The Locomotives Railway and History 1916-1919 of National Filling ...

The Locomotives Railway and History 1916-1919 of National Filling Factory No.14 Hereford

After the success of “The Railway. Locomotives and History 1916-1919 of the H.M.E.F. Stratton Swindon”, published by the IRS in 2023, the author decided to explore another important WW1 factory among the many that were hurriedly assembled to cope with the ever-growing need for shells and explosives. Chosen, was the new shell filling factory constructed in Herefordshire. Internally it contained 27 miles of standard gauge track and at least 8 dedicated industrial locomotives, that were purchased, loaned, or hired by the Ministry of Munitions - the story is a fascinating one.

The book provides details of the area acquired, its history from 1916, the processes shell filling involved, and the factories staff (mainly female), plus many superb official factory construction photographs. One-chapter details the Great Western Railways involvement in the internal railway’s construction. Many original-coloured plans from the official public records files are reproduced and above all, details of the contractors and their 2ft gauge railway and its diminutive locomotives. The factories standard gauge locomotives, include their history, many photographs, plus some original-coloured general arrangement plans.

An outpost for filled shell storage some six miles away at Credenhill is also included with its own internal railway and locomotives.

Within its 104 pages, over 100 superb photographs are included, with detailed plans and maps, all superbly printed on heavy high quality gloss paper.