Looking for information on the Army railroad system. Does anyone know if they still operate military units? Are they active and reserve? If anyone has information, that would be great.
Last I heard they still run some type of units in the NorthEastern part of the United States.
I have to base my answer on mostly hearsay, but…
I believe there are still some military railroad types, although units may be rare.
The military still has some locomotives at bases with an active rail role. In fact, they’ve been checking out some of the hybrid/genset types.
I just quoted a bunch of tools for a proposed NG RR unit. Can’t say much about it, but it’s tracklaying and gauging stuff. Interesting for a GSA supplier. The RFQ landed in my (railfan) lap and it’s fun!!!
One of my customers, whose dad was there in WW2, showed off his Transportation Corps 1" scale flatcar, a station wagon long, with GI Joe armor for loads. Really precise detailing and later he brought the AAR truck castings into our parking lot to figure out the tooling to machine them.
google “army railroad battalion” and learn.
From erratic memory, the Reading (yay) and the Pennsy (boo) and now I love both, joined with other roads to form railway battalions during WW2 and Korea. There used to be plaques and painted memorial boards in train staions to those who served/died for their joint/country. Where are they now?
RICK
The Illinois Central used to have a bronze plaque listing the names of its employees who were killed while in the service in World War II. It was located in their passenger terminal in Chicago. As I recall, it listed somewhere around 250 individuals.
When that staton was torn down, the tablet was given to the Illinois Railway Museum at Union. I believe they display it outdoors at their facility.