What makes a Railway Operating Battalion, Railway Shop Battalion or Railway Grand Division ?


Railway Grand Division:  Administrative unit which oversaw 4-5 Railway Operating Battalions (ROB) and 1-2 Railway Shop Battalions (RSB)

Railway Operating Battalion:  TO&E consisted of four (4) companies:
  • A:  Two (2) track platoons and one bridge platoon to handle construction
  • B:  Shop company: Two platoons responsible for equipment maintenance, one platoon shopped the rolling stock
  • C:  Operating & Supply company: provided engineers, conductors, and operations personnel
  • H & S:  Supplied the dispatchers, telegraphers, MPs, and other support personnel
Railway Shop Battalion:  Performed major/minor overhauls, electrical repair, blacksmithing
  • A:  Responsible for lathes, milling machines, locomotive repair
  • B:  Boiler repair, firebox rebuilds, blacksmithing
  • C:  Foundry operation
  • H & S:  Administrative duties, supply and maintenance of shop power and equipment

714th Transportation Battalion History

714th Trans Bn by Nancy Cunningham on Scribd

714th Transportation Battalion

712th TROB locomotive

712th Railway Operating Battalion : 'From Oakland' article

712th Oakland

712th Railway Operating Battalion History

712th Trans Bn by Nancy Cunningham

714th Railway Operatrng Battalion Christmas Card

US Army Locomotive #1217

770 Railway Operating Battalion 1943 Christmas Menu

770thxmas Menu 1943 by on Scribd

735th Railway Operating Battalion -- McClelland

Thanks to Mike McClelland for sharing his Dad's photos! 

The wording on the back of the one in the upper left reads "Finley and his pride--Remicourt, Belg.". 

The upper right says "Call Board". The title at the top read CO. C. 735th RY. OPN. BN. The three categories below it read 1st Opr. Platoon, Hqtrs. Platoon, and 2nd Opr Platoon. 

The lower left picture has "Ronet Yards, Namur, Belq." on the back, and the picture in the lower right reads "Full Field Inspection, Ft. Snelling, Minn" on the back. 

 On the back it says, "H.J. Finley, Gutershol, Germany". Mike "aboard H.M.S.S Princess Maud, English Channel" and one that with the caption on the back reads, "Tom Jones and unexploded power section of V-2...Antwerp, Bel."

743rd Railway Operating Battalion -- L Stephenson

726th Railway Operating Battalion Co. C Thanksgiving Menu 1943

726th Tday Menu

764th Railway Shop Battalion photo

753rd Railway Shop Battalion 50th Anniversay

750th Railway Operating Battalion Glen Wilton article

750th Wilton by cunningb