GNR Aeroplane Truck

[GSWR 90]

A few years ago someone showed me some GNR carriage records which showed the numbers of the GNR third class six-wheelers which were sold to the BCDR (like the one at Downpatrick).

However the register also showed two of these U3s being converted into “aeroplane trucks”. Anyone have any idea about these? Just an underframe like a carriage truck, but for carrying aeroplanes, perhaps as part of the war effort? How do you fit an aeroplane on a carriage truck? I’d be fascinated to see any photos 

[Galteemore]

16 minutes ago, GSWR 90 said:

A few years ago someone showed me some GNR carriage records which showed the numbers of the GNR third class six-wheelers which were sold to the BCDR (like the one at Downpatrick).

However the register also showed two of these U3s being converted into “aeroplane trucks”. Anyone have any idea about these? Just an underframe like a carriage truck, but for carrying aeroplanes, perhaps as part of the war effort? How do you fit an aeroplane on a carriage truck? I’d be fascinated to see any photos 

That’s interesting. It may be for military use. The RAF had a reasonable presence in Ireland up until 1922, with airfields in all kinds of places including Fermoy. Indeed, the RAF actually used machine guns and bombs against the IRA! The a/c would have been stripped down with wings strapped parallel to fuselage. 

[Northroader]

The Lancashire and Yorkshire did a similar thing, converting coaches into aeroplane vans. It would appear that side doors were secured, windows blanked off, all interior items such as seats and partitions removed, and full width end doors fitted. This would turn it into a Covered Carriage Truck, but a bit longer. You could then end load items such as wings or fuselages, possibly in a supporting framework, which could be taken out and bolted toghether.

https://www.lyrs.org.uk/images/uploads/Modelling_-_Aeroplane_Van_in_7mm_scale_-_Magazine_257.pdf

 

 

Edited Monday at 11:11 by Northroader

[Broithe]

There's plenty of WW2 pictures of aircraft being railed, but I can't find any WW1 ones, so far.

It would, presumably, have been something along the lines of this road transport arrangement. Probably fuselage and wings on separate wagons for most things.

And then reassembled at the destination by riggers.

[Patrick Davey]

Presumably these vehicles would have worn a plane livery.

[Galteemore]

15 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

Presumably these vehicles would have worn a plane livery.

Yes, but the concept never took off.

[Mol_PMB]

If you fly Boeing there’s a fair chance your plane went by train:

but hopefully it wasn’t one of the trainload that wanted to try white-water rafting: