For those that maybe interested here is a photo overview of how the military loads trains. When I was stationed at Fort Campbell they did not have any of this new or rebuilt infrastructure. This is part of the war spending for Iraq and Afghanistan as it did not exist prior to 2000 either. Each BDE area had it's own circus loading ramp onto trains and flatcars. The railbed was in fairly crappy weedgrown shape and the ex-Tennessee Central tracks between Fort Campbell and Hopkinsville, KY were sunk in the mud. Also the interchange in Hopkinsville, KY was the former ex-TC interchange with the former Illinois Central. Which has since been rebuilt to interchange with CSX Corp and includes 3-4 train staging tracks just prior to the CSX wye. Here are the Google Earth coordinates to the new combined flatcar loading facility which you can see is quite massive and also used to store the DODX flatcars. If you follow the tracks up to the first wye you should run into two red U.S. Army Locomotives and the Locomotive Storage and repair facility. Following the tracks over the post you can see various stubs to nowhere which are the former leads to the old rail system they have not torn up yet. Also the building labeled CENTRAL ISSUE FACILITY is where all the 101st Soldiers get their uniform renewals. Any deployment of longer that 2-3 weeks means 3 new uniforms issued to the troops being deployed. When I was in, deploy to Central America.....3 sets of jungle uniforms issued, deploy to the Middle East another 3 sets of Desert camo fatigues issued, deploy to Alaska, cold weather uniforms and gear issued. They used to have rail leads to that facility and would ship in new uniforms and gear by boxcar in the 1980's. You can see the leads are ripped up now. So probably a different issuing system has evolved or they ship in by truck. Here is the Google Earth coordinates to the large new rail loading facility which will appear in the center of the image and you should be able to zoom in and do various fly overs:
Also, for those into snooping, the area marked 5 SFG is 5th Special Forces Group, you might be able to catch an aerial glimpse of some of their toys.....maybe not.
I've watched both the loading and unloading at Fort Drum, as well as doubling out the trains. They've got it down pretty well. The loading ramp has recently undergone some upgrades, but I haven't been on post lately to see what they are.
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tree68 I've watched both the loading and unloading at Fort Drum, as well as doubling out the trains. They've got it down pretty well. The loading ramp has recently undergone some upgrades, but I haven't been on post lately to see what they are.
Yes Fort Campbell alone they spent well North of a Billion bucks for new barracks, aviation facilities and the consolidated railhead and rail rehab. Those tracks were all weed grown and in fairly bad shape in the 1980s, because the 101st was dependent on pre-positioned equipment globally and would just fly troops out with the equipment staying behind. Troops would be flown to a rally point of prepositioned equipment and convoy from there. They changed the deployment model post 2000 so that the equipment is shipped with the troops via Ocean. Troops fly in still but wait for equipment to arrive once in the country and then rally up with the ship and convoy.
Maybe the new way is cheaper?
CMStPnP tree68 I've watched both the loading and unloading at Fort Drum, as well as doubling out the trains. They've got it down pretty well. The loading ramp has recently undergone some upgrades, but I haven't been on post lately to see what they are. Yes Fort Campbell alone they spent well North of a Billion bucks for new barracks, aviation facilities and the consolidated railhead and rail rehab. Those tracks were all weed grown and in fairly bad shape in the 1980s, because the 101st was dependent on pre-positioned equipment globally and would just fly troops out with the equipment staying behind. Troops would be flown to a rally point of prepositioned equipment and convoy from there. They changed the deployment model post 2000 so that the equipment is shipped with the troops via Ocean. Troops fly in still but wait for equipment to arrive once in the country and then rally up with the ship and convoy. Maybe the new way is cheaper?
During Desert Storm, Fort Stewart outside Savannah was on my territory. CSX would deliver empty trains of DODX flats and come back the next day and move the loaded flats to whatever port they were going to use to cross the pond. The volume was one or two trains a week for about two months.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
CMStPnPYes Fort Campbell alone they spent well North of a Billion bucks for new barracks, aviation facilities and the consolidated railhead and rail rehab.
I don't know what the cumulative spending has been on Drum, but there are very few "old" buildings left. By old, I mean WWII vintage. The reactivation of the 10th Mountain Division drove the construction boom.
New work on the marshalling yard is relatively recent. The airfield has been a major concern - early on troops had to be bussed 90 miles to Griffiss AFB to fly out. After the big runway expansion, I saw an Antonov land there. Now they're also flying drones from the airfield as well.
I'd gotten to know the local trainmaster while watching some of the switching action (he'd shuttle the crew around). That resulted in a cab ride on a military train a couple of years later. I'm still friends with that engineer, too.
tree68I'm still friends with that engineer, too.
Are the train crews DoD civilian? Because the Army got rid of it's railway operating crews outside of 2 Bn in the Army Reserve. Always curious what they replaced them with.....DoD civilians or shortline contractors?
BaltACDDuring Desert Storm, Fort Stewart outside Savannah was on my territory. CSX would deliver empty trains of DODX flats and come back the next day and move the loaded flats to whatever port they were going to use to cross the pond. The volume was one or two trains a week for about two months.
CSX handles Fort Bragg, NC as well. They seem to have a lock on the East Coast Ports for military trains.
CMStPnP BaltACD During Desert Storm, Fort Stewart outside Savannah was on my territory. CSX would deliver empty trains of DODX flats and come back the next day and move the loaded flats to whatever port they were going to use to cross the pond. The volume was one or two trains a week for about two months. CSX handles Fort Bragg, NC as well. They seem to have a lock on the East Coast Ports for military trains.
BaltACD During Desert Storm, Fort Stewart outside Savannah was on my territory. CSX would deliver empty trains of DODX flats and come back the next day and move the loaded flats to whatever port they were going to use to cross the pond. The volume was one or two trains a week for about two months.
Ft. Bragg was on Florence Division territory - I never worked the Florence Div.
The CSX predecessor carriers had routes the followed the coast - no more than 50 - 100 mile inland.
NS predecessaor carriers tended to have their routes much further inland.
greyhoundsWhenever I mention my service, I add that I never left the continental US, and no one ever shot at me. I didn’t do anything near heroic. I just served my military obligation. Willingly.
It's all roll of the dice. In the 1980's, I asked to go to the Middle East for MFO to fill in for another unit that was short and was turned down based on just arriving to a new unit already. Then I tried for Central America and the slots were filled. Gulf War happened when I was in the IRR. A buddy of mine was called up but I was passed over, only difference was he was 11B and I was 11H. They had plenty of 11H but needed more 11B. Really a nuance but apparently enough of a nuance to skip over a population. So my buddy gets to Ft. Benning to start train-up and his second week there they tell him to go home they don't need him anymore......he was really disappointed because he had to leave his job and family and this was a huge anti-climax.
During GWOT there were Infantry units that deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq that were never fired at and never fired a shot in all their patrols. Afghanistan was a far lighter insurgency than Vietnam, it had intensive periods and mortar attacks but again roll of the dice and some units never saw action even though they were there. So some Infantry units were sent there and returned without anyone getting awarded the coveted CIB and some of them would female dog online about it......because that is what they enlisted for.....to see action and it turns out their one term enlistment ended without any.
Then there were the whole velcro patch hunters which I thought was hilarious and was to be expected with velcro attachment of the patches. Folks wearing Special Forces tabs and patches completely unauthorized. Some wearing 101st patches because they served near the unit and liked the patch better than their own, etc. Some veterans got really PO'd and frustrated about it but what the hell do you expect when you make the unit patch so easy to remove and put back on? Some of these folks are only 19 and do not really comprehend they might be offending someone older by doing that.
CMStPnPAre the train crews DoD civilian? Because the Army got rid of it's railway operating crews outside of 2 Bn in the Army Reserve. Always curious what they replaced them with.....DoD civilians or shortline contractors?
CSX handles all military train operations on the post. The crew is usually the local crew (B778).
When the co-gen plant was burning coal and coke, the plant operator ran a remote control switcher (SW9?) to shuttle cars to and from the dumphouse. CSX handled delivery and pickup. Made for some interesting motive power spotting, what with run-through power and all.
Said plant switched to biomass several years ago. I don't know what became of the switcher. It may still be in the dumphouse.
We lived in my hometown (5 miles outside the western boundary of Ft. Stewart) during Desert Storm. A lot of the equipment was loaded at the Port of Savannah. My understanding was that CSX shuttled trainloads from the loading point on post to the port (about 30 miles). The troops at Ft. Stewart then were the 24th Infantry Div. (Mechanized), and they had a double crapton of equipment.
We happened to be in Savannah the day the USNS Bellatrix left port. The top of the bluff in Savannah is 2-3 stories above water level in the river, and the side of the ship was 3-4 stories above street level, not even counting the superstructure. The ship was going very slowly down the river, and it took a WHILE for that long beast to pass the point where I was standing. Quite a show.
SALfan1 BaltACD During Desert Storm, Fort Stewart outside Savannah was on my territory. CSX would deliver empty trains of DODX flats and come back the next day and move the loaded flats to whatever port they were going to use to cross the pond. The volume was one or two trains a week for about two months. We lived in my hometown (5 miles outside the western boundary of Ft. Stewart) during Desert Storm. A lot of the equipment was loaded at the Port of Savannah. My understanding was that CSX shuttled trainloads from the loading point on post to the port (about 30 miles). The troops at Ft. Stewart then were the 24th Infantry Div. (Mechanized), and they had a double crapton of equipment. We happened to be in Savannah the day the USNS Bellatrix left port. The top of the bluff in Savannah is 2-3 stories above water level in the river, and the side of the ship was 3-4 stories above street level, not even counting the superstructure. The ship was going very slowly down the river, and it took a WHILE for that long beast to pass the point where I was standing. Quite a show.
Family vacation in the late 50's we drove from Maryland to Daytona and return. Recall the US 17 bridge over the Savannah River. With the surround area being coastal plains and the bridge had to clear ocean going vessels on the river; so you are going from 'ground level' to about 100 -150 feet in the air to cross over the river - as you approach the top of the bridge, prominately displayed are 'NO SMOKING ON BRIDGE' signs - there are ships docked in the river underneath the bridge. And besides there was a traffic jam, inching ones way up and down the bridge.
When racing a Roebling Road Raceway outside Savannah we would go down to some of the restaurants along the waterfront - watching a ocean going vessel pass you on the walkway absolutely dwarfs the human form.
SALfan1The troops at Ft. Stewart then were the 24th Infantry Div. (Mechanized), and they had a double crapton of equipment.
After they flipped to 3rd ID....."Rockheads of the Marne", I heard they flipped to light but then years later decided to flip back to Mechanized. Very expensive flips. 3rd ID belongs to Airborne Corps and provides the Armor for the 101st and 82nd Deployments if needed.
BaltACD About 15 or 20 years ago the bridge you drove over was replaced with a 4-lane bridge; the roadway on the new one is about at the level of the highest point of the bridge you drove over. It is quite a sight! SALfan1 BaltACD During Desert Storm, Fort Stewart outside Savannah was on my territory. CSX would deliver empty trains of DODX flats and come back the next day and move the loaded flats to whatever port they were going to use to cross the pond. The volume was one or two trains a week for about two months. We lived in my hometown (5 miles outside the western boundary of Ft. Stewart) during Desert Storm. A lot of the equipment was loaded at the Port of Savannah. My understanding was that CSX shuttled trainloads from the loading point on post to the port (about 30 miles). The troops at Ft. Stewart then were the 24th Infantry Div. (Mechanized), and they had a double crapton of equipment. We happened to be in Savannah the day the USNS Bellatrix left port. The top of the bluff in Savannah is 2-3 stories above water level in the river, and the side of the ship was 3-4 stories above street level, not even counting the superstructure. The ship was going very slowly down the river, and it took a WHILE for that long beast to pass the point where I was standing. Quite a show. Family vacation in the late 50's we drove from Maryland to Daytona and return. Recall the US 17 bridge over the Savannah River. With the surround area being coastal plains and the bridge had to clear ocean going vessels on the river; so you are going from 'ground level' to about 100 -150 feet in the air to cross over the river - as you approach the top of the bridge, prominately displayed are 'NO SMOKING ON BRIDGE' signs - there are ships docked in the river underneath the bridge. And besides there was a traffic jam, inching ones way up and down the bridge. When racing a Roebling Road Raceway outside Savannah we would go down to some of the restaurants along the waterfront - watching a ocean going vessel pass you on the walkway absolutely dwarfs the human form.
About 15 or 20 years ago the bridge you drove over was replaced with a 4-lane bridge; the roadway on the new one is about at the level of the highest point of the bridge you drove over. It is quite a sight!
SALfan1 BaltACD About 15 or 20 years ago the bridge you drove over was replaced with a 4-lane bridge; the roadway on the new one is about at the level of the highest point of the bridge you drove over. It is quite a sight! SALfan1 BaltACD During Desert Storm, Fort Stewart outside Savannah was on my territory. CSX would deliver empty trains of DODX flats and come back the next day and move the loaded flats to whatever port they were going to use to cross the pond. The volume was one or two trains a week for about two months. We lived in my hometown (5 miles outside the western boundary of Ft. Stewart) during Desert Storm. A lot of the equipment was loaded at the Port of Savannah. My understanding was that CSX shuttled trainloads from the loading point on post to the port (about 30 miles). The troops at Ft. Stewart then were the 24th Infantry Div. (Mechanized), and they had a double crapton of equipment. We happened to be in Savannah the day the USNS Bellatrix left port. The top of the bluff in Savannah is 2-3 stories above water level in the river, and the side of the ship was 3-4 stories above street level, not even counting the superstructure. The ship was going very slowly down the river, and it took a WHILE for that long beast to pass the point where I was standing. Quite a show. Family vacation in the late 50's we drove from Maryland to Daytona and return. Recall the US 17 bridge over the Savannah River. With the surround area being coastal plains and the bridge had to clear ocean going vessels on the river; so you are going from 'ground level' to about 100 -150 feet in the air to cross over the river - as you approach the top of the bridge, prominately displayed are 'NO SMOKING ON BRIDGE' signs - there are ships docked in the river underneath the bridge. And besides there was a traffic jam, inching ones way up and down the bridge. When racing a Roebling Road Raceway outside Savannah we would go down to some of the restaurants along the waterfront - watching a ocean going vessel pass you on the walkway absolutely dwarfs the human form.
I have seen it on my trips into Savannah - have yet to drive it. Seeing bridges designed to clear ocean going vessels over 'relative narrow' waterways rising up out of the coastal plain make a impressive sight that is viewable from afar.
Somewhat similar bridge existed it Chesapeake City, MD - crossing the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal that connect the Delaware River to the Chesapeake Bay. Back in the late 70's the approach and exit ramps parallelled the canal rising up to the bridge level that cleared ocean going vessels that transit the canal. Upon rising to bridge level you made a turn to cross the bridge and subsequently another turn to take the exit ramp down from the bridge. Looking at Google Earth it has been replaced by a straight through style of bridge.
BaltACD...watching a ocean going vessel pass you on the walkway absolutely dwarfs the human form.
We see that at one of the state parks here - hard by the "American Narrows" of the St Lawrence River. The narrows aren't very wide - less than a quarter mile in some parts, so if an empty ship is close to shore, you'll get quite the view - a wall of steel.
I've been across three of the international bridges over the Seaway - Thousand Islands, Ambassador, and Blue Water. You're up in the air!
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