Title:BRITISH AND AMERICAN MILITARY VEHICLES TRANSPORTED BY THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BTF 39
Other titles:RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: A variety of military tanks and vehicles, British and American, are loaded onto Southern Railway wagons in the South West of England.
Description: (3 October 1943) British Army and Southern Railway personnel load and dispatch tanks, Axminster in Devon (South West England). A Southern ‘Schools’ class 4-4-0 locomotive (?) pulls flat railway wagons carrying various military vehicles and equipment, including: Valentine tank bridges (mobile mechanical bridge with a Valentine tank chassis), x3 Crusader MK III anti-aircraft tanks with 40mm Bofors guns and x2 Crusader Mk III tanks. SH275
(3 October 1943) At a loading bay British Army personnel and an American Army Officer oversee the loading of Bren gun carriers onto flat railway wagons. The Valentine bridgelaying tanks move on the road in convoy with the bridge sections now attached, followed by the tanks moving gradually along the railway wagons for unloading. One of the Valentine bridgelaying tanks then slowly extends its mechanical bridge whilst still loaded onto one of the wagons. The Crusader MK III anti-aircraft tanks are then loaded at the same bay. SH276
(3 October 1943) A new sequences starts with Churchill tanks (MK IV?) rolling into the station and being loaded onto flat railway wagons. Having been fixed into position, a Southern 4-4-0 locomotive (No. 826) in wartime livery, hauls a cargo of Churchill tanks, Bren gun carriers and carriages down the track. A different locomotive hauls a freight load of six Sherman tanks (M4?). (6 min 30 sec) SH277-279
Alternative Title:RAILWAYS IN BRITAIN, 1935-1976 [Allocated Series Title]
