February 1919: First World War armoured trains

The First World War saw armoured trains patrolling the coast to meet any threat from the German Navy

Immediately following both world wars, The Engineer featured articles about the machines that had helped wage war and to protect the home front. In 1919, we find a description of the fearsome armoured trains commissioned to help defend the coast.

There were two identical trains, according to the article: one for the East Anglian coast; and one for the east coast of Scotland. They were a group effort, several train companies pitching in to provide component parts. For both trains, the engines, positioned in the middle of the train, were provided by Great Northern Railways, and were 0-6-2-type tank locomotives of the kind used on what is now the District Line of the London Underground. All the parts above the frame were protected with armour plating and the cab windows had metal sliding shutters.

The idea behind the trains was that, in the event of an invasion, they would speed to the invasion site and deploy an infantry force, backed up with artillery from two gun carriages at either end of the train, which would slow down the invaders until further support arrived.