First World War Centenary - The Railway Operating Division

[locomotiveman1994]

Oh my, the last post has been from before christmas?

We are sincerely sorry for the lack of updates on our progress, but honestly, there hasn't been much progress of any sort.
Unfortunately, we've been busy with other stuff, sem34090 with his studies, and I was, and still am, fighting against depression.

Anyway, I am pleased, although a bit late, to announce that Pierre Gauriat has released a model of the Renault AG1 1909 Taxi, which entered the history books as the 'taxi de la Marne'.

[sem34090]

Oooh very nice!

I would also like to apologise for the lack of updates. I'm hoping that one positive outcome of the current outbreak is that I'll have a bit more time to work on the route.

[locomotiveman1994]

Apparently, the current Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic fueles the productivity of some people within our community: Pierre Gauriat has released yet another asset pack associated with our project:
Camions de 14-18 pack 1, including several Berliet CBA and Mack AC Bulldog variants.


Speaking of corona: Those of you who are lucky enough to be able to work from home, please stay home. You might spare those who are less lucky from the virus, but you'll definitely help those running the healthcare system to run into a total collapse.

Stay safe everyone.

[sem34090]

A little project I've been working on this evening, utilising the Caledonia Works NER Wagon Pack (for the tank and the wagons), the Doncaster Works Class 03 (Sounds, Physics, Cab, etc) and the old PDL Milk Float invisible track.
https://youtu.be/Cl8kF4i2z74
Apologies for the bizarre formatting - I don't know how it happened!

This is for personal use only at present, obviously I would have to seek permission from Kris to release it.

As can be seen, I have done a little bit more fiddling with my ROD testbed route, so I may expand that a little bit and then offer it for general release - I can't promise anything though.

[locomotiveman1994]

Ladies and Gentlemen! We are proud to announce, that work on the route has officially begun!

For a very long time, we've been quite, except for a few occasional posts promoting work form our friend Pierre Gauriat.
This had several reasons, foremost that we lacked information and/or custom assets. Or so we thought. The original plan was to start at Hazebrouck and then slowly work our way towards the front. We realised, that this was a rather dumb approach, s we chose to start with the hardest part. Now we've decided to go the other way 'round, by starting at a railhead near the front.
After a (rather) brief search, we've settled for a location just north of Ypres, near Irish Farm.
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 1EEF99567/
With that settled, here is what we've achieved so far:












Once the railhead and it'd (more or less) immediate surroundings are done, it will be released, so you folks got something to run your ROD locos on. It will also form the basis for the route, which we'll gradually improve and extend, as assets and information come in and time for route building allows.

Expect further updates soon!

[locomotiveman1994]

Down the close, darkening lanes they sang their way
To the siding-shed,
And lined the train with faces grimly gay.

Their breasts were stuck all white with wreath and spray
As men’s are, dead.

Dull porters watched them, and a casual tramp
Stood staring hard,
Sorry to miss them from the upland camp.

Then, unmoved, signals nodded, and a lamp
Winked to the guard.

So secretly, like wrongs hushed-up, they went.
They were not ours:
We never heard to which front these were sent.

Nor there if they yet mock what women meant
Who gave them flowers.

Shall they return to beatings of great bells
In wild trainloads?
A few, a few, too few for drums and yells,

May creep back, silent, to still village wells
Up half-known roads.


Wilfred Owen, "The Send-Off"

Continuing last year's decision to not use 'In Flanders Fields', but a more railway themed poet from the Great War, I've settled for Wilfred Owen's 'The Send-Off', which described the, well, send-off of young men to the front by train.

For many, this year was, and still is, a dreadful one. And it doesn't exclude us and the project. Sadly, due to many things, we were not able to keep up the momentum we praised in our last post, and got bogged down again. Much like the Western Front back then.

However, we are not willing to give up this easy, and we hope to continue our work as soon as possible.


Stay safe and healthy



-We will remember them

[locomotiveman1994]

Just a quick note that everything is unchanged.
This post just serves to avoid the thread being locked.

[pierregtr]

To remember...

A Decauville 3T near the front...



This little jewel is available here

https://waysideworks.jimdofree.com/

Very nice model !

Regards,

PierreG

[xguerra]

FYI, because it might become useful for this project.

If you buy the newly-release Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways 2021 add-on from SPRailways (https://sprailways.co.uk/downloads/frwhr-route/), as well as all the included FR stock, you also get the Ffestiniog's Alco "Mountaineer".....
......and this set of WW1 2-6-2 Alcos, in a variety of guises similar to wartime condition and current preserved condition.



Should look great on your NG trench railway alongside the Decauville

[locomotiveman1994]

Hello everyone.

As you all certainly know, today's Rememberance Day.
We'll continue our tradition from the last years and post a poem related to the Great War. This year, however, we shall not post a poem per sé, nor will it be railway related. But I want to quote Mark Knopfler's marvelous song Rememberance Day:

On your maypole green
see the winding morris men
Angry Alfie, Bill and Ken
waving hankies, sticks and boots
- all the earth and roots

Standing at the crease
the batsman takes a look around
The boys are fielding on home ground
The steeple sharp against the blue
- when I think of you

Sam and Andy, Jack and John
Charlie, Martin, Jamie, Ron
Harry, Stephen, Will and Don
Matthew, Michael - on and on

We will remember them
remember them, remember them
We will remember them
remember them, remember them

Time has slipped away
The summer sky to autumn yields
A haze of smoke across the fields
Let's up and fight another round
and walk the stubbled ground

When November brings
the poppies on Remembrance Day
when the vicar comes to say
'May God bless them, every one
Lest we forget our sons'

We will remember them
remember them, remember them
We will remember them
remember them, remember them

I hope that this message finds you all well, and I hope that soon(-ish) we shall habe some news on our project.
Untill then, I wish you all the best and good health.

[pierregtr]

This message has been edited by a Moderator

Hi all,

Very nice Alco xguerra

Some dev on my workbench for the NG trench railways: locotractor Crochat and the small tractor Campagne.
[Moderator Comment: dorlan - Image changed to link asit exceeds the forum limit of 800 x 640 pixels.]
https://ajrailsim.pierreg.org/krs_scr/campagne_loc.jpg

PierreG

This message has been edited by a Moderator

[cunningn]

Very good work yet again. I admire the effort and perseverance that you are all putting in to this - don't be downhearted - it will all be over by Christmas!

[JohnM1945]

It will all be over by Christmas!

Very true, but did you have any particular YEAR in mind?

John M