Trevor_Edmonds

The British placed an order for 10 copies of the Type 18 tram motors with Stephenson in September 1915. Further orders were placed in 1916 for a further 20 from Stephenson and 20 from Hawthorn Leslie. They were intended for use on the French metre-gauge line from Bollezeele to Herzeele which had been connected to the Belgian lines serving Poperinghe and Ypres to support an expected advance. The tram motors (and wagons that had also been ordered) were sent to France between April and July 1917. By then the British had lost interest in the metre-gauge lines in the Second Army area given the extensive broad-gauge construction work in the Second Army area. The risk of losing Hazebrouck in the expected German advance in spring 1918 renewed interest in metre-gauge. The 85th Canadian Engine Crew Company and later the 6th Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company took over the line from the French. 42 of the 50 British built motors were then at Bollezeele. While the tram motors were copies of the Belgian Type 18, the British builders had imperial tooling and had to convert. After the war 48 motors were taken over by the SNCV, but were classified as Type 19 due to incompatibilities.