Some of the first uses of these small "light railways" were quarrying, contractors work and passenger carrying. The First World War was responsible for rapid development of this type of railway - introducing the first mass produced internal combustion locomotives. Hundreds of two foot gauge petrol locos were used in France and Germany and proved their suitability and advantages over steam power for hauling all stores & supplies to the front.

Such was the ease with which these railways could be constructed, maintained and modified, that all sorts of industries developed their own internal systems. At one time the vast majority of brickworks, peat works and water works had their own narrow gauge railway, many of them using ex-military equipment obtained as war surplus at a knock-down price.

In the early 1930s the first practical diesel locomotives were introduced and soon became the norm. Battery locomotives were also introduced, being particularly successful in underground applications such as mines. Contractors narrow gauge railways, were once as common as dumper-trucks on large construction projects (building by-passes, dock yards, football grounds etc). In more recent times, the narrow gauge railways have been replaced by conveyor belt systems and road haulage.

The Moseley Railway Trust can provide a complete package of railway, locomotives, rolling stock, track & operators to satisfy most requirements from the trenches of WW1 right through to modern times - if we can't, we know who can!

Please contact us for further details.