I'M Sorry I guess i did not describe corectly what i am trying to build, didnt the U.S. Army have special cars built or modified by the Pullman co for transporting large numbers of men to induction centers, or verious training camps, I HAVE SEEN on E BAY "walters Troop carier cars, and also ww2 Troop transport cars, hospital cars and troop kitchen cars what were these used for? And were these hooked to regular passenger lines, like SF, UP, Frisco, or Pennsy, or did the U.S. Army Operate them them self and if the U.S. Army did operate them what type of Engine were they coupiled to?
thanks
Orange trainman
They were attached to whatever motive power was available to pull them at that time.
Even the mighty C&O Allegheny H-8, which was used purely for coal drag service, had troop transport cars attached to them.
Their was a huge shortage of materials to build new motive power. So railroads were forced to make due, and even pulled some older trains out of mothballs.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Now I understand what you're looking for. Microtrains produced those in N scale and Walther's had some in their HO catalogue.
Pullman made the cars very Spartan and quickly. They were pulled by the appropriate RR for the area used. The military didn't operate their own RR.
For the time frame you're modelling, steam would be your primary motive power. Long haul diesels weren't that plentiful during the war years.
check this out from war dept archieves
http://www.archive.org/details/TroopTra1943
river_eagle wrote: check this out from war dept archieveshttp://www.archive.org/details/TroopTra1943
And that is the way it was back then.
It is so worth the download.
It isnt so much the ARMY but more of the Pentagon that was involved. Army, Marines etc all were trainsported.
Today there is a Transport Command out of St Louis that will handle modern moves.
In the war years military troop trains recieved a "MAIN+ number" designation. Those trains GENERALLY but not always had the right of way over everything else on the entire division.
Pullman Company was in a special position to handle the needs of the Troops nationwide. There would be advertising to the average traveler to accept substandard travel so that the Soldier, Sailor or Marine will get a better rest on his way to war. And they did.
In those days Warfighting affected everyone in the USA. Anything that was useful in the war effort was made availible to the troops any way it was. Civilians were rationed according to thier station in life and skill sets.
Keep in mind it took years after WW2 was over to finish transporting the troops and I believe that Korea kept it going for a time.
If you're working in HO the guy who now owns the old Red Ball Line has updated their troop car kits and has offered a variety of them. You might try looking at them.
Pullman and several others built a gazillion of these during the war. Afterwards many of them were converted into express freight boxcars, which gives you an idea of the luxurious accomidations.
The AAR and the War Deparment made many propaganda films during the war dealing with the movment of troops. One aired on RFD network not too long ago which told the story of moving an armored division by rail. Lots of prototype information and just what the Dr. ordered for a project like yours. Try chasing down one of these films.
As noted above, basically anything and everything that ran was put into service. Much of the railroad equipment, esp. steam locomotives dated from the 20's as railroads didn't order too much equipment in the cash strapped '30's. Almost any passenger equipment that could be run was used, from the latest stream liners to old heavyweights. Freights would use a lot of flat cars for vehicles. Diesels would be more common on passenger service than freights, but would have occasionaly be seen on freights.
The army, and the navy had some specialized rolling stock for handling heavy stuff such as big cannon barrels. They also owned several types of locomotives for switching on docks or at bases where they were needed. There's a lot of rolling stock that's been made over the years by various manufactures lettered for the army or navy..some accurate and some pretty creative, so take your choice.
Both military rolling stock and motive power have been covered in the MR press over the years, so an index search ought to track down some good info for you.
hope this helps
JBB