Amroured Trains? Meh. But wait... HMAT Simba to the rescue!

[Plynkes]

You know, all this talk of armoured trains lately has done nothing for me. I've always felt a bit left out when everybody gets all excited about them, as the Russian Civil War holds absolutely no interest for me. The railways I'm interested in gaming (the Uganda railway and the Hejaz) seem to just have boring old regular trains, and what thought I had given to 28mm railways was directed towards finding something along those lines to use on the tabletop.

But leafing through Haythorntwaite's 'World War One Sourcebook' this morning I spot H.M.A.T. (His Majesty's Armoured Train, of course) Simba!



This beastie ran on the Uganda railway, and was designed to protect it from those troublesome Schutztruppen guerillas and all their naughty vandalism. How can I have missed this before?

So now I finally joined the 'I want an armoured train club'. I want one THIS MINUTE!

[Poliorketes]

reminds me of a japanese aircraft carrier on wheels. Much smaller, of course!

[Prof.Witchheimer]

great find  :love: always wanted to play with trains in Africa. And actually that one looks easy to build.

[Helen]

Nice one Poly

[CompanyB]

Don't forget this little bugger for a what if invasion of England scenario!


http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/PopularScience/5-1945/med_war_toyland.jpg


Though of course it's in danger of being knocked over with a well thrown stone!

[PeteMurray]

Don't forget this little bugger for a what if invasion of England scenario!

It was a dangerous time on the island of Sodor. U-boats had cut off the island from England. Bombers had destroyed Brendham docks and Tidmouth sheds. But Thomas and his friends were keeping a stiff upper lip and doing their part.

[former user]

uups threadomancy...
seems I missed this one too
I kne that the railwas was imprtant in the great war, and that there must have been armoured trains, but this one doesn't look very improvised

[Mancha]

Looks like a river boat on rails.  Cool.

[OSHIROmodels]

reminds me of a japanese aircraft carrier on wheels. Much smaller, of course!

Now there's an insane ides that might be worth making 

cheers

James

[Hammers]

So now I finally joined the 'I want an armoured train club'. I want one THIS MINUTE!

That one should not be too hard to scratch build since it all straight angles

[Geudens]

Now there's an insane ides that might be worth making 
cheers
James

Not so insane...  Looking at the picture of the train, the (armoured?) roof might be equipped with a catapult not unlike a carrier one.  At full speed, the train might launch a plane, whereby the speed of the train combined with the power of the plane's engine would get it airborne.  After its mission, it would have to land on a suitable flat strip of terrain and hoisted back onto the catapult.

Rudi

[Prof.Witchheimer]

HMAT Trafalgar

"South West Africa. c. 1915. A large gun mounted on a special armoured railway truck. HMAT Trafalgar is painted on the side of the truck. The gun is a QF 4.7 inch naval gun"

and next one:
Armoured train at Bloemfontein, South Africa, circa 1914. It was built by the South African Engineer Corps and used against rebels during World War I

[Prof.Witchheimer]

And another Africa armoured train. Took part in the Boer War Campaign.

[former user]

man, where do you dig up that pictures?
the last drawing is good
that's what the armoured trains must have looked in the sudan campaign
nou sure, but aren't the pith helmets a little "old style" for boer war?

railway aircraft carrier:
now thats a weird idea
anyway for steampunk a very good one
I actually learned that the early doubledeckers were perfectly suited for landing on decks because of their slow flying capabilities (and when I think of these movies where the hero changes from aircraft to running train...)
provided the train has enough speed and the track is straight (and no tunnels ), it might be very well feasable to land on a flat car, like on an early aircraft carrier
low flight speed+train speed = enough lift for the plane to be stationary relative to the running train, as for early aircraft carriers (as I read)
I wouldn't have the slightest idea if catapulting is feasable though

any pilot around to clarify for such fantastic ideas?

[Plynkes]

There's nothing wrong with the helmets in that picture (as far as I can tell - they are rather small). Here's some Boer War helmets to compare (though most photos have the helmet inside a khaki cover):




The familiar Wolseley pattern helmet of WWI was introduced in 1900 (I think) but I have never seen it being worn in any pictures from the Boer War.


(And by the way, how come you silly sods weren't interested in my picture of HMAT Simba the first time around, and all of a sudden you are, just because we've now got a board for railway nerds?)