The Decauville company was founded in 1875 by Paul Decauville. The firm developed a large catalogue of narrow gauge equipment and was eventually able to offer a complete light railway system, locomotives, track and rolling stock, for industrial and agricultural use. The French military took a keen interest in this development and later adopted 60cm gauge as the norm for their artillery railways and in the field. The Germans also realised the potential of narrow gauge railways to supply materiel and created their own field railway system. World War 1 brought about the wholesale deployment of trench railways and the Decauville equipment was ready made for this; eventually the British army also recognised the value of these networks and used British firms to produce much of their hardware. It is interesting to note, however, that the Kerr Stuart ‘Joffre’ Class 0-6-0T is closely based on a Decauville design!
Specifications:
- Scale: 1:19 Scale
- Gauge: Either 32mm or 45mm Gauge
- Minimum Radius: 0.6m (24 in.)
- Power: Live Steam
- Length: 226mm (over couplings)
- Width: 90mm
- Height: 134mm
- Boiler: Centre Flue
- Working Pressure: 60psi
- Weight: NA
- Reversing Gear: by lever in the cab
- Valve Gear: Walschaerts valve gear
- Cylinders: Slide valve
- Fuel: Butane Gas
- Boiler Fittings: Safety valve, pressure gauge, water gauge
- Cab Controls: Steam regulator, gas regulator, reverse lever, displacement lubricator
AL87-212A Decauville 0-6-0T Live Steam, 45 mm Gauge
AL87-212B Decauville 0-6-0T Live Steam, 32 mm Gauge