Video Theater
:
Video: Real 1:1 Trains
Troop Trains of WW II
Sep 23, 2009
By Peter De Keles
Author
Bio
A troop train could haul anywhere from 400 to 1,100 troops. They were secret moves and railroad people were only aware of them on a need-to-know basis for scheduling and train service requirements.
Title:
Troop Trains of WW II
LSOL.com Rating
Length
13:15
Release Date
09/16/2009
Overview
Between 1941 and 1945 almost all American soldiers rode a train at some point. Some months they carried over a million riders. Loading an ocean liner in New York with 13,000 troops involved as many as 21 trains. These might require over 200 coaches, 40+ baggage cars and over 30 kitchen cars.
Pullman constructed the first troop sleeper cars in late 1943 to help ease the burden on the standard Pullman fleet. Troop trains used the variety of coaches and Pullman cars that were available. Soldiers in standard Pullman section or tourist berths usually slept two in a lower berth and one in the upper.
As time went on the War Department authorized the construction of about 200 kitchen cars to be used exclusively on troop trains. These looked like box cars with windows and doors. Troops on-board brought their mess kits to the car a mess call, and were given food to take back to their seats.
Troop sleepers also were short of supply, so several hundred Troop Sleepers were built and managed by the Pullman Company for troop use. They had bunks, three high along with bathroom facilities and also a Pullman Porter who provided fresh linen.
A troop train could haul anywhere from 400 to 1,100 troops. They were secret moves and railroad people were only aware of them on a need-to-know basis for scheduling and train service requirements
WW II movies.
What a treat. Brings back old memories when I was a kid going to the movies while my dad was in the US Army. Thanks.
