Rails to the Rescue: WW II Troop Trains Transport Millions of War Personnel

[gdmichaels]

During World War II, the U.S. government relied on America’s extensive railway system to move the millions of enlisted personnel (close to 44 million armed services personnel traveled via U.S. railroads from December 1942 to June 1945) across the country to and from various bases and assignments. This form of transportation was the most practical given the gasoline rationing, the lack of an interstate highway system and only a few readily available passenger air crafts. Read more in our blog. http://www.trovestar.com/generic/blog.php?Article=42

[jmlaboda]

You've only scratched the surface in regards to military travel during WWII.  Many a Pullman car lacking air conditioning and a large number of those cars that did were pressed into service to handle the demand of moving troops and even some of the converted heavyweight Pullmans that were rebuilt to hospital cars at times were used instead as troop sleepers, making for very unusual consists, and a large number of those HW became mortuary cars later on, hauling the lost to their final resting place.

I have a small collection of Military MAIN train consists... will post it in a little while when I have time.  Definitely an interesting operation, one that I am glad that I can choose to model for my modeling era, with such movements still being made even after WWII.

[jmlaboda]

As promised here is my collection of MAIN train consists.  One thing to note is that the 50' troop cars were short in number while Pullman sleepers (tourist sleepers as well as Air Conditioned named cars were a part of what was used to move troops).  Also note that some roads provided baggage cars for use as stowage of equipment and as make shift kitchen cars in place of the 50' kitchen cars.  Some movements involved military assigned cars to regular passenger trains (assigned cars denoted by BOLD lettering).

MP #4 (2nd Section), 1/13/42, Little Rock, AR
MP 1406 2-8-2 Mikado
PULL 1313 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 1619 12 Sect 1 DR
CB&Q 47 Baggage
PULL 1627 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 1626 12 Sect 1 DR
L&N 1437 Baggage

MP #3 (2nd Section), 1/29/42, Little Rock, AR
MP 1409 2-8-2 Mikado
PULL 1192 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 1820 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 1997 12 Sect 1 DR
NYC 8483 Baggage
PULL 1223 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 1318 12 Sect 1 DR
Rochambeau Stand (???) (name hard to read) 12 Sect 1 DR
MP 3336 Reefer

SOU MAIN 68638, 12/24/43, Danville VA
SOU 4813 2-8-2 Mikado
B&O 1591 Baggage Car
PULL 6001 TC 16 Sect
PULL PARK WOOD 14 Sect
PULL 1054 TC 14 Sect
ACL 535 Baggage Car equipped as Troop Kitchen
PULL POINT DUME 10 Sect 2 DR
PULL 4265 TC 16 Sect
PULL 7113 Troop Sleeper
PULL 7021 Troop Sleeper
PULL 7257 Troop Sleeper
SAL 458 Baggage Car equipped as Troop Kitchen
PULL 7280 Troop Sleeper x
PULL GLENARTNEY 7 Comp 2 DR
PULL PALO 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL SAN MARCIAL 10 Sect lounge observation

NYC (Canada Southern) MAIN 8829, 3/1/44
NYC 5367 Hudson
LV 1229 baggage - express
PRR 9588 box express
PULL 7088 Troop Sleeper
PULL 7495 Troop Sleeper
PULL 7029 Troop Sleeper
PULL 7467 Troop Sleeper
PULL 7493 Troop Sleeper
PULL 7381 Troop Sleeper
PULL 7155 Troop Sleeper
PULL 7489 Troop Sleeper
PULL 2461 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL BEXAR 3410A 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 2002 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 2580 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 1669 2410F 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 2123 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 1302 2410 12 Sect 1 DR

NYC (Canada Southern) MAIN 9721, 3/11/44
NYC 5366 Hudson
B&A 850 HW baggage
NYC 737 HW coach
B&A 456 HW coach
NYC 1900 HW coach
NYC 8243 HW baggage
NYC 1845 HW coach
NYC 1378 HW coach
NYC 1481 HW coach
P&LE 402 HW coach
NYC 8336 HW baggage
NYC 1838 HW coach
NYC 1853 HW coach
B&A 517 HW coach

NYC (Canada Southern) EXTRA 5374, CANADIAN TROOP TRAIN (?), 4/14/44
NYC 5474 Hudson
REX 1316 EXPRESS REEFER
NYC 2233 HW coach
NYC 1615 HW coach
NYC 8268 HW baggage
NYC 1460 HW coach
PULL MANIVET 2410A 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL LAON 2410F 12 Sect 1 DR
NYC 1712 HW coach
NYC 8003 HW baggage
NYC 1265 HW coach
PULL WALTON 3410A 12 Sect 1 DR

L&N derailment, High Cliff, Tn., 7/6/44
L&N 418 Mountain
Pullman tourist car
Pullman tourist car
Pullman tourist car
Pullman tourist car
Pullman troop kitchen
Pullman troop sleeper
Pullman tourist car
Pullman tourist car
HW baggage
Pullman troop sleeper
Pullman troop sleeper
Pullman troop sleeper
Pullman troop kitchen
Pullman troop sleeper
Pullman troop sleeper
HW baggage

NYC (Canada Southern) MAIN 30842, Prisoner Transfer train, 7/18/44
NYC 5246 Hudson
NYC 5104 HEAVYWEIGHT RPO
PULL 1441 HW TC 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
NYC 1795 HW coach
NYC 1350 HW coach
NYC 1721 HW coach
NYC 1453 HW coach
NYC 1652 HW coach
PULL 2526 HW TC 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL K393 Troop Kitchen
PULL K396 Troop Kitchen
NYC 1908 HW coach
NYC 1838 HW coach
NYC 1876 HW coach
NYC 1664 HW coach
NYC 1674 HW coach
PULL 2561 HW TC 2410 12 Sect 1 DR

NYC (Canada Southern) MAIN 30842R, Prisoner Transfer train, 7/18/44
While this train has no info on it it may have been cars from a prisoner tranfer train returning to its origination.  This might explain not only its length but the cars themselves.  Coaches would likely be returned on whatever passenger train that could be found, with the coaches not being able to immediately being turned back due to the necessary processing of prisoners who likely were held on the cars, awaiting off-loading and confinement.
NYC 5246 Hudson
NYC 5104 HEAVYWEIGHT RPO
PULL 2561 HW TC 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 2526 HW TC 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL K396 Troop Kitchen
PULL 1441 HW TC 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL EAST BARRE HW Plan 3410 12 Sect 1 DR

NYC (Canada Southern) MAIN 31680, 7/26/44
While this train has no info on it it may have been cars from a prisoner transfer train returning to its origination.  This might explain not only its length but the cars themselves.  Coaches would likely be returned on whatever passenger train that could be found, with the coaches not being able to immediately being turned back due to the necessary processing of prisoners who likely were held on the cars, awaiting off-loading and confinement.
NYC 5219 Hudson
NYC 7738 HW baggage
B&A 821 HW baggage
NYC 8658 HW baggage
PULL 2487 HW TC 2410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL 6074 HW TC 2412 16 Sect
PULL MENDON 2521E 10 Sect lounge observation

CRIP collison, Norton, Ks., 9/3/44
CRIP 5061 Northern
express boxcar
wood baggage
Pullman troop sleeper
Pullman tourist car
Pullman tourist car
Pullman tourist car
wood troop kitchen
Pullman tourist car
Pullman sleeper
Pullman tourist car
Pullman tourist car
caboose

GN 12/11/44, #2 Empire Builder (2nd section), Seattle, Wa.  Military assigned cars in BOLD.
Engine 2500 From Seattle to Skykomish
Engine 5014 & 5015 From Skykomish to Wenatchee (electrics)
Engine 2509 From Wenatchee to Spokane
Heater Car GN 6, Skykomish to Wenatchee
"  "rm GN 659, Seattle to Spokane
Coach CB&Q 4811,    "  "
Coach GN 904,      "  "
Coach GN 962,      "  "
Diner GN 1031,      "  "
Coach GN 954,      "  "
Coach GN 944,      "  "
Coach GN 941,      "  "
Coach GN 955,      "  "
Tourist Sleeper Pullman 1268 Plan 2410, Seattle to Spokane
Troop Sleeper Pullman 8070,      "  "
Troop Sleeper Pullman 7866,      "  "
Tourist Sleeper Pullman 3074 Plan 2410   "  "
Minot Plan 2410F 12-1         "  "

GN Train 2 Empire Builder 12/21/44.  Military assigned cars in BOLD.
Engine 2520 From Spokane to Wenatchee
Engine 5015 and 5014 From Wenatchee to Skykomish (electric)
Engine (not noted) From Skykomish to Seattle
Heater Car GN 7, Wenatchee to Skykomish
Mail-Baggage GN 59, Spokane to Seattle
Baggage CB&Q 1598,       "  "
"  "rm GN 666,         "  "
Coach CB&Q 4800,      "  "
Coach GN 950,         "  "
Coach GN 951,         "  "
Diner 1046,         "  "
Coach GN 940,         "  "
Coach GN 977,         "  "
Coach GN 961,         "  "
Pullman 1808 Plan 2410B,   "  "
Pullman 1278 Plan 2410F,   "  "
Pullman 2606 Plan 2410,   "  "
Pullman 2601 Plan 2410B,   "  "

SOU Train 27, 9/11/45, Asheville N.C.  Military assigned cars in BOLD.
This train had three sleepers on its rear specifically listed as being a part of a MAIN movement.  Cars may have been in use by military personel on Furlough.
Engs 1477 + 1493 Pacifics
Sou 68 mail (RPO)
Sou 312 express
Sou 690 baggage-coach
Sou 3748 coach
Sou 3753 coach
Sou 3782 coach
Sou 1491 coach
Sou 1583 coach
Sou 3626 coach
PULL McNeely 12 Sect 1DR Goldsboro-Cincinnati
Sou 3165 diner
PULL Fort Travis 10 Sect 1 DR 2 Comp Charleston-Chicago
PULL Brockway 12 Sect 1 DR Charleston-Chicago
PULL 6041 (?) Troop Sleeper Main 32400
PULL President Jefferson 7 Comp 2 DR Main 32400
PULL 2207 Plan 2410F 12 Sect 1 DR tourist sleeper Main 32400

PRR collison, Coshocton, Oh., 9/11/50
(The cars listed as "coach" below may have actually been Pullman sleeper cars.  The investigator of a crash had the option on how to list such cars.)
PRR 5444 + PRR 5526 ALCO RS3s
HW express
HW express
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach
Pullman troop kitchen
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach
Pullman troop kitchen
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach
HW coach

MP train 10 The Missourian, 6/28/58, Kansas City, Mo.  Military assigned cars in BOLD.
This train had four sleepers on its rear specifically listed as being a part of a MAIN movement.  Cars may have been in use by military personel on Furlough.
MP 8026 PA3
MP 8010 PA1
SP 6021 Express St Louis
REX 7006 Express Memphis
PA 2273 Storage Mail Philadelphia
PA 5756 Storage Mail Pittsburgh
ATSF 1712 Storage Mail St Louis
ATSF 9716 Express St Louis
NYC 8726 Storage Mail St Louis
MP 2131 RPO St Louis
MP 2580 Storage Mail St Louis
MP 4206 Storage Mail St Louis
MP 4231 Express St Louis
MP 6181 Hvt Coach St Louis
MP 6192 Hvt Coach St Louis
MP Clover Spray 8 Sect 5 DBR St Louis Main 623
PULL Vicker 10 Sect 3 DBR St Louis Main 623
NP Chief Big Medicine 10 Sect 1 Comp 1 DR St Louis Main 623
NP Chief Red Wolf 10 Sect 1 Comp 1 DR St Louis Main 623

MP 1/3/63, Little Rock, Ar., "Furlough Special"
MP 320 GP7
MP 326 GP7
PRR Fredericktown Plan 3410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL Glen Dale Plan 3523A 6 Comp 3 DR
B&O Clover Lodge Plan 4036A 8 Sect 5 DBR
SAL Pinnacle Tower Plan 4090D 8 Sect 3 DBR -1 DR
PULL Poplar Lodge Plan 4060 6 DB 6 Sect
MP 842 diner-coach
PULL Rockport Plan 3410 12 Sect 1 DR
PULL Glen Ridge Plan 3523F 6 Comp 3 DR
PRR Villa Palatial Plan 3411B 10 Sect 3 DBR
PULL Lake George Plan 3585 10 Sect 1 DR 2 Comp

I also have two on-line articles tied to Troop Sleepers and Hospital Ward cars.  Here are the links for these two articles...

http://n-scalevarnish.info/index/varnish/Drafted%201.htm
http://n-scalevarnish.info/index/varnish/Drafted%202.htm

And if you might want to build your own bunks to finish the interior of a MT Troop Sleeper, here is a link to a drawing discussing the construction of such bunks...

http://n-scalevarnish.info/index/varnish/Troop%203-tier%20Bunk.gif