Today is the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, the battle that began the end of World War 2.
When the Allies invaded, they didn't just take weaponry. They needed infrastructure too. Thus, one of the first things hauled up the beach was a 4-wheel Barclay diesel locomotive.
It travelled on the back of a tank transporter for this as the famous Mulbery harbour was still in pieces out at sea. The Germans had stolen or destroyed all the locos and it was important to get the French railways working again. I've built several of the Mercian kits for this little loco in 3.5, 4 and 7mm scales.
More recently, George Dent has done the same and made a transporter for the loco to sit on. I haven't seen the magazine yet but look forward to this as it's lovely little kit and this is a iconic moment that appears in a famous photo of the day.
More recently, on a trip to the Foxfield Railway, I found a 12 inch to the foot version in WD livery. OK, it is a bit over-weathered but nice to see in the metal.
I think the RAF had destroyed most of the locomotives.
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