Light railway - of which we have a network

Light railway - of which we have a network

Light-railway engine, crossing bombed out territory, during World War I. This photograph is at first a little difficult to understand. The ridge of land across the middle of the image supports a light railway track and is being traversed by an engine and platforms at the moment. There is a telegraph wire crossing the front of the scene and the rest of the landscape is a jumble of bombing debris. This well-composed and striking photograph remains unattributed to any one particular war photographer. This caption completely understates and underplays the role of this invaluable resource. Light railways allowed relatively easy movement of troops and supplies across miles of uneven, muddy terrain. Miles of track were laid and then re-laid due to bombing and territorial changes in an effort to keep transport and communication lines free-flowing. [Original reads: 'A light railway - of which we have a network.'] digital.nls.uk/74548590 Image by National Library of Scotland