jpeg Granted, this is a LST, rather then a LSM, but the principle is proven. All I need to do is figure out how to work it into a layout Al. Al, do you know where those were taken? Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al. Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 Al, do you know where those were taken? Ed Ed. Info I have is Normandy 1944, which doesn't help much I'm afraid. Al. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Not this one? Sorry no. The picture I am thinking of was one of those locos with a landing ship in the background. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted February 4, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 4, 2017 Sorry no. The picture I am thinking of was one of those locos with a landing ship in the background. Looking at the photos they are obviously taken within the Mulberry Harbour which was at Arromanches. The village in the background also places but I can't be sure of the village. There was a narrow gauge line to Arromanches so it may well have been converted to standard gauge for the duration. I don't think that the Omaha Mulberry was operational long enough to be used for railway unloading. However any more info would be welcome. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
railroadbill Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 A small amount of rolling stock arrived on the Normandy beaches in this style; there was quite a famous photo of a small British diesel being towed off the ramp by a bulldozer. Most stock probably had to wait until Cherbourg was liberated, so that the docks there could be used, and the stock craned off. I think that this photograph is the one on the cover of "Railways to Victory - British recollections Normandy to Germany 1944-46" which is a book published by Middleton Press. It shows a Barclay WD standard shunter (some built by Drewry) No. 32 being unloaded on a modified tank transporter towed by a tracked tractor. There is another similar loco still on the landing craft, which is LCT 909. The Barclay shunter at Chatham is the same type, but WD42. According to the book, 29, 30, 32 and 33 were landed on Juno beach on 14 June 1944. WD31 and 39-48 were landed at Cherbourg in September 1944. The chap whose memoirs the book is based on, Lt Col H Dannatt, is in the picture, I think to the far right with his arms folded. The book also adds the stories of other members of 181 ROC Royal Engineers and is well worth reading for the railway history of an extraordinary time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted February 4, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 4, 2017 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis32 Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 75% of the workforce standing around, arms crossed, watching the rest do the work must be the most efficient way of doing anything. It is even employed during wartime... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium petethemole Posted February 4, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 4, 2017 Sorry no. The picture I am thinking of was one of those locos with a landing ship in the background. Possibly the photo I referred to above; the number, very faint, appears to be 17x, possibly a 9 or 6. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
railroadbill Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Spot on, that's the photo I referred to in post 33. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 That's similar to the photo I saw. There seem to be at least two bulldozers involved there; I wonder if the vehicle the shunter's being carried on was powered, as it certainly has caterpillar tracks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted February 4, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 4, 2017 Spot on, that's the photo I referred to in post 33. There's an interesting vehicle coming off the LST behind the loco. It looks like a bulldozer fitted with skirts similar to what the DD tanks had. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted February 5, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 5, 2017 It's a Sherman Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle. Rex Cadman has a restored one in the UK. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_armoured_recovery_vehicle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium petethemole Posted February 5, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 5, 2017 There's an interesting vehicle coming off the LST behind the loco. It looks like a bulldozer fitted with skirts similar to what the DD tanks had. Jamie That's a Sherman BARV, Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle, designed to recover "drowned" vehicles from the beach, such as those whose wading gear or waterproofing failed, or had gone too deep. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_armoured_recovery_vehicle The trailer was the British 45-Ton Tracked Recovery Trailer. I can't find any other pictures of it on the web and my military reference books are in the shed and not very accessible. However there's a kit of it https://accurate-armour.com/our-products/135th-kits/k189. The tracks weren't powered but it had a winch, at the front in the beach photo; the housing is the same as the kit. There's another one with a second loco still on the LCT. They were built by Bolton Paul. Further info: "Designed to tow Churchill tanks across country. Speed was only 5mph. There was no springing so life on hard surfaces was short and the trailer needed carrying on a wheeled trailer. The trailer was carried on four Orolo track units and was a flat platform with chocks and ramps. A winch and an armoured compartment for the operator were at the front" from here: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=19731 Can I go to bed now please? Pete One of the tractors could be this one http://www.agg-net.com/news/ww2-cat-tractor-returns-to-gold-beach Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al. Posted February 5, 2017 Author Share Posted February 5, 2017 Progress update. Most of the build is done. Just some small details such as handrails, life rafts and guns to add then it'll be ready for painting. Al. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I did some courses at MOD Kineton. I was shown a picture of a USA 2-8-0 being unloaded onto the beach. I have searched and searched but cannot find anything like it on the net. I can find plenty of photos of them on the dockside etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyewipe Jct Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 There's an interesting vehicle coming off the LST behind the loco. It looks like a bulldozer fitted with skirts similar to what the DD tanks had. Jamie It's a Sherman Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle. Rex Cadman has a restored one in the UK. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_armoured_recovery_vehicle Given the way the tracks are exposed, I'd suggest it's not a Sherman BARV, but rather a Caterpillar D8 'BARV' like this one: Caterpillar D8 BARV I'm not sure whether it's a 'BARV' as such, though, as I can't find anything that says it's actually armoured. There's a photo of a RN-operated one described as 'wadeproofed', so it may be that the screen is only to keep water out, not bullets... Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Corbs Posted February 6, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 6, 2017 Oh yes! You are probably correct there, the tracks are quite different. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium petethemole Posted February 6, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 6, 2017 You're right; I didn't look closely enough. I think the superstructure on both was intended to be proof against small arms fire. I wouldn't want to be the bloke whose job was to hitch up the tow.... Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted February 6, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 6, 2017 You're right; I didn't look closely enough. I think the superstructure on both was intended to be proof against small arms fire. I wouldn't want to be the bloke whose job was to hitch up the tow.... Pete What shows on the photo looks to be like the canvas collapsible screen that enabled DD tans to float, probably just wading gear for unloading that would then be discarded. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al. Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 With the first LSM all but complete, the build had started on the second one. I've decided not to fit rails on this one. It'll be a standard vehicle landing ship. I'll probably look a getting some Bedford QLD's and QLT's to fill it up. Al. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al. Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 Number 2 is coming along. A few final bits to add and they'll be ready for painting. Al. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al. Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 Handrail. The horror........! A tip to anyone else building this kit. Don't install the two front gun pulpits until after you've put on the handrails. There's just note enough finger room. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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