wars and rails

[oscaletrains]

i would like to see what in pepoles opinions was the war that changed railroads [:D]

[Anonymous]

World War II
For American Railways; 1) it gave them four years of more traffic than they could handle and 2) the traffic was so great that the railraods didn't keep their physical plant up to par. Also, the war effort stopped production of early diesel locomtives, forcing railraods to contiune to pay the mounting bills on aging steam locomotives. These two factors played in great part to the problems of the 60s and 70s in American Railroading.
For Europe; The German invasion of Russia in Opearation Barbarsossa completely destoryed all production and transportation in Eastern Europe. While the destruction was far less in France and western Germany, most of the mainlane European rail lines to be completely rebuilt.

I would say the civil war is a close second, as it was the first time that it proven a modern army needed a strong industrail base and the means to transport those products to the front.

[PBenham]

I chose the Civil War because of the enormous impact it had on the railroad industry. During the war, lines in the South were the focus of many campaigns, once the water routes were all in Union hands. The Louisville& Nashville,Western & Atlantic and the Georgia Railroad all were caught up in the area most heavily fought over during the 1863-4 period. Instead of leaving the lines in ruins after seizing them, General William T. Sherman was shown that when the lines were rebuilt he could move men and material more effectively. And he did so with ruthless efficiency. The Transcontinental Railroad and its many connections, would not have been seriously considered had the war not forced the issue. President Lincoln knew that the Nation would need an overland link to the west to keep California in the Union. There were fears that California might seceed, not to join the Confederates, but to become another independent state. Following the war, there were thousands of men available to work on the Transcontinental since the Southern economy was in ruins,and the North's economy was in re-adjustment following the end of massive governmental purchases for the war effort and immigrants were flowing in again with the end of the war. The progress made in the construction of the Transcontinental was nothing short of amazing, as it had been felt that it would require at least 20 years to build. It was finished in but 5 years, thanks to lessons learned in re-building Southern railroads for use by Union forces. Its completion triggered the development of the mid-western grain belt that feeds the world to this day!

[Anonymous]

WWI

in europe, the railroads were within 20 miles of the trenches, or the trenches were no more than 20 miles from a railroad. railroads tend to create trench warfare, as they did in the civil war (the first railroad war). hitler, who was in both the european wars, knew about this and didn't let it happen to him.

in the US of A, the government took over the railroads, and thoroughly trashed them (as only the government can). starting around 1920, when the government finally gave them back, the entire system was rebuilt to the 20th century standards, and the glory of modern railroading took off. before this were the remnants of the developing railroad industry, and rules were observed or ignored depending on the bottom line.

railroading, as most know it, started here.

[Anonymous]

The Civil War in the USA had the biggest impact on railroads throughout the world. It was the first armed conflict where large forces could be moved, and supplied, by rail. The reason Hotlanta was captured and burned to the ground by Union forces (that's dangyankees to Southerners) is because it was a major rail terminal.

Following the Civil War, many of the other military establishments applied the lessons of the Civil War to their own planning. The Franco-Prussian war in the late 1890's was labeled as a "railroad war". The Prussian general staff had planned the numbers of trains and their schedules practically down to the minute. They could and did move activated reservists from their barracks to the front lines rapidly. They also discovered that railroad schedules, which look fine on paper, can and do sometimes go awry.

The American Civil War also directly influenced the development of the Union/Central Pacific transcontinental line. The UP construction boss was a former Civil War general, and many of the "Irish laborers" on the line were former Union soldiers. The line was originally proposed as a way to link California with the Union.

Erik

[Kevin C. Smith]

My European history is escaping me now but I believe it was Von Moltke who told the German General staff, "build no more fortresses, build railways". The American Civil War showed those who were looking that supply and movement overland could (and the way the railways were expanding, soon would) no longer be the problem it had been for centuries. So, I'd have to rank our War Between the States (as it's pronounced in Dixie) the most important conflict in the developement of railroads but WWI as most important in their decline. It was in that conflict that air and motor transport showed that supply from the railhead could (and, at the rate things were developing, would) no longer be a problem. WWII was-in this as in much else-a replay that finished the trends that began in 1914-18.

[oscaletrains]

well we cant forget the pairs gun bult by the germans or big birtha but i think that all the wars had an affect as long as they were before 1950

[coborn35]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rick bonfiglio

WWI

in the US of A, the government took over the railroads, and thoroughly trashed them (as only the government can). starting around 1920, when the government finally gave them back, the entire system was rebuilt to the 20th century standards, and the glory of modern railroading took off. before this were the remnants of the developing railroad industry, and rules were observed or ignored depending on the bottom line.

Ok. A=They didnt tra***hem....
B= They didnt give them back unti laround 1945ish.
The DMIR actually prospered and got some free locomotives from it!

[PBenham]

The Franco-Prussian war was fought in the early 1870's. The hard feelings left over from that war, helped start WWI. The imperfect peace resulting from that set up WWII.

[Anonymous]

I'd say WW2 definately and the Korean War to a lesser extent. The need for supplies kept freights moving around the clock and troop trains resulted in a lot of extra passenger traffic for the railroads. By the time Vietnam rolled around most military traffic was and to this day still is handled by trucks and planes.

[coborn35]

Actually the railroads handle ALOT of military vehicles. Maybe not alot of times, but when they do, its ALOT.

[Tim Burton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by erikthered



Following the Civil War, many of the other military establishments applied the lessons of the Civil War to their own planning. The Franco-Prussian war in the late 1890's was labeled as a "railroad war". The Prussian general staff had planned the numbers of trains and their schedules practically down to the minute. They could and did move activated reservists from their barracks to the front lines rapidly. They also discovered that railroad schedules, which look fine on paper, can and do sometimes go awry.

You're dates are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off. The Franco-Prussian War was 1870-1871. It also explains why they call it the War of 1870.[8D]

[Tim Burton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Kevin C. Smith

My European history is escaping me now but I believe it was Von Moltke who told the German General staff, "build no more fortresses, build railways". The American Civil War showed those who were looking that supply and movement overland could (and the way the railways were expanding, soon would) no longer be the problem it had been for centuries. So, I'd have to rank our War Between the States (as it's pronounced in Dixie) the most important conflict in the developement of railroads but WWI as most important in their decline. It was in that conflict that air and motor transport showed that supply from the railhead could (and, at the rate things were developing, would) no longer be a problem. WWII was-in this as in much else-a replay that finished the trends that began in 1914-18.

Boy, you Dixie boys forgot your history. It wasn't the "War Between the States", but actually the "War of Northern Aggression."

If you doubt me, read, "The South Was Right", by Kennedy.

Granted, the South fired the first shots, but the North was the Aggressor, much like Israel fired the first shots in '67, but the Islamic States were the aggressors.

[:)]

[IRONROOSTER]

I voted for WWI. With the nationalization of the railways under the USRA, standardization was introduced leading to several USRA designs and practices that later continued after the war. WWI also gave airplane technology a big boost that eventually helped eliminate most passenger service leading to Amtrak.

Sadly, it is war that has historically spurred technology.

Enjoy
Paul