Lydd Ranges
A brief introduction
Lydd Ranges, west of Hythe and south of Ashford in Kent, are situated on the reclaimed land of the historic Romney Marsh and part of the cuspate foreland at Dungeness, estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old. The habitats are of international importance and are part of the Dungeness Special Area of Conservation. The ranges have been used for military training for over 150 years.
Because the range is used for live firing, access is often restricted (there are generally 300 live firing days per year). However, when not in use for live firing, there is public access to the foreshore and Galloways Road.
Originally, the Lydd Ranges were used by both the Royal Navy & Royal Artillery to test & train with artillery pieces - shooting at stationary targets. The Ranges also provided many Musket, Rifle & by WW1, Machine Gun Butts (large earthen banks with targets in front) for British Army Infantry Regiment weapons training.
Narrow Gauge Railway
In 1936 a 2ft gauge railway was built, by the Royal Engineers, to serve the Artillery firing ranges. It was used to move men and replacement (fixed) targets.
The 2ft gauge railway went to all parts of the range - (image from Wikipedia)
In 1938, the narrow gauge Railway was extended to enable moving targets for Anti-Tank gunnery practice and this where the Wickham Target Trolley comes into the picture.
However, first there were truck-hauled sleds & rail cable-hauled trolleys both supporting targets. Read all about the early days of the target trolley in Stationary engine powered targets
By the 1980s the ng railway was slowly dying - the Target Trolleys were mostly out of use and the line was often used to show visitors around the site.
Estimates vary (depending upon the source you use) but at least ng 39 locomotives and powered trolleys have worked at Lydd.at one time or another.
Today the site is strewn with ex-Army armoured vehicles, mostly stationary (again), which are used as targets for Royal Airforce aircraft (air to ground target practice), Royal Navy ships 9ship to shore target practice) and Army Anti-Tank practice.
The modern ranges with scattered Armoured vehicle hulks - (image from Wikipedia)