Claiborne and Polk Military Railroad

[trainpainter]

Does anyone have any information about the Claiborne and Polk Railroad in Louisiana? It was built during WW II at Camp Claiborne as a training facility to train railroad personnel for service in Europe. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

[wanswheel]

These links are to pictures with some info in the captions:

http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/LHP&CISOPTR=5180&CISOBOX=1&REC=10

http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/LHP&CISOPTR=5179&CISOBOX=1&REC=9

http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/LHP&CISOPTR=5181&CISOBOX=1&REC=11

This link is to a PDF copy of a booklet about the project:

http://www.ww2diary.com/claiborne_polk/claiborne_polk_military_railway.pdf

Mike

[KCSfan]

In 1941 the Army built the 48 mile long Claiborne and Polk between Leesville (Fort Polk) and Alexandria (Camp Claiborne) in Louisiana to train WW2 Railroad Operating Battalions. Much of the line was intentionally built over the very unstable mud of the Louisiana swamplands and had numerous wooden trestles. The intent was to train soldier/railroaders in the adverse conditions they might encounter in the war zones. Derailments didn't have to be staged, they ocurred naturally due to roadbed conditions, and trains were followed by a big hook and work train to see how fast the derailed engines and cars could be re-railed, and the track repaired and returned to operation. I recall reading an account of one run where the locomotive derailed five times and the big hook in the following wreck/work train another three times. Trestles would be intentionally blown up and work crews raced around the clock to rebuild them and reopen the road asap. Backshop forces were trained to repair locomotives and cars in very primitive conditions. IIRC the C&P rostered 7 engines, 4 ten wheelers and 2 concolidations. A few photos of the C&P can be found on Mike Palmeri's Louisiana Rail site.

Mark

[C&PMRR]

Yes, I know, what information are you requesting

 

[trainpainter]

Any information regarding the circumstances surrounding the intended purchase of the Red River and Gulf and the sudden change of plans. What happened? What was the relationship of the Crowells with the Army? What was the extent of the rolling stock?

 

Thanks

[KENNETH MUELLER]

https://youtu.be/D-8gV4DJZUw

[D.Hearne]

I know this is a few years late, but the reason the army didn't purchase the Red River & Gulf line was it was still active and Crowell Lumber Company (owner of the RR&G) was a large supplier of lumber to the war effort. Crowell made the suggestion for them to relay the track on an adjacent abandoned logging line and tie into that line just west of Camp Claiborne. This info is written about in the book "Up and Down the Red River and Gulf" available at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum which is located at Longleaf La and is the old Crowell Lbr Co's sawmill complex and has on it's grounds some of the RR&G's equipment. Included there are three locomotives, one Lidgerwood skidder, two loaders and the complete locomotive machineshop. I recently bought some property west of there and I am now the owner of about 700 ft of the C&P right of way.