Toni Alexandra, the granddaughter of Pfc. Harry Ruyle Trager of the 729th Railway Operating contacted me and wanted to share information on her grandfather's service in the 729th.

She is also looking to contact others from or connected to that unit - email me cunningb2@gmail.com if you have a connection.

Thanks Toni ...



Photo #90 is my grandfather, Pfc. Harry Ruyle Trager, 03-20-1942.

Photo #65 L to R is PFC. Harry Trager; T-4 J. Bogan; Pvt. A. Peterson; and T-5 R. Umbanhower; 03-20-1943
Some great 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.

From Guy in Belgium ...
With 100% certainty, the above picture was taken at the large Antwerp railyard called “Antwerpen-Dam” in Belgium. The partial gantry in the top right corner was part of a hugh coaling crane. This was demolished late sixties when there where no steamtrains located there anymore. The engineshed is still standing but the 2 large chimneys have gone. The hugh building behind is also standing. This whole area has been turned into a leisure park a few years back with fountains and summer bars and the like. Just off picture on the right, behind the coaling installation, an old engine shed has been turned into a posh restaurant. The area had such rich railway history but nothing is left visible. An offer by the railcompany to display a locomotive has been turned down by the city architects.
Google earth image today...
 

PFC Ralph E. Liddick of the 728th is buried in the LaPlatte Cemetery in Sarpy County NE.
He died on 9 Feb 1973. Sarpy County is located south of Omaha along the Missouri River.

Thanks to John for rescuing these great photos of Capt Richard G. Hill of the 763rd Railway Operating Battalion.

743rd Derail Reunion Newsle... by Nancy on Scribd

2nd Military Rail Europe WWII Metz by Nancy on Scribd

All Aboard Rail Research by Nancy on Scribd

Other Units mentioned: 740th Railway Operating Battalion, 719th Railway Operating Battalion, 725thRailway Operating Battalion, 714th Railway Operating Battalion,725th Railway Operating Battalion,726th Railway Operating Battalion, 712th Railway Operating Battalion, 730th Railway Operating Battalion

Military Railway Service Journal Nov 1956 by Nancy on Scribd

770 ROB Roster 1944 by Nancy on Scribd

I found a clipping in my mom's stuff, Capt Griffin was my dad.
You can see the new insignia and the one used on the web page right now.
Visit the web page for the museum here :
https://transportation.army.mil/museum/index.html

Thanks to Muia family

735th ROB Muia Belgium Visit by Nancy on Scribd

Steve writes wondering about some rail cranes .... Attached for your information is a scan of the photo I bought of Ebay showing US army 75ton crane 7501 under going lift tests. The reverse of the photo has notes identifying the crane type as a spec MIL-R-3291 and providing serial numbers for 4 x cranes.
58-2842-27-920
58-2842-27-940
58-2842-27-960
58-2842-27-980
Note the reference to the cranes being for "foreign service". The crane configuration is the same as the ones here in NSW but so far I'm unable to confirm if they are from this allocation. Can anyone help him ?

Mrs Journal Vol5 No2 March 1958 by Nancy on Scribd

Two members of the Malta Bend American Legion Post No. 558 have received Quilts of Valor. Harrell Boedeker, a Korean War Army veteran, and Richard Wagner Jr., an Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm, were both presented a Quilt of Valor this past month.
Boedeker served in the Army from February 1951 to February 1953, achieving the rank of PFC(T). He was assigned to Company B, 712th Transportation Railway Operating Battalion as a welder in Korea, during the war. Company B had the responsibility for the maintenance of railway equipment and worked with the Koreans to teach them faster and better ways of keeping inadequate and scarce motive power and cars in service. At his discharge, his awards included the Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars and the United Nations Service Medal. Boedeker’s quilt was presented by Christena and Keith Windmeyer on Sunday, March 17.