A buddy recently sent me a bunch of P38s (38 twists to open a can?) and a couple of P51s. I had never seen a P51 before. It is the "mess-hall" size P38, about twice as big. Cool! For more info on the Military Railway Service (MRS), check out MG Carl R. Gray, Jr.'s "Railroading in Eighteen Countries" (Scribner, 1955). He was Director General of the MRS, 1942-1945. Some interesting stuff therein.
Hays
What a great video!! They blew up the track and fixed it right in front of us!!
If you have a Kindle or iPhone/iPod Touch with the Kindle App, there are some excellent military training manuals for railroading. There's everything from track maintenance to engineering to engine maintenance and operation. You can find them elsewhere but they're very easy to find with the Kindle app and only cost around $0.99 each or less. I've bought and read several of them.
Camp Claiborne was near Forest Hills, LA. A look at the topo shows some old railroad grades generally between there and Fort Polk, but there are breaks and some dead ends. Fort Polk currently has rail service.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
What a great vid!! I wonder what is left of that line they used? But I love the line"The trains MUST be kept rolling!" Truer words could not have been spoken in those days.
Yes we are on time but this is yesterdays train
locoi1sa samfp1943Army Video of how to preform a field tracheotomy with a GI can opener, or a K-bar.) Those little P38s could do anything! I still have a few of them around here. Sometimes the wife and I will race to see who can open a can faster and she uses the electric. I win every time. You can not forget the treatment for a sucking chest wound either. Some of the training classes will last forever in my mind. Pete
samfp1943Army Video of how to preform a field tracheotomy with a GI can opener, or a K-bar.)
Those little P38s could do anything! I still have a few of them around here. Sometimes the wife and I will race to see who can open a can faster and she uses the electric. I win every time. You can not forget the treatment for a sucking chest wound either. Some of the training classes will last forever in my mind.
Pete
For those of you who did not have the privilege of serving in the US Army, I would like to explain that the P38 was this fantastic little can opener. It actually folded up into something the size of a quarter.
They'd put 2 or 3 in a case of "C Rations" and we were supposed to pass 'em around. In reality, you'd hold on to one and put it around your neck on a chain with your "Dog Tags".
People complained about the canned "C Rations", but I found them amazing. The Army would always try to get hot, freshly prepared food out to the troops. They're legendary for serving hot turkey, mashed potatoes with gravey, etc. on Thanksgiving and Christmas to troops deployed in the middle of nowhere. No other army does anything like that.
But obviously, they can't always do that. The step down (troops gotta' eat) was to "C Rations". (Now replaced) In something like a 3" x 3" x 6" cardboard box you'd get a canned "meal" in about 3 cans along with chewing gum, cigarettes (4), instant coffee, instant hot chocolate, sugar, and toliet paper. It was amazing. Heating it up was your problem.
The P38 can opener made it all possible.
Of course the P38's and the "C Rations" themselves were delivered by those Transportation Corps trains.
Sure thing Pete!
I still remember sitting in the gym at the Army Reserve Unit while watching those films, for a whole week-end drill. I had almost forgotten about the"Sucking Chest Wound" or the one about how to amputate various bits, and pieces was one you could really sink your teeth into.
But the train video was cool! > Back on Topic! < Semper Fi !
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Loved the train video, interesting to see how things were done in those times of the 1940's.
( I think this will be my next favorite Training Video, after the Army Video of how to preform a field tracheotomy with a GI can opener, or a K-bar.)
Thank You!
US Army rail road training video for you guys.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e9a_1241081839
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