Having spent that latter part of my service involved with depth fire, and having an interest in railways, railway artillery has always held a fascination

A two volume book Railway Artillery: A Report on the Characteristics, Scope of Utility, Etc., of Railway Artillery was published by the United States Ordnance Department in 1921. This outlines the principles of railway artillery, as well as detailing the guns, British are in volume2.

Railway Artillery: A Report on the Characteristics, Scope of Utility, Etc., of Railway Artillery Vol 1

Railway Artillery: A Report on the Characteristics, Scope of Utility, Etc., of Railway Artillery Vol 2

 

As well as the destructive capacity of depth fire, the shock factor of a 386kg or 719kg shell suddenly exploding in the German’s rear locations would have had a marked effect on the enemy morale.

It is interesting that the Elswick Ordnance Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, were involved with production of all the guns. The 9.2inch gun, 12 inch howitzer and 14 inch gun were all produced on Tyneside.

 

British Railway Artillery

BL 9.2 inch Railway Gun

BL 12 inch Railway Gun

BL 12 inch Railway Howitzer

BL 14 inch Railway Gun

 

Railway Artillery Siege Batteries

A review if the Index to Units of the Royal Artillery in the Order of Battle of British Armies in France for December 1917 the following Siege Batteries are listed as being railway mounted

18^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzer rail mounted

4^th Army

22^nd Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

3^rd Army

44^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

3^rd Army

52^nd Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

1^st Army

53^rd Siege Battery

1x 12in Gun rail mounted

1 x 9.2in Gun rail mounted

4^th Army

63rd Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

4^th Army

64^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

4^th Army

80^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

4^th Army

82^nd Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

2^nd Army

83^rd Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

4^th Army

86^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

3^rd Army

89^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

3^rd Army

92^nd Siege Battery

1x 12in Gun rail mounted

1 x 9.2in Gun rail mounted

4^th Army

103^rd Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

3^rd Army

104^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

4^th Army

128^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

2^nd Army

104^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

4^th Army

128^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

2^nd Army

333^rd Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

3^rd Army

343^rd Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

4^th Army

359^th Siege Battery

1 x12in Howitzer rail mounted

4^th Army

363^rd Siege Battery

2 x 9.2in Guns rail mounted

4^th Army

366^th Siege Battery

1 x 9.2in Gun rail mounted

1 x 9.2in gun rail mounted

3^rd Army

374^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

5^th Army

381^st Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

4^th Army

442^nd Siege Battery

2 x 9.2in Guns rail mounted

3^rd Army

444^th Siege Battery

2 x 12in Howitzers rail mounted

1^st Army

456^th Siege Battery

2 x 9.2in Guns rail mounted

L of C

461^st Siege Battery

2 x 9.2in Guns rail mounted

1^st Army