Rail to the Rescue - Part 3

So the implementation of the hauling system from Kadikoi to the Col was given top priority. With the engines secured in position, a convoy of wagons was brought up to the Kadikoi depot, where it was marshalled into a siding and the wagons were coupled up to form a complete train, in its turn coupled to a tender which was attached to a wire hawser carried on rollers between the rails. The stationary engine then pulled the whole train up the incline to the top. Immense care was necessary in assembling the train because the rolling stock available was of every conceivable type and size and any gross mismatch in buffer height would threaten a disconnection and major disaster, particularly if high explosive was being transported.

For the test run Beatty used twelve wagons, and everything worked perfectly, although he had the impression that the haulage capacity of the engine was greatly in excess of the load.

Opening day was 26th March which turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far. Lord Raglan travelled down to the Balaklava terminus and this time made a speech, referring to the railway as 'the new weapon in our armoury'. The first through train set off and the whole journey went without a hitch. At the top of the engine sector the train was uncoupled and the wagons hitched up to new dray teams - it was but a short easy incline to the col and then flat to the new depot by the British Headquarters - Raglan had acknowledged the railway's importance by providing an office for Beatty there.

The remaining track to be laid crossed the plateau to the Worontzov Road to serve 2nd and Light Divisions. The navvies were within extreme range of the Russian guns and occasionally came under fire; some wanted to be issued with weapons, but this was firmly denied to them. The whole issue of involving the navvies in military operations had been decided at the outset; it was ordained that their skills were too valuable to risk, although covetous eyes had been cast in their direction as ideal for the trenches.

A little over two miles from the Col they made a junction known as The Forks, where a mile long branch line ran westward serving 3rd and 4th

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