The Perfect Mother's Day Gift 🌸 Tertulia Gift Cards

Tertulia Logo
Sign upLog In
Cart Icon0
Cart Icon0
The co-op bookstore for avid readers
Book Cover for: Narrow Gauge in the Arras Sector: Before, During and After the First World War, Joan S. Farebrother

Narrow Gauge in the Arras Sector: Before, During and After the First World War

Joan S. Farebrother

Hardcover
Regular price$49.95With free membership trial$24.9850% off your first book+ Free shipping
Currently out of stock. Place a backorder.

Do you recommend this book?

Yes!

No

The Arras sector of the Western Front in the First World War (WWI) was held partly by the British and Dominions 1st Army from September 1915, and almost wholly by the 1st and 3rd Armies from March 1916. No less than in the Ypres sector to the north and the Somme sector to the south, the struggles of the French and then British troops in this sector were pivotal to the outcome of the War. The sector included countryside in the south, but in the north a major part of the industrial and coal-mining area of northern France, around Lens and Béthune.

In this book the contribution of meter and 60 cm gauge railways to the Allied war effort in this sector is examined in the context of the history of the meter gauge lines already established. The build up of light (60 cm gauge) lines from 1916 is examined in detail area by area, and the contribution of the related meter gauge lines is reassessed, from British and French sources. After the war the role of these railways in the reconstruction and recovery of this devastated region of France is described. Later the surviving part of the 60 cm gauge network served the sugar beet industry east of Arras. The history is followed through another world war to the closure of the last of these railways in 1957.

The book refers to previous works on British War Department light railways in WWI, but contains sufficient general information for readers new to the subject. It also describes how to find key locations now, and how and where rolling stock can be seen. Six walks and an urban tour are included for those who wish to explore the territory in greater depth.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Pen and Sword Transport
  • Publish Date: Mar 1st, 2016
  • Pages: 304
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 11.70in - 8.00in - 1.10in - 3.40lb
  • EAN: 9781473821187
  • Categories: • Military Science• Railroads - History• Wars & Conflicts - World War I

About the Author

Farebrother, Joan S.: - Martin and Joan Farebrother are both retired, after working in South East England hospitals, and for five years in Saudi Arabia; Martin as general and chest physician and Joan as a senior pharmacist. Martin has always been interested in railway history and contemporary transport policy, and Joan in architecture and industrial archaeology. They have owned a cottage near Montreuil in the Pas-de-Calais département since 1990. Interest in the closed railways in that area led to their first railway book, Tortillards of Artois: The Metre Gauge Railways and Tramways of the Western Pas-de-Calais (Oakwood Press, 2008). During research into this they became interested in the area to the east, which was the WWI Arras sector of the front line, and since then more generally in WWI railways.
Farebrother, Martin J. B.: - Martin and Joan Farebrother are both retired, after working in South East England hospitals, and for five years in Saudi Arabia; Martin as general and chest physician and Joan as a senior pharmacist. Martin has always been interested in railway history and contemporary transport policy, and Joan in architecture and industrial archaeology. They have owned a cottage near Montreuil in the Pas-de-Calais département since 1990. Interest in the closed railways in that area led to their first railway book, Tortillards of Artois: The Metre Gauge Railways and Tramways of the Western Pas-de-Calais (Oakwood Press, 2008). During research into this they became interested in the area to the east, which was the WWI Arras sector of the front line, and since then more generally in WWI railways.

More books by Joan S. Farebrother

Book Cover for: Allied Railways of the Western Front - Narrow Gauge in the Ypres Sector: Before, During and After the First World War, Martin J. B. Farebrother

What people are saying

What people are saying

See more