I recently saw an old photo in a book of a train during World War II that consisted of a whole lot of flat cars with tanks on them along with passenger cars but there was no info telling what it was. I would guess that it was probably a troop/armour transport train (?). One of the reasons I'm interested is because I own several flat cars with tanks and also the correct passenger cars but before I go to all of the trouble of setting it up I'd like to know for sure that I'm proto correct and also what exactly I'm modeling... Thanks in advance for any info.
Tracklayer
I've seen 'propadanda' movies of World War 2 about how the railroads helped win the war, showing trains like the one you mention.
It was probably an armor unit moving to a port for movement overseas. There were probably also soldiers riding in some of the tanks to serve as guards. The passenger cars were the unit's personnel.
cacole I've seen 'propadanda' movies of World War 2 about how the railroads helped win the war, showing trains like the one you mention. It was probably an armor unit moving to a port for movement overseas. There were probably also soldiers riding in some of the tanks to serve as guards. The passenger cars were the unit's personnel.
IIRC, there's some pics taken early in the war of a unit moving to Fort Irwin or someplace similar for training prior to moving overseas.
That said, grouping the troops and equipment together like that was likely pretty rare. Freight and passengers still have issues that tend to keep them seperate even for MAIN trains (MAIN was a common generic designator for military trains). They were loaded and unloaded in different facilities, the rolling stock for freight needed to arrive with enough time to load and secure equipment, while personnel could usually step right onto a paseenger train once it arrived, etc.
Remember that officers and enlisted tended to get differing accomodations, because that's just a fact of military life, say emigrant sleepers vs the more private Pullman accomodations. Feeding could take place on a diner, but other arrangements, including stopping and getting off for meals, also worked.
Later in the war, after the troop sleepers and kitchens became available, enlisted men often rode in those, while officers rode in civvy Pullmans.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
There is a book called Trains to Victory that might be of some use to you. By Donald J. Heimburger and John Kelly.
I second the book recommendation.
Sean
HO Scale CSX Modeler
Gidday, both these are worth a look.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4QFQN1Pr2o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9rSHOMGRGk
Amongst all the other Good Stuff, the first one shows the military vehicles actually being secured to the flat cars, (I would have thought that a chain and twitch would have been tool to use but on reflection twisted wire was probably a lot cheaper).
The second shows military personnel riding along on the military vehicles.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Deleted:
Too much personal info shown in link.
Sorry. Had second thoughts of sharing all that.
Frank
Wdtvlive42
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F3-Pf78dEQ
can't link and embed
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
Gary,
A lot of good video's...Too bad they are not HD.
zstripe Gary, A lot of good video's...Too bad they are not HD. Frank
Thanks for your help with this guys. I really appreciate it. However, I think I'm just going to keep it simple and pretend it's a troop/tank transport and set it up with a baggage, coach and diner cars followed by several flat cars with tanks and a caboose... Later on I may add a few flat cars with Jeeps, halftracks, large guns and so forth to make it a little more interesting.