The Medloc Train Appeal
In an effort to create a memorial to the personnel of the British Troops Austria, who occupied Austria from 1945-1955, the Medloc committee is seeking to persuade the Government to step in and ban the export of and sale of the last remaining carriage of the Medloc train to Holland by the end of January 2004.
The Medloc committee has received letters and calls from ex-servicemen since the plight of the carriage No.2757 was made public and the feeling is that the carriage should be purchased and given to the National Army Museum, to form part of the collection of heavy military equipment and locomotives at the National Army Museum's new exhibition site, together with the MOD's own dining car from the Berlin corridor.
This former military dining car has a fascinating history, which will be lost to this country if it is sold.
The Wagons-Lits Carriage No.2757 was built in Italy in 1926. It ran on the Italian railway system until 1939 when the carriage was commandeered for the duration of the war by the Italian Military. The Carriage was acquired as the Allied forces advanced through Italy. In 1945 the C-in-C Central Mediterranean Forces, Field Marshal Lord Alexander, decreed that servicemen were to have home leave in time for Christmas if they had not already had leave. Trains were organised by the Mediterranean Line of Communication (Medloc) from Milan to Calais. The Medloc trains were rerouted from Villach, Austria through Germany to the Hook of Holland and continued to run until 1955 when the British Occupation of Austria ended. Major General Urquhart, C-in-C, Austria was on the last Medloc train to leave Austria and the dining car was returned to service on the Italian railways until 1973 when it was sold to Ind Coope. The brewery brought the carriage to England and renamed it the Denham Express, placing the carriage in the garden of their Nightingale Pub. The carriage was eventually sold to the GWR Preservation Group Limited which has been forced to sell the carriage due to their eviction from the site by Network Rail. Over 100 Members of Parliament have been approached to stop the vehicle leaving the country. An appeal has gone to the Queen to save this last known carriage belonging to the famous Medloc Military train. The carriage represents memories for the thousands of surviving service personnel who travelled on this train. |
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The Medloc committee hopes that with your support through publicity the Wagon-Lits No.2757 railway carriage will be saved. The National Army Museum needs money from the Government to purchase and restore the carriage. The Minister for Culture and Sport can authorise the necessary funds.
March 2003 Update: Sadly, the appeal appears to have been lost. At last report the carriage has been sold to a preservation group in Holland. However, the Medloc committee cannot confirm this and we ask if anyone knows which group has bought the carriage could you please let us know so that we can pass the information onto the Medloc Committee. Thank you.
If you have any thoughts, comments or wish to help please contact james@britains-smallwars.com and the information will be forwarded to the Medloc Committee.
Danny Nickson
Secretary Medloc Committe
January 2004
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