March 1943. "Clovis, New Mexico. Private Clarence Stephens of Streator, Illinois, a member of the U.S. Army Railroad Battalion stationed at Clovis, with Sidney Mack, engine inspector at the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad shops. They are inspecting one of the 5000 Class freight engines." Acetate negative by Jack Delano, Office of War Information
Probably the 713th---The 713th Railway Operating Battalion was formed on March 12, 1942, and consisted entirely of men who worked for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. Their job was to clear, repair, and build military railways as well as operate the trains.
The 713th, known as the “Santa Fe Battalion”, formed at Camp Clovis, New Mexico, and after initial military training was sent to Camp Dix, New Jersey, on January 21, 1943. The unit was first sent to North Africa where in seven months they transported 500,000 tons of cargo in 47,255 rail cars. The 713th went from North Africa to Italy and then on to Southern France. They ended the war in 1945 serving in Western Germany.
