From the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Alaska Post 12/2023

You can find lots more about the 714th here: https://bityl.co/Mzyq

John Pilsits Obituary John P. Pilsits, 99, of Oak Hill Village,

Middletown, died Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Oak Hill Village. John was born on October 14, 1924. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, stationed in India with the 748th Railway Operating Battalion. He was an avid Notre Dame fan, liked reading mystery books, walking and especially the times when he would see anyone and just say "hi." John was the youngest son (and the last of the family line) of the late Rudolph and Lucy Knoll Pilsits of Steelton. He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years Mary E. Magaro Pilsits. He is survived by four sons and one daughter. John Jr. of Aurora, IL., Richard of Enola, Dennis of Philadelphia, Keith of Etters, and Robin Kay Deibler of Wrightsville; 9 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM Monday, November 27, 2023 in Seven Sorrows BVM Catholic Church, 280 N. Race St., Middletown. Celebrant will be Rev. Timothy J. Sahd. 

Viewing will be in the narthex of the church Monday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, West Hanover Twp. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Oak Hill Village for the Benevolent Fund. www.pennlive.com/obits

 733rd Railroad Operating Battalion

If you can help Rob in his search for these locos get in touch with me.

Rob writes ... My WWII railway interests focus on motive power and rolling stock, particularly ambulance trains aka hospital trains. 

Gathering drawings and photos, I endeavour to produce compilations which are deposited in the Archives section of the Military Railway Study Group https://www.mrsg.org.uk/ 

At the moment, I am searching for photos of (British) WD 2-8-0s lent to the USATC bearing Transportation Corps USA on their tenders and RGD branding on the lower cabside. 

The image Pictorial Handbook of Military Transportation Operational Photog_00009.jpg LINK shows an RGD branding. This comes from a better copy of the book held by Bangor Public Library,

The library also holds some ROB histories. Ft Eustis was able to furnish a photo of WD 2-8-0s in USATC use in Belgium. I attach it together with a crop, enlargement, and colour inversion of the locomotive in the middle of the view showing USA on the tender side. (below)

Photo 50876 of the attached .pdf 50875 - 50889 SPARE PARTS LINK TRAIN being photos from Library and Archives Canada shows an ROB brading on the lower cabside. 

Note the apparent repainting of the tender side to obliterate any USA markings which simply wouldn't do for an official 1st Canadian Army photo! Attached is a compilation regarding these locomotives. 

Of particular interest is 79189 which was exchanged for S160 3257 which was acquired for training purposes on the (British) Longmoor Military Railway. LINK

Knowledge of this was scarce and only recently has a photograph of something else with 79189 came to light in a German article Eisenbahn Kurier 12_2020 seiten 48 - 52 - mit Übersetzung ins Englische, also attached. LINK

Richard writes about his uncle Fred  ... I started my search for my uncle's history before I received this Veteran's archive document from St Louis. 

I knew he was at Normandy and he crossed the Rhine at Wesel to the north of the famous railroad bridge at Remagen (Ludendorff Bridge). I visited that site as an LT in 1972. I pieced together the 729th because the NY, New Haven & Long Island RR was where he worked prior to entering service in the CT NG 1932 then called up in 1942. 

He shipped out to England arriving 18 Jul 1943. Landed at Normandy 3 days afterwards (though I found a piece of camo parachute silk in this cigar box which had in ink that he landed. I don't think it was his). Day 3 would be the LST landing ships bringing in the prefabricated rail cars along a long pre-fabricated ramp the engineers pieced together from the beach. 

My uncle had "engineer castle insignia's which confuses me as they were also part of the 729 but he didn't go to engineer school, He went to Atlantic Coast Transportation and Chemical Warfare school. 

Fred worked on Railway Signals Maintenance for 729th ROB

William writes... Hi my Dad Paul T. Hines Served in the US Army from Dec.30 1943-May 6 1946 DOB October 11, 1918 Army serial #31427521 Rank Cpl Served with the 743rd Railway Operating Battalion Belgium,Germany,and France for about 18 months (My Dad Capt Bill Griffin served in B company 743rd) Thanks William for great docs and photos ... 

 

 

 Interested in trains used in WWI ? ( many were still in use when we got to France in '44) Pick up a used copy or check you library 

The Men, Locomotives and Tracks That Took the Armies to War 1914-18
by Roden, Andrew 

Without the railways for the Great Powers, the most terrible conflict the world has ever known would have taken a very different form - if it had happened at all. In a remarkable historical railway journey through Britain and Europe, author Andrew Roden tells the story of the men and women who manned the tracks and the trains, and who relied on them to get them to battle and back home again. Drawing on diaries, memoirs and archive material he reveals the personal stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and pays tribute to their overlooked contribution.  He looks at defining moments of railway history on both sides of the Great War.

 

J.R. writes ... My father COL Richard Paris Clark, Jr., commanded the 714th between 1968 and 1970. He kept a diary of his Vietnam tour from 1965 to 1966, where he served as chief of Movements Branch, J-4 MACV. You can read it on

A Vietnam War Clerk's Diary. There are lots of mentions of TC officers and inside information regarding the big troop buildup in SVN.

http://vietnamwarclerksdiary.blogspot.com/  

More information here http://militaryrailwayservice.blogspot.com/2014/05/mrs-events-and-update-from-mark-metz.html

Thanks to Tom for sharing these great photos of his dad, Michael Walter Matlosz. 

Obituaries: Michael W Matlosz, 77 Jersey Journal, The (Jersey City, NJ) - Wednesday, July 14, 1999 

Mass for Michael W. Matlosz, 77, a lifelong resident of Bayonne, will be Friday at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Bayonne. He died Monday in St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston. Matlosz was an Army veteran of World War II. He was received the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon with two Campaign Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Battle Star, and the Meritorious Unit Plaque. Matlosz was a chemical operator for Allied Chemical Corp., Elizabeth, for 22 years, retiring 13 years ago. 

He was a member of F.A. Mackenzie American Legion Post 165, Bayonne. Surviving are his wife, Nellie T.; two sons, Michael Mark and Thomas K.; two daughters, Maureen M. and Debbie D. Kocher; a sister, Jean Jadlowski; a brother, John; and five grandchildren. Dworzanski & Son Funeral Home, Bayonne, is in charge.

Men from Company C, 729th Railway Operating Battalion, operate a British War Department made Austerity locomotive in a railyard at Antwerp, Belgium, 1944

An old French steam locomotive is seen being operated by men of the 727th Railway Operating Battalion in Algeria on 17 February 1943

.Just a little less than a year before in March of 1942 the 727th ROB was the first railway battalion activated in World War II. Soldiers of the 727th were established at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, to train on the Southern Railroad between Meridian, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana. 

In September 1942, a detachment of men from the 727th Railway Operating Battalion became the first military railroaders to deploy outside the contiguous United States when they assumed operations of the White Pass and Yukon Railroad in Alaska. Then the 727th was one of the first two battalions to deploy overseas, arriving in North Africa in December 1942. Railroading in North Africa proved to be challenging. Trains were operated by British, French, and American crews assisted by Arab civilians. 

With a variety of languages among the railroaders, the crew often used hand signals, although that was not always a solution. For example, the U.S. signal for “go” in railroad terms meant “stop!” in the French system used in North Africa. Another quirk was that French locomotives in North Africa did not have seats for engineers or firemen as American ones did, so crews had to stand for hours on end while they were underway. 

In spite of the difficulties, the Military Railway Service (MRS) moved about 90,000 tons of freight a week by June 1943. At its peak the MRS operated 1,905 miles of railway in North Africa. After freeing North Africa from German occupation the Allies’ next move was to Sicily, and MRS personnel went with them. Three days after the initial landings on 10 July 1943 the 727th Railway Operating Battalion went ashore at Licata, Sicily, and immediately began work on the Sicilian railway. Thanks Military Railroad Society https://www.facebook.com/usatc5002

 Thanks to Adam Glanzman for sharing some photos of his grandfather Abraham Glanzman who served in the 763rd.

 

 

During World War II, as the number of wounded soldiers in need of transport back to the United States rose, the Army developed and managed a complex network of hospital trains that brought the injured from ports across the country to care facilities near their homes. 

Now largely a remnant of the past (at least in the U.S.), hospital trains were an important element of American military operations for nearly a century. They were first used during the Civil War, then again during World War I. But during World War II, that familiarity didn’t save the Army and the Office of the Surgeon General from needing to undertake a laborious revamp of the system that very nearly stretched to the end of the conflict in 1945. https://bityl.co/KaE4

Thanks so much to his son Eric and other family members for sharing these amazing photos ! 

Jeroen van der Schaaf of Rotterdam, The Netherlands is trying to find out about these locomotives. If you have any information or photos of these locos please contact me, Nancy : militaryrailwayservice@gmail.com

His web page can be found here https://army-whitcombs.info/s/aw/page/about

Thanks to Jeroen for this great photos of  two of these 65-DE-19A Whitcombs in Rome 1944. 

Joroen writes ... this photo shows two of these locos on the 4^th of July 1944, pulling the first train into Rome. It carried a load of coal, which was sorely needed to help boost the output of electricity and gas for the city.

At the end of the war in Europe, about 118 of these locomotives were sent back to the United States during the summer of 1945. They were intended to be refurbished and sent westwards to aid in the war against Japan, but this plan was abandoned because of the rapid conclusion of the war in the Far East. With the war over, the locomotives were disposed of via the War Assets Administration (WAA) at the beginning of 1947. Most of the USATC Whitcombs were sold through dealers to industrial operators and short lines in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Cuba.

 

**Important document - see original below. I'm increasing using AI ( Chat Gpt) to trranscribe these document - there can be mistakes i didnt catch.

 

SUMMARY OF AMERICAN RAILROADS

AFFILIATION/SPONSORSHIP OF MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE UNITS WORLD WAR II

NOTE: INCOMPLETE DATA; UPDATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 6, 1990

COMPILER'S NOTE

THIS COMPILATION IS ORGANIZED FIRST BY THE CURRENT MAJOR CORPORATION, THEN BY THE RAILROADS OF THAT CORPORATION WHICH SPONSORED MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE UNITS IN WORLD WAR II. LISTED UNDER THE RAILROAD ARE THE UNITS SPONSORED, AND WHERE KNOWN, THE NAME OF THE UNIT COMMANDER, HIS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN AND THE JOB HE HELD ON THAT RAILROAD BEFORE ENTERING THE ARMY.

INDEX

CURRENT CORPORATION

• ASSN OF AMERICAN RAILROADS
• BURLINGTON NORTHERN INC
• CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN
• CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORP
• COOPER INDUSTRIES
• CSX CORPORATION
• GUILFORD TRANSPORTATION CORP
• ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD
• NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION
• ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD
• SANTA FE CORPORATION

TO CONTENTS

SPONSORING RAILROAD

• ASSN OF AMERICAN RAILROADS
• CHICAGO, BURLINGTON, QUINCY
• GREAT NORTHERN
• ST LOUIS-SAN FRANCISCO
• CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN
• CHICAGO, ST PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA
• CENTRAL OF NEW JERSEY AND THE READING RAILROAD
• CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO AND ST LOUIS
• DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA & WESTERN
• ERIE RAILROAD
• NEW YORK CENTRAL
• NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN, HARTFORD
• PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD
• AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY
• ATLANTIC COASTLINE
• BALTIMORE AND OHIO
• CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO
• LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE
• SEABOARD AIRLINE
• BOSTON & ALBANY-BOSTON & MAINE-CENTRAL VERMONT-DELAWARE AND HUDSON
• BOSTON AND MAINE
• GULF, MOBILE AND OHIO
• ILLINOIS CENTRAL
• CENTRAL OF GEORGIA
• NORFOLK AND WESTERN
• SOUTHERN RAILWAY
• WABASH RAILWAY
• CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC
• ATCHISON, TOPEKA, & SANTA FE

UNAFFILIATED RAILWAY UNITS

• SOUTHERN PACIFIC
• TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS
• MISSOURI-KANSAS-TEXAS
• MISSOURI-PACIFIC
• TEXAS AND PACIFIC
• UNION PACIFIC

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE

• MAJOR GENERAL CARL R. GRAY, JR.
• CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA VICE PRESIDENT

709TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

• COLONEL FRANK E. CHESHIRE
• MISSOURI-PACIFIC ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
• COLONEL MERLE M. SHAPPELL
• UNION PACIFIC ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

766TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL E. K. HOBBS
• SOUTHERN RAILWAY

BURLINGTON NORTHERN INCORPORATED

CHICAGO, BURLINGTON AND QUINCY

745TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ASSAM, INDIA

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM P. WILSON
• COLORADO AND SOUTHERN (BURLINGTON LINES) SUPERINTENDENT
• ALSO:
• PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES AT LINCOLN, NEB.

GREAT NORTHERN

704TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

• COLONEL ALEXANDER W. CAMPBELL
• GREAT NORTHERN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
• COLONEL FREDERICK W. OKIE
• SOUTHERN RAILWAY SUPERINTENDENT

732ND RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL T. J. BRENNAN
• GREAT NORTHERN TRAINMASTER

ST. LOUIS-SAN FRANCISCO

750TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. J. STOCKARD
• ATLANTIC COASTLINE TRAINMASTER

CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN

720TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL C. J. FREEMAN
• CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RIGHT OF WAY AGENT
• ALSO:
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL (LATER COLONEL) CHARLES E. HISE, FIRST COMMANDER OF THE 714TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION. UPON PROMOTION HE BECAME DIRECTOR OF TRAINING FOR RAIL UNITS.

CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA

714TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ALASKA

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES E. HISE
• CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN
• (LIEUTENANT COLONEL HISE PROMOTED TO COLONEL AND BECAME DIRECTOR OF TRAINING FOR RAILWAY UNITS)
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL HERBERT S. HURON
• CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA YARDMASTER
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL WALTER F. HASTEDT
• CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA ENGR ACCOUNTANT
• MAJOR PHILIP E. BARLON
• CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA ASSISTANT ENGINEER
• ALSO:
• PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES NEAR FORT SNELLING, MINNESOTA.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF MGEN CARL R. GRAY, JR., DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE IN WORLD WAR II.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN FOR MOST OF MRS-GHOS STAFF.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEORGE M. WELCH, AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 711TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION. THE 711TH ROB WAS THE FIRST BATTALION ACTIVATED. IT WAS NOT A SPONSORED UNIT.

CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION

CENTRAL OF NEW JERSEY AND READING RAILROAD

712TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL F. R. DOUD
• CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS (BIG FOUR-NEW YORK CENTRAL)

718TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND LUXEMBOURG

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT A. WRIGHT

753RD RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, AND THE PHILIPPINES

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN J. DAUGHERTY
• SOUTHERN PACIFIC GENERAL SHOP FOREMAN
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES O. BUTLER
• ATLANTIC COASTLINE

DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA AND WESTERN

763RD RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, BELGIUM

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES PURCELL
• DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA AND WESTERN

ERIE RAILROAD

735TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. C. BAUGHN
• ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE

765TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL LAWRENCE H. LEWIS
• ERIE RAILROAD WHEEL SHOP FOREMAN

NEW YORK CENTRAL

701ST RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY

• COLONEL J. E. GUILFOYLE
• NEW YORK CENTRAL SUPERINTENDENT

721ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL KARL F. EMMANUEL
• NEW YORK CENTRAL

737TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINES, KOREA, AND JAPAN

• MAJOR CHARLES BUCHANAN
• ALSO:
• PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES AT BUCYRUS, OHIO.
• IN ADDITION, PERSONNEL OF THE NEW YORK CENTRAL TOOK UP DONATIONS, PURCHASED A B-26 MARAUDER BOMBER, NEW YORK CENTRAL II, AND PRESENTED IT TO THE ARMY AIR FORCES ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1943. IT WAS HIT BY ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE AND EXPLODED OVER GERMANY ON NEW YEAR’S DAY, 1945. THE BOMBER, ON ITS 103RD COMBAT MISSION, HAD 410 COMBAT HOURS AND HAD DROPPED 322,000 POUNDS OF BOMBS OVER ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. F. O'CONNELL WHO COMMANDED THE 775TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION IN THE PHILIPPINES.

NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN AND HARTFORD

729TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. S. CARR (TD 708 RGD)
• NEW HAVEN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL WORTHINGTON C. SMITH
• NORTHERN PACIFIC TRAINMASTER

749TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINES

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL HARRY E. DONNELLY
• ALSO:
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL N. S. CARR, WHO COMMANDED THE LINES OWN 729TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, THEN COMMANDED THE 708TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION, SPONSORED BY THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

706TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN FRANCE, LUXEMBOURG, AND GERMANY

• COLONEL STEPHEN R. TRUESDELL
• COLONEL LOUIS G. JAMISON
• PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD TRAINMASTER

717TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. P. LOWERY
• PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

724TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. D. SHEA
• CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC TRAINMASTER

730TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN IRAN

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN J. CLUTZ
• PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD DIVISION ENGINEER
• MAJOR GEORGE TAYLOR

756TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. U. BATES
• ALSO:
• PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES NEAR FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF MAJOR W. THOMAS RICE, WHO COMMANDED THE 791ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION IN THE PERSIAN GULF COMMAND. MAJOR RICE LATER SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE RICHMOND, FREDERICKSBURG AND POTOMAC; THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE; THE SEABOARD COASTLINE. AND CHAIRMAN OF SEABOARD COASTLINE INDUSTRIES, INC. IN ADDITION HE SERVED AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE, RETIRING IN 1969 AS A MAJOR GENERAL, U.S. ARMY RESERVE.

COOPER INDUSTRIES

AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY

762 RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION (DIESEL): SERVED IN IRAN AND GERMANY

• MAJOR WILLIAM C. ROGERS

CSX CORPORATION

ATLANTIC COASTLINE

703RD RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE AND GERMANY

• COLONEL CLARENCE L. BURPEE
• ATLANTIC COASTLINE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT
• ALSO:
• COLONEL BURPEE, LATER PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL AND PLACED IN COMMAND OF THE NEWLY FORMED 2ND MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE, OPERATING IN EUROPE.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES O. BUTLER, ONE OF THE COMMANDERS OF THE 753RD RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. J. STOCKARD, TRAINMASTER, WHO COMMANDED THE 750TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE ST. LOUIS-SAN FRANCISCO RAILROAD.

BALTIMORE AND OHIO

708TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY

• MAJOR RALPH U. JENSEN
• SUD LINE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
• COLONEL W. S. CARR (FROM 729TH ROB)
• NEW HAVEN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
• ALSO:
• WAS THE RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL L. E. THORNTON, WHO COMMANDED THE 741ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE GULF, MOBILE AND OHIO.

CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO

740TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL SAMUEL H. PULLIAM
• CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO SUPERINTENDENT

LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE

728TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL C. D. LOVE
• LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE SUPERINTENDENT

SEABOARD AIRLINE

722ND RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL CURTIS A. MCREE
• SEABOARD AIRLINE SUPERINTENDENT

GUILFORD TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRIES

BOSTON & ALBANY-BOSTON & MAINE-CENTRAL VERMONT-DELAWARE & HUDSON

764TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL EMIL RINBBERB
• BOSTON AND MAINE SHOP SUPERINTENDENT

BOSTON AND MAINE

752ND RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL R. E. TRIBBS

ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD

GULF, MOBILE AND OHIO

741ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL L. E. THORNTON
• BALTIMORE AND OHIO SUPERINTENDENT

ILLINOIS CENTRAL

715TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL T. P. CRYMES
• ILLINOIS CENTRAL SUPERINTENDENT

743RD RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRANK G. COOK
• NORTHERN PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION

CENTRAL OF GEORGIA

733RD RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. P. SCHOPPER

NORFOLK AND WESTERN

755TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, BELGIUM

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL MILES S. STEVENS
• SOUTHERN RAILWAY MASTER MECHANIC

SOUTHERN RAILWAY

707TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. BREINER
• SOUTHERN RAILWAY TRAINMASTER

727TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY, ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL FREDERICK W. OKIE
• SOUTHERN RAILWAY SUPERINTENDENT
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN M. BUDD
• ALSO:
• PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES NEAR CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL E. K. HOBBS, WHO COMMANDED THE 766TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL FREDERICK W. OKIE, A DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 727TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, AND THEN COMMANDED THE 704TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION, SPONSORED BY THE GREAT NORTHERN.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL MILES G. STEVENS, A MASTER MECHANIC, WHO COMMANDED THE 755TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE NORFOLK AND WESTERN.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM C. MORRIS, WHO TOOK OVER THE 716TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION AFTER ITS BLACK MARKET EPISODE.

WABASH RAILWAY

726TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL HARVEY PILOHER
• WABASH

ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD

CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND, AND PACIFIC

725TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEORGE R. BRANCH
• CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

SANTA FE CORPORATION

ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE

710TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN FRANCE

• COLONEL D. D. BRILL
• ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE SUPERINTENDENT

713TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES D. NOTGRASS
• ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE SUPERINTENDENT
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL ERNEST E. FOULKS
• ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE SUPERINTENDENT

758TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL CLARENCE V. CONLISK
• ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE
• ALSO:
• PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS SANTA FE LINE AT CAMP WILLIAM C. REED, NEAR CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. C. BAUGHN, WHO COMMANDED THE 735TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE ERIE RAILROAD.

SUD LINE CORPORATION

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC

744TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL WALTER G. HOTCHKISS
• CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

757TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN W. MOE
• CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC ROUNDHOUSE FOREMAN
• ALSO:
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL F. R. DOUD, A DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 712TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE CENTRAL OF NEW JERSEY AND READING RAILROAD.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. D. SHEA, TRAINMASTER, WHO COMMANDED THE 724TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD.

SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

SOUTHERN PACIFIC

705TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN INDIA

• COLONEL STANLEY H. BRAY
• SOUTHERN PACIFIC

716TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

• MAJOR WALTER H. MARLIN
• SOUTHERN PACIFIC ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
• (MARLIN WAS TRIED BY COURT-MARTIAL AS PART OF BLACK-MARKET ACTIVITIES OF SEVERAL MEN IN THE BATTALION; FOUND NOT GUILTY AND RESIGNED HIS COMMISSION)
• MAJOR CHARLES T. KENNEY (INTERIM COMMANDER)
• GREAT NORTHERN SUPERINTENDENT
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT J. MACNAMARA
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM C. MORRIS
• SOUTHERN RAILWAY

754TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

• MAJOR OSCAR E. COLE
• ALSO:
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN J. DAUGHERTY, GENERAL SHOP FOREMAN, WHO COMMANDED THE 753RD RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS.

TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS

719TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT F. WILLIAMS
• TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS SUPERINTENDENT

734TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND HOLLAND

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL RALPH E. JOHNSON
• TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS TRAINMASTER

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION

MISSOURI-KANSAS-TEXAS

746TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL N. C. PRUETT
• MISSOURI-KANSAS-TEXAS SUPERINTENDENT

MISSOURI-PACIFIC

759TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL ERNEST M. PRICE
• MISSOURI-PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL EVERARD F. BARNES
• MISSOURI-PACIFIC ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT
• ALSO:
• PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON MISSOURI-PACIFIC LINES FOR UNITS AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA AND CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL FRANK E. CHESHIRE, COMMANDER OF THE 709TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION, SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS.

TEXAS AND PACIFIC

748TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL ALVA O. OGG
• TEXAS AND PACIFIC

UNION PACIFIC

702ND RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN IRAN

• COLONEL ARTHUR E. STODDARD
• UNION PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT
• COLONEL PAUL F. YOUNT
• REGULAR ARMY

723RD RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL DOYLE GRESHAM
• UNION PACIFIC CHIEF DISPATCHER
• ALSO:
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL MERLE M. SHAPPELL, ONE OF THE COMMANDERS OF THE 709TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION, SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS.
• WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL ARTHUR E. STODDARD WHO COMMANDED THE 702ND RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION AND LATER THE 1ST MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE. STODDARD BECAME DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE IN 1951, RETIRING AS A MAJOR GENERAL IN THE ARMY RESERVES IN 1954. HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE UNION PACIFIC FROM 1949 UNTIL 1965.

UNAFFILIATED RAILWAY UNITS

1ST MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE

• COLONEL ARTHUR E. STODDARD
• UNION PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

2ND MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE

• BRIGADIER GENERAL CLARENCE L. BURPEE
• ATLANTIC COASTLINE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT

3RD MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE

• BRIGADIER GENERAL PAUL F. YOUNT
• REGULAR ARMY
• COLONEL FRANK S. BESSON, JR.
• REGULAR ARMY

774TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION

• COLONEL WILLIAM P. WILSON
• COLORADO AND SOUTHERN SUPERINTENDENT

775TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. G. BALCH
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. F. O'CONNELL
• NEW YORK CENTRAL

711TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEORGE M. WELCH
• CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA - ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

770TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM P. WILSON (TO 774TH RGD)
• COLORADO AND SOUTHERN SUPERINTENDENT

790TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION

• (COMMANDER UNKNOWN)

791ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL WORTHINGTON C. SMITH (TO 729TH ROB)
• NORTHERN PACIFIC TRAINMASTER
• MAJOR W. THOMAS RICE
• PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

760TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL A. R. WALKER

WORTHY OF NOTE: THE NORTHERN PACIFIC, ALTHOUGH NOT A SPONSORING RAILROAD, WAS THE RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF:

• LIEUTENANT COLONEL WORTHINGTON C. SMITH, TRAINMASTER, WHO COMMANDED THE 791ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION AND THEN LATER THE 729TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION; AND,
• LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRANK G. COOK, DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 743RD RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL.

IN ADDITION, THE COLORADO AND SOUTHERN, ALSO NOT A SPONSORING RAILROAD, WAS THE RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM P. WILSON, DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 770TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, AN UNSPONSORED UNIT. HE WAS PROMOTED TO COLONEL AND GIVEN COMMAND OF THE 774TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION.