The Liberation Line The Untold Story of the Normandy Landings 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 American Engineering and Ingenuity Won World War II (U.S. Title)

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 militaryrailwayservice@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

You can order a signed copy from me here  

Christian Womar April 4th, 2024 promotional video!

746th Railway Operating Battalion - Whitfield

Thanks to Robert E. Whitfield's grandson Joseph for sharing all this great info about his dad's service in the 746th. We think he was in Company A as he was in signals.

Very fun song HERE

Film is from my grandfather who was in the 746th ROB. 

 

 The description below was transcribed from his notepad: 

Roll #2- Buchy France, French Train, French Funeral Richemont. 

Feb 10, 1945 Bomb craters west of Criton. German grave and tank (Stug 3 assault gun) on Criton. View of front yard of Chat. (chateau?). Signal and BB gangs on m.c. Don Berger on poles Myers on pole. 

Roll #3 Feb 15, 1945 Buchy Junction 

Feb 16 Otto cutting my hair. 

Feb 18 Village of Cailly. 

Feb 19 French train at Criton 

Feb 21 Buchy Junction 

Feb 24, 1945 German fighters and bomber planes on box cars at Gournay (en-Bray). 

March 9 1945 Chow line. 

March 10, 1945 L’Eglise Saint-Ouen Church Rouen also Cathedral. 

March 18, 1945 Buchy Junction V Bomb (V-1 rocket) launching ramp. 




New York Central men pictured at work on the Bengal & Assam Railroad in India

 



N.Y.C. 718th in Luxembourg hauled thousands of captured

 



Army Railroaders in Europe Move 10,000 Tons of Freight Daily

 


 

First U.S. Roundhouse on European Continent - Cherbourg


 

Railroading on the Burma and Assam: The Tale of a train that ran away NY Central Highlight September 1945


 

743rd ROB Stimson NY Towerman Railroads in Antwerp and Hanover as Dispatcher New York Central Magazine August 1945