The Liberation Line The Untold Story of How Railwaymen Won the War by Christian Wolmar (with a little help by me )

The entire purpose of my websites and blogs for the past 25 years has been to collect and share the amazing work of the U.S. Army rail units of WWII and Korea. 

Both my father and uncle were officers and served in rail units in both wars. I've felt this unique service was being lost and forgotten. Luckily, so did the British author, Christian Wolmar. He contacted me about 2 years ago with his idea for this book and  I've worked with him as his research assistant on this project.  I am beyond thrilled to present:

The Liberation Line The Untold Story of How Railwaymen Won the War by Christian Wolmar 

The epic story of the railwaymen who ensured Allied victory in World War Two, published to coincide with the eightieth anniversary of D-Day.

As the Allied forces advanced through France following the Normandy landings, just behind the frontline the US Military Rail Service and their counterparts in the Royal Engineers were at work, ensuring that crucial supply lines were up and running – without them the liberation of France and the invasion of Germany would founder. 

Based on original research, The Liberation Line thrillingly reveals how the railwaymen overcame enemy attacks, sabotage and booby traps to repair many hundreds of miles of destroyed railway tracks and dozens of bridges and tunnels in order to deliver victory. Packed with tales of individual heroism, this is one of the last great untold stories of the war. 

The book will be published in May 2024 in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of D-Day. You can
per-order Amazon here: https://amz.run/76Q4 

 Christian will be doing a US tour with the book if you'd like him to speak to your organization email me. If you are interested in an autographed book or to have Christian speak to your group email me at liberationlineus@gmail.com    Thanks Nancy  (UK cover top left - US bottom right)

If you have any information on a soldier railroader I would love to hear from you! If your father, grandfather or other relative served let me know something about them. I would love to do a blog post about them. Nancy  email: militaryrailwayservice@gmail.com

N.Y. Central Headlight Railroad Magazine Vol.VI No. 12 December 1945

War time editions of N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight are a goldmine and this edition includes mentions of soldiers in the units: 

CH December 1945 

  • 718th ROB Ross 
  • 759th ROB Champagne 

 

N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight Magazine Vol.VI No.11 November 1945

War time editions of N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight are a goldmine and this edition includes mentions of soldiers in the units: 

 CH November 1945

  • 701st RGD Guilfoyle
  • 750th ROB Bresler
  • 717th ROB Julian
  • 719th ROB Firestine

 

N.Y. Central Headlight Railroad Magazine Vol.VI No. 10 October 1945

War time editions of N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight are a goldmine and this edition includes mentions of soldiers in the units:

 CH October 1945

  • 718th ROB Battle of Bulge
  • 712th India Bassell
  • 725th ROB Austria Finley
  • 759th ROB Zimmerman  
  • 762nd ROB Hilstrom

 

N.Y. Central Headlight Railroad Magazine Vol.VI No. 9 September 1945

War time editions of N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight are a goldmine and this edition includes mentions of soldiers in the units: 

CH September 1945

  • 718th, 721st, 736th, 737th ROB
  • 753rd RSB
  • 701st RGD
  • All NYC Battalions go to reserves Post War.
  • 718th ROB – first train across Rhine Guilfoil
  • 2nd MRS piper cubs doing reconnaissance- telegraph line
  • 748th ROB Truden
  • 724th ROB Brearton
  • MRS Ital
  • MRS Burma
  • MRS #years of experience
  • 706th RGD
  • 713th ROB
  • 721st ROB Voights India
  • MRS operated 12 RR lines in Germany
  • 718th ROB Merit Plaque
  • 726th Padula India
  • Double Turntable at Cologne in Germany
  • 2nd MRS Elmes 

 

 

N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight Magazine Vol. VI No.8 August 1945

War time editions of N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight are a goldmine and this edition includes mentions of soldiers in the units: 

CH Aug 1945

  • 718thth ROB MRS Company B
  • 714th ROB Alaska
  • 718th ROB Luxembourg
  • 701st RGD
  • 743rd ROB Stimson
  • MRS India

 

N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight Magazine Vol. VI No.7 July 1945

 War time editions of N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight are a goldmine and this edition includes mentions of soldiers in these units:

CH July 1945

  • MRS India
  • 758th RSB Burma
  • MRS Crane


N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight Magazine Vol.VI No.6 June 1945

War time editions of N.Y. Central Railroad Headlight are a goldmine and this edition includes mentions of soldiers in these units:

  • 2nd MRS Rhine bridge photo
  • 712th ROB Mulligan
  • 138th Hospital Train Maintenance
  • 735th ROB M.P. Wood
  • MRS McGlynn
  • MRS thefts
  • 744th RGD
  • 715the ROB Runion
  • 723rd POL in Germany
  • 721st ROB Ryan
  • 721st Tracy and Iran
  • 701st RGD DeLisle