Press Release - 25th February 2020

A two-foot gauge Wickham target trolley dating from the Second World War belonging to The Rail Trolley Trust (TRTT) will shortly go on display at the Statfold Barn Railway.

In early 1938 D Wickham & Co of Ware in Hertfordshire, Britain’s leading manufacturer of rail trolleys, were tasked by the War Department with developing a Target Trolley. The company eventually went on to build two hundred examples of various types and of two different gauges - 2’ and 2’6”. TRTT’s example is Wickham works number 3170 of 1943.

Unmanned vehicles of this type ran on self-contained layouts at a number of ranges, including Lydd in Kent, Okehampton in Devon and Redesdale (Otterburn) in Northumberland. The vehicles, powered by a two-cylinder JAP petrol engine, carried large wooden or canvas representations of armoured vehicles which were intended to be shot at by infantry troops being trained in anti-tank gunnery. At most ranges the track ran in a shallow cutting or was shielded by earth banks, thus protecting the trolley from stray projectiles.

The trolley will initially be displayed in the roundhouse museum at Statfold alongside a number of other items with military connections, thus adding to the interesting and unusual narrow gauge items in the collection. In the longer term, the intention is to occasionally demonstrate it in operation, complete with a target, although not under live fire!

Jonathan Flood, TRTT Director, said

“We are grateful to be able to work with Statfold to enable our target trolley to be seen by the many thousands of visitors who attend the railway’s events each year. For many of them it will be their first exposure to this fascinating but little-known use of narrow gauge railways.”

Henry Noon, Statfold Trustee, added

“We are delighted to work with smaller specialist heritage groups like TRTT. Historic vehicles like the target trolley add to the interest and variety of the Statfold collection at the same time as ensuring that they are kept secure and protected from the elements.”

Notes to Editors

The Rail Trolley Trust (TRTT) aims to purchase, restore & demonstrate a collection of rail trolleys and similar vehicles, as well as associated equipment and paperwork.

The Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd was established in August 2017 to secure the future of it's unique collection of railway stock and to ensure it is life beyond that of its owners.

Modified: 31 Oct 2022