This rare WWII color film shows Santa Fe's contribution to the war effort. After WWII began the Santa Fe Railroad pressed all available steam and diesel locomotives into action to assist with America's war efforts.

Photo #63 is my grandfather, Pfc. Harry R. Trager and his buddy Chet Spears; Prestophoto Ltd., 56 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, England; 08-27-1943


Photo #99 is from L to R, T-5 R. Umbanhower, Pfc. Harry R. Trager, T-4 James Bogan, Sr.; 03-20-1943.
thanks again Toni 

Some additional notes from Toni PFC Trager's granddaughter:

 Harry Ruyle Trager was born December 20, 1912 in Indianapolis, IN. Trager entered the service of the New York Central System Railroad on December 12, 1936 as a yard brakeman and was promoted to yard conductor on September 3, 1941. On February 26, 1941 Trager left the service of the New York Central System to be inducted into the Army's Military Railroad Service on March 6, 1942 at Fort Benjamin Harrison at Indianapolis, IN. Pfc. Trager was assigned to Company C of the 729th ROB and was deployed to the European Theatre of Operations. Pfc. Trager served in England, France, and Germany and was awarded the Combat Infantry Man's Badge with Oak Leaves, the Rifle Sharpshooters Badge, the Decoration Medal for Good Conduct, the Medal for Campaign and Service Victory World War II, the Medal for Campaign and Service EAME Campaign Complete, and the Medal for Army of Occupation Germany. Pfc. Trager was discharged from the U.S. Army at Camp Attebury, IN on August 20, 1945. Harry Ruyle Trager continued his railroad service with New York Central System and Penn Central through the 1970s and counting MRS service accrued almost forty years on the railroad 

While my grandfather was deployed to the European Theatre of Operations he fell from the top of a train and fractured his leg. On September 25th, 1942 he was admitted to the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary for the fracture and here are some photos from his stay. My grandfather didn't know a stranger. I honestly believe during his hospital stay he made friends with everyone there, thus the photos.

Archives and Special Collections at the UAA-APU Consortium Library.  Archives and Special Collections has a variety of Alaska-related materials available for researchers:

UNITED STATES. ARMY. 770TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION. Records; n.d., 1942-1944. .1 cu. ft.

The 770th Railway Operating Battalion was organized in New Mexico in September, 1942, as Engineer Railway Detachment 9646A. In April, 1943, it was redesignated as the 770th Railway Operating Battalion. The unit operated the narrow gauge White Pass and Yukon Railway from October 1, 1942 to October 22, 1944 after which it left Alaska.

This document is the Traffic and Operation Survey of the White Pass and Yukon Route Rail Division. It is a survey of the physical and operating characteristics of the railroad as well as the statistical traffic record of the unit during the war. The survey was designed, compiled, and edited by Sgt. Ralph Brown and assisted by Paul W. Malcolm. The document includes general
information, a traffic statement concerning operations, reports of interruptions, and a list of rolling stock and equipment.

This survey was acquired from Mr. Lyman Woodman of Anchorage, Alaska in 1981. Mr. Woodman received it from the author Ralph Brown.

HMC-0265

http://consortiumlibrary.org/archives/Welcome

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