Railroads in World War 2

[Firelock76]

Overmod, I can well understand how you loved your copy of "Decade Of..." to death, it's that good.  Matter of fact, as far as I'm concerned everything with Don Ball's name on is that good!

I paid $20 for mine at a train show (like new) but I didn't care, I had to have it, and I'm glad I spent the money.

Besides, no money spent on good railbooks is wasted money!

[Overmod]

SPer

When the USA entered WW2 and we [started] to [mobilize] the military personnel, what railroad [did] they [take] ... to the ports to [go] overseas?

You could write dissertations and publish books on this subject.  One reasonably correct answer was that they took trains from wherever their origination point was  ... name any training facility or camp, or home locations if on leave ... to wherever their embarkation point was ("embarkation" nominally meaning getting on a ship, but any other way of going might apply).  The whole history of 'main trains' in WWII and Korea is an interesting story.

[Overmod]

Firelock76

"Decade Of The Trains, The 1940's." ... published in 1977 by the New York Graphic Society but don't let the date scare you, it's out there, you just have to go find it.

Glad you reminded me of this; I 'loved' my original copy into dog-eared separated-binding sections, but found a replacement cheap; $3.97 with 20% off until Friday at Thriftbooks.  Worth much more, but if you don't need 'collector' perfection, why pay collector prices?

[Trinity River Bottoms Boomer]

AbeBooks is the best site to search for any book, worldwide, regardless of the date of publication.  

[Firelock76]

What railroads went to the embarkation points?

I'll tell you what, look at the major embark ports:  On the East Coast, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Newport News, and on the West Coast, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, then find what major (and not-so-major) railroads went to those ports, and you're there brother, you've got your answer!

They all hauled troops and the supplies and equipment that made victory possible.

Let me give you a reading assignment.  Don't worry, there's no time limit and I won't quiz you when you're done.  Try, try, try  your best to find this book...

"Decade Of The Trains, The 1940's."  It's a photographic and verbal history of the railroads during the war years.  Written by Don Ball Jr. and Rogers E.M. Whittaker it's the closest you'll ever come to being there.  Don Ball's photo selections are excellent, and Rogers Whittaker's prose is downright haunting.

It was published in 1977 by the New York Graphic Society but don't let the date scare you, it's out there, you just have to go find it.

Good luck!

[SPer]

When the USA entered WW2 and we starting to mobilized the military personel, what railroad they took to take the military to the ports to get to overseas.