Hornby on the Home Front

[Captain Mainwaring]

Hoping  that Hornby might consider making other releases for the 40-45 period .  Would love to see them make some tank carrying wagons ( am aware others making these ) and also some WD locos. Going to have a go at blacking out windows on some older SR wagons. Come on Hornby , don't forget there's a War on! :) 

Capt George Mainwaring 

[walkingthedog]

As somebody else is making the wagons maybe Hornby could make something that is not being made. You never know your wish may come true. 

 

The Double O Gauge Association make a nice wagon and tank kit, great value as well, take a look.

 

http://www.doubleogauge.com/shop.htm

[Captain Mainwaring]

I would welcome any releases from this period be it engines, wagons, road vehicles or figures . Always got fingers crossed! 

Nice warflat link, thank you

Capt Mainwaring 

[Nicholson]

Slightly off-topic but the right time period. I have the Return from Dunkirk Train Pack and assume the real thing was more than three coaches. Which models would be most realistic to build a longer train?

[LCDR]

 You could use R4735, R4736 & R4737, Maunsell SR carriages.  Remember that the SR routinely marshalled coaches into semi permanent sets of three or four with a brake coach at either end.  These were then coupled  to one or more sets  to make up a train.  Troops needed to carry their kit and so lots of guards vans would be useful.

 

Any SR Maunsell carriages would do of course especially the now discontinued lined green pre-1938 version.

 

Operation Dynamo was a remarkable exercise and trains of carriages from each of the 'Big 4' were hastily sent to the Kent coast to bring the evacuated troops back. There are photographs of trains of LNER Gresley and GWR Collett coaches stopping at Redhill, for the WRVS to supply the men with refreshments, but with a SR loco on the front.

[Nicholson]

Thanks for the rapid reply. I thought that was probably the case. I'll look for those lined green coaches on eBay.

[roythegrass]

My entire layout is based on Walmington 0n Sea but not the locos.

Roy

[LCDR]

 In 1940 the railways were working hard in the War Effort, but the effects if War had not significantly affected the liveries of rolling stock so most trains were still running in pre-1939 colours.

 

However other things were changing. Air Raid and Blackout precautions were in full swing by the middle of the year, so a lot of white paint was being applied to things that would be a hazard in the dark. Station platform edges, were lined in whitewash, and lamp posts were painted with white stripes.  White lamp bulbs were replaced by blue ones, or removed altogether.  Windows of carriages were covered with anti-blast material and heavy blinds and curtains used at night.  Vulnerable buildings (like stations and signalboxes) were protected with walls made of sandbags.  Usually in front of doors and windows. Mesh was used to protect windows, or tape applied to stop glass shattering. Corrugated iron shelters were built, and frequently covered with earth to protect against bomb blasts. It was illegal to leave motor vehicles out unless they were imobilised, and as petrol was rationed, most private motoring was stopped. Anti invasion devices were being built. Dragons teeth which were lines of concrete blocks to be an obstacle to enemy tanks appeared especially near railways, and pill boxes which were reinforced defensive shelters also made of concrete appeared at vulnerable places, like bridges, so that troops could defend them.  The Nissen Hut, a round roof shed of corrugated iron, was a common sight for military use   Everyone was supposed to carry gas masks usually in a shoulder bag or box, but people sometimes forgot.

 

People were forbidden to travel into the south east coast of England unless they lived there or had special permission. That didn't always work, but there was a real fear that after Dunkirk the Nazis would invade and Kent and Sussex would become the Front Line.  So passenger sevices both bus and train were curtailed.

 

Other quite unusual precautions included the building of decoy towns and airfields in open country. These had buildings and aircraft made out of wood and canvas, and included electric lights that would be turned on at night to fool enemy bombers .  Poles were erected in fields as an obstacle to troop gliders and paratroopers.

Painting factories and militarily important buildings  in camoflage colours  was undertaken. Often just the roof was so painted, but also all the walls. and even the windows were coverd with camoflage paint.

 

A very unusual time indeed.

 

The effect on the railways got worse as time went on, so by 1942 paint and labour shortages resulted in locomotives and carriages appearing in Austerity liveries. All new and overhauled locos were painted black, lining out was discontinued, and lettering kept to the barest minimum. Carriages were painted in simple schemes, no lining and very little lettering, and some were painted grey or black too. To avoid labour costs only essential repainting was done. So the old liveries, faded and dirty were still very much in evidence. By the end of the War everything (apart from the Army, RAF and Navy) looked tatty and neglected.  

[Captain Mainwaring]

Excellent post LC & DR ,  really interesting and helpful ,  thanks for taking the trouble to post. 

Captain Mainwaring