RAILWAYS AND WW1

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Mon 21 Jul, 2014 10:32 am

Following Michael Portillo's wonderful TV series of "Great rail journeys" in Britain a new set of BBC programmes starts Monday August 4th showing the vital role that European railways played in The Great War. I daresay that there will be references and archive connected with this area, munitions and locomotive manufacture for example, and I for one can't wait for the series to start. I can't say I knew much about MP's political career, but he is a splendid presenter of this type of programme, and I believe he was one of the driving forces in the retention of the Settle - Carlisle Line against British Rail's determination to close it.

Post by **cnosni** » Mon 21 Jul, 2014 10:57 am

Weird isnt it, a bit like Jeremy Clarkson when he does his ad hoc World War 2 documentaries, normally he is a bit of a dork (but he is also trying to upset the PC brigade at the BBC) but when he does those programs i could watch him episode after episode.He has a real passion, a great presenting style and doesnt talk down to whilst at the same time isnt condescending.He also has a strange gravitas that many of the so called "Professional" TV historians dont have I hope he will do some WW1 stuff during the course of the next 4 years, thats if he can keep his trap shut.Looking forward to the European Railways and WW1, though you may be interested in something on the TV a few days before.... Whilst on the subject of the 4th of August....http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembr ... lights-out

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Mon 21 Jul, 2014 12:15 pm

Many thanks cnosni for alerting me to the British Legion "Lights out" ceremony. I shall definitely be buying an M & S candle and observing this solemn hour. My Dad was badly injured and gassed on The Somme with the Leeds Pals, and carried on bravely working, quietly and with little or no mention of the ordeals, until well after his normal retirement age. So, these special days mean a lot to me as you can imagine.

WiggyDiggy · Post by **WiggyDiggy** » Mon 21 Jul, 2014 1:53 pm

Thanks for the heads up, will iPlayer this.

Post by **cnosni** » Tue 22 Jul, 2014 12:18 am

BLAKEY wrote: Many thanks cnosni for alerting me to the British Legion "Lights out" ceremony. I shall definitely be buying an M & S candle and observing this solemn hour. My Dad was badly injured and gassed on The Somme with the Leeds Pals, and carried on bravely working, quietly and with little or no mention of the ordeals, until well after his normal retirement age. So, these special days mean a lot to me as you can imagine. Blakey i stood on teh spot where the 1st Leeds Pals (15th West Yorks) went over the top (though many of them crawled out into no mans land before the barrage lifted) on 1st July 1916.Have you done any reading or research into it?

guitar man · Post by **guitar man** » Mon 11 Aug, 2014 8:41 pm

Close to where I live is the site of Barnbow Munitions Factory which made shells for the military ,it had its own internal rail system linked to The Leeds to York and Selby line. I have seen photos of the munitions factory but none of the railway ,the was thirteen miles in total tracks. The railway was operated by The North Eastern Railway.

uncle mick · Post by **uncle mick** » Mon 11 Aug, 2014 9:24 pm

guitar man wrote: Close to where I live is the site of Barnbow Munitions Factory which made shells for the military ,it had its own internal rail system linked to The Leeds to York and Selby line. I have seen photos of the munitions factory but none of the railway ,the was thirteen miles in total tracks. The railway was operated by The North Eastern Railway. There are "latest additions" on Leodis. One of them is the railway station http://www.leodis.org/display.aspx?reso ... PLAY=FULLA few more of Barnbow in " latest addition" on Leodishttp://tinyurl.com/kn2eat8

liits · Post by **liits** » Mon 11 Aug, 2014 9:51 pm

guitar man wrote: Close to where I live is the site of Barnbow Munitions Factory which made shells for the military ,it had its own internal rail system linked to The Leeds to York and Selby line. . I'm in the process of tricking about a plan of the factory which shows the railway layout [but not the narrow gauge, unfortunately]. Give me an hour and I'll post it.

liits · Post by **liits** » Mon 11 Aug, 2014 11:14 pm

click on the link for a large version of the pic. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/246 ... bow.jpgThe red lines are the railway tracks, the brown bits are [some of] the buildings.It is far from complete but I've got an early start and need to go to bed so I'll complete it in the next couple of days.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 12 Aug, 2014 10:19 am

So the Amaranth cricket ground was encircled by a railway loop then