The Marconi Lancia

We have received a letter from Michael Ware who is researching cars that have been adapted to operate on railways.  His letter has been passed on to the Veterans’ Association.

Below is a section from his manuscript that refers specifically to the railway from the Marconi station in Clifden together with a photograph of the engine.  If any veteran has any information on this locomotive or can shed any light on the event we would be pleased to hear from you either to through the web site or to the secretary by the normal post.

Alcock and Brown after their momentous 16 1/2 hour flight across the Atlantic in 1919 in their Vickers lancia_marconi_thumbVimy crash landed in Derrygimlagh Bog in Ireland. This location was some 4 miles south of Clifden in Connemara and adjacent to the pioneering Marconi Wireless Station. The only means of transport to this out-post was a two-foot gauge railway. Its principle locomotive was a conversion on an Edwardian Lancia, the adaptation being undertaken by Marconi engineers at their works at Chelmsford and delivered by sea and rail to Clifden. The famous aviators had their photograph taken seated in the Lancia locomotive.