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!  

Harry's cousin, Bruce (grandmother was sisters with Harry's mother ) sent me some info on Harry.

 

The 704th Unit History pages for Surles

 

 **This is a colorized AI version of image 

Two B And M Railroad Men Operate Army Trains In France

Richards, Baldwin Receive Promotions

T/4 Cecil E. Richards, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil H. Richards of 16 Concord Street, is one of two Boston and Maine Railroad men serving with 724th Railway Operating Battalion of the Army in France. Sergeant Richards, who before he entered the Army was a fireman on the B. & M.’s Portland Division, has been promoted to engineman and is now operating trains loaded with supplies and ammunition to the advancing Allied armies.

Conductor in charge of Richards’ train is Sgt. Herbert L. Baldwin, Jr., who before he entered the Army was a switchtender on the Portland Division of the B. & M. Baldwin has recently been promoted to engineman and is now assigned to the Railway Transportation Corps. He is the son of the publicity manager of the Boston and Maine and Maine Central Railroads.

The 724th Railway Operating Battalion at the present time is operating and supervising more miles of track than any other battalion in the ETO. Originally one of the books to operate the Paris terminal on double track, the scope of its organization has doubled since the fall of the German capital and now includes a larger jurisdiction, having recently taken over the recovery of three additional lines, operating two roundhouses, a terminal in the Paris area, and operating on the longest segment of single track in the world.

T/4 Richards’ father is an engineman on the B. and Boston and Maine system. He and Sergeant Richards, Jr. reside at 16 Concord Street.

Caption under photo:
T/4 Cecil E. Richards of Portland (in cab) gets orders from Sgt. Herbert L. Baldwin, Jr. (Official U.S. Army Photo, passed by Censor.)

 

  

 **This is an AI clean up and colorization of the terrible newspaper image  

YORKER IN RAILWAY BATTALION— Sgt. Gordon Stover, 734 W. 178th street, third from right in front row, with several of the members of the 724th Railway Operating Battalion. The men are members of an outfit that carry men and materiel to employment centers. Taken in the Assembly area; near Camp Detroit, France.

 

Aug 02, 1945, page 9 - The Gazette and Daily - York, Pennsylvania