Mark, Man of TIN's comment in reply to yesterday's blog post included a link to an article that featured a narrow-gauge model railway layout set on the Western front during the First World War that reminded me of two articles I read years ago that first kindled my interest in narrow-gauge model railways.
The first was written by in the Alex Bowie and appeared in the March 1964 issue of AIRFIX MAGAZINE. (I was just fourteen at the time, and at a very impressionable age!)
To read the article, click on it.
To read the article, click on it.
The second was by Michael Andress and was in the February 1979 issue of the same magazine.
To read the article, click on it.
To read the article, click on it.
To my way of thinking, there is hardly a war from 1850 onwards where railways have not featured in some way or another, even if it was just as a major logistic supply route ... and yet how often are they seen depicted on a tabletop battlefield other than as scenery or as a means of using that armoured train you bought some time ago and never got round to using until now.
Another source of my inspiration was this photograph of a narrow-gauge railway being used during the Chaco War.
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I used to enjoy the Alex Bowie layouts in Airfix magazine, and still have some of them in my 'project' file.
ReplyDeleteJoppy,
DeleteI certainly enjoyed this article and would be interested to read more.
All the best,
Bob
I could send you some copies if you let me have an address?
DeleteJoppy,
DeleteThanks for your kind offer. If you contact me by email, I’ll send you my snail mail address.
All the best,
Bob
Now that I think about it I've always seen trains relegated to abstracted supply roles and rarely ever as actual units on the table. It seems like they serve a more strategic purpose so including them in a tactical game would be difficult, but not impossible. I wouldn't be surprised to see them in something like Advanced Squad Leader or Ambush.
ReplyDeleteI did see them play a very active role in the SNK game Iron Tank on the Nintendo Entertainment System back in the 80s. It was an action based game, so realism went out the window. They were treated like tanks that were stuck on rails. I think I also saw them as targets in flight simulators like Knights of the Sky or Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe on home computer platforms.
Mr. Pavone,
DeleteVery true, but the capture of railheads, rail junctions, and rail bridges were major goals/objectives for many offensives, and as a result, they were often fought over. For example, Grierson’s Raid (which was the basis of John Wayne’s film, THE HORSE SOLDIERS), the final scene from THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, and the film THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks for sharing these articles Bob - good to see that the Airfix models mentioned and many other classics appear to be still in production by Dapol railways: https://www.dapol.co.uk/collections/self-assembly-unpainted-oo-kits
ReplyDeleteMark, Man of TIN,
DeleteI cannot for the life of me understand why Airfix ever sold the moulds to Dapol ... although I understand that Airfix acquired some of them from Kitmaster in the first place.
At least they weren't sold out of the UK ... unlike a lot of plastic kit moulds some years ago. (I am thinking particularly of the Frog moulds that were sold to Russia.)
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting what had captured our imaginations when we were in our teens. Have you managed to make any moves toward obtaining an OO9 Decauville Steam Locomotive? It would be very good to make a small OO9 Layout perhaps up to 2ft x 2ft 6inch - that would be nice for you Bob. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteThere were quite a few 'when I'm old enough' moments in my teens that it has taken me a long time to achieve, including acquiring this Jouef/Egger-Bahn train set. I'm now on the hunt for an example of the 009 Decauville steam locomotive, and will even accept a non-runner just so that I can 'tick off' that 'want' from my youth.
As to the layout ... well at the moment all I am planning is a simple oval of track that I can run my trains over. It will have to be on a flat baseboard that I can stack away for storage ... but other than that I have no set plans.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
DeleteThat is good news that you are on the hunt for the OO9 Decauville and prepared to accept a non-runner. I'd expect that what you are looking for is vintage and somewhat rare. Hope you achieve your wishes. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI’m still looking. A non-runner can always sit in a siding, rusting gently awaiting restoration.
All the best,
Bob
You have caught the train bug Bob!
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exiled FoG,
DeleteIt’s not a new ‘infection’; more a flare up of an old, previously-dormant one!
All the best,
Bob