Although it seems unlikely that anyone here has any info on these, I thought I would post the first image to see if someone might have a different take on it than I've developed - from minimal circumstantial evidence.I suspect each of these to possibly be a one-off, so there may not even be any French-language documentation.
A number of things strike me about the first car, first being the extraordinary width of the top three boards on each side.Even in those days, I should think this represents premium lumber.Unlike the posts at the ends, the central two uprights appear to pass inside these wide boards to the car interior, causing a slight outward bow.
The end door(s?) seems odd - somewhat like a U.K. cattle wagon, but the lower flap leaves a tall sill even when down - as if they wanted to keep something inside the wagon.Even given the normal profiles of 60 cm box wagons, this one seems taller and narrower than most.I wondered if it could possibly be a horse van - for very important horses?However, in this instance it is being used to carry gear, which is being stacked on the ground as it is off-loaded.
From the narrow section next to the tree where you can see the middle of the chassis, I don't observe any "suspended" frame member, such as on the D type.The bogies appear to be Pechot, but I'm not certain.
Any other theories?
The second wagon is quite different, but no less unusual.It looks perhaps designed for persons of high importance, while at the same time sitting on the shortest of chassis.These could be bogies, but not Pechot.Perhaps the oddest thing is that there is no engine in sight - was this small but fancy carriage pushed by hand?
Or, is this just a setting for a group portrait?
These images may well be from the IWM collection, but I just can't recall where I found them.
On the first image, the broad plank third from top looks like pine(or similar) and is cut from the full width of the tree so is not so big probarbly more then 30 but less then 40cm thick, pine grows pretty quick... its likely all the others are too... The sheds both look pretty identical so could be an improvised design built to a workshop plan. the door doesnt look wide enough for a horse though.
The second looks professionally built to me... all those curves, maybe the guys standing there built it?
On the first image, the broad plank third from top looks like pine(or similar) and is cut from the full width of the tree so is not so big probarbly more then 30 but less then 40cm thick, pine grows pretty quick... its likely all the others are too...
I actually meant the width, as mentioned, and not the thickness. Usually the cost of a board increases greatly as the width increases. However, here the width might speak to "rustic" assembly.
The sheds both look pretty identical so could be an improvised design built to a workshop plan. the door doesnt look wide enough for a horse though.
It's a stereoscopic image, so there's only one.
I largely mentioned that due to the door's resemblance to a cattle wagon, and what seemed to be far greater height than required for a man, and increasing instability on any poorly laid track. Are there other reasons for configuring a door like that, or leaving such a high sill when opened? I keep thinking there must be a reason for it to be built like that, but I just can't suss it out.
The officers standing around - i.e. not working, have an elegant air about them, especially the guy with the pipe.
The wagons in first picture look similar to some in Christian Cénac's book, except that these ones have doors at the end.Might be Pechot , but the bar at bottom looks like Decauville. In book they re identified as ambulance wagons, but in this case the end doors might not be suitable. Basically sheds built on the bogie chassis. The second photo I have seen in a French WW1 book online. The book keeps getting picked up on various forums, and I hope it is another collection but is always the same one.
-- Edited by rue_d_etropal on Wednesday 18th of December 2013 10:36:24 AM
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Mainly interested in narrow gauge railways, currently working a number of WW1 projects in 1/35 scale , website http://www.rue-d-etropal.com/
