War Department Railways
One aspect of the War Department's work was the supply of locomotives and rolling stock for use on railways in the United Kingdom, other parts of the British Empire, and in theatres of conflict.
In World War I the War Department ran the War Department Light Railways which were a system of narrow gauge Trench railways used for the supply of ammunition and stores, the transport of troops and the evacuation of the wounded.
In World War II, large numbers of steam locomotives were produced, as well as some diesel locomotives, of varying gauges to suit the area of planned operation. After the end of the war, these locomotives were largely disposed of to various railways around the world, though some were retained for peacetime use on UK military railways. Of those that were sold, examples of three types ended up as part of the British Railways fleet (where they were often referred to as 'Austerity' locos):
- Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST, BR numbers 68006–68080
- WD Austerity Class 8F 2-8-0, BR numbers 90000–90732
- WD Austerity Class 8F 2-10-0, BR numbers 90750–90774
For more details see the Steam locomotives of British Railways
Read more about this topic: War Department (United Kingdom)
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You’d treat if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown.’”
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
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“There is nothing in machinery, there is nothing in embankments and railways and iron bridges and engineering devices to oblige them to be ugly. Ugliness is the measure of imperfection.”
—H.G. (Herbert George)