SUMMARY OF AMERICAN RAILROADS AFFILIATION/SPONSORSHIP OF MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE UNITS WORLD WAR II

**Important document - see original below. I'm increasing using AI ( Chat Gpt) to trranscribe these document - there can be mistakes i didnt catch.

 

SUMMARY OF AMERICAN RAILROADS

AFFILIATION/SPONSORSHIP OF MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE UNITS WORLD WAR II

NOTE: INCOMPLETE DATA; UPDATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 6, 1990

COMPILER'S NOTE

THIS COMPILATION IS ORGANIZED FIRST BY THE CURRENT MAJOR CORPORATION, THEN BY THE RAILROADS OF THAT CORPORATION WHICH SPONSORED MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE UNITS IN WORLD WAR II. LISTED UNDER THE RAILROAD ARE THE UNITS SPONSORED, AND WHERE KNOWN, THE NAME OF THE UNIT COMMANDER, HIS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN AND THE JOB HE HELD ON THAT RAILROAD BEFORE ENTERING THE ARMY.

INDEX

CURRENT CORPORATION

  • ASSN OF AMERICAN RAILROADS
  • BURLINGTON NORTHERN INC
  • CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN
  • CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORP
  • COOPER INDUSTRIES
  • CSX CORPORATION
  • GUILFORD TRANSPORTATION CORP
  • ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD
  • NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION
  • ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD
  • SANTA FE CORPORATION

TO CONTENTS

SPONSORING RAILROAD

  • ASSN OF AMERICAN RAILROADS
  • CHICAGO, BURLINGTON, QUINCY
  • GREAT NORTHERN
  • ST LOUIS-SAN FRANCISCO
  • CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN
  • CHICAGO, ST PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA
  • CENTRAL OF NEW JERSEY AND THE READING RAILROAD
  • CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO AND ST LOUIS
  • DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA & WESTERN
  • ERIE RAILROAD
  • NEW YORK CENTRAL
  • NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN, HARTFORD
  • PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD
  • AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY
  • ATLANTIC COASTLINE
  • BALTIMORE AND OHIO
  • CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO
  • LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE
  • SEABOARD AIRLINE
  • BOSTON & ALBANY-BOSTON & MAINE-CENTRAL VERMONT-DELAWARE AND HUDSON
  • BOSTON AND MAINE
  • GULF, MOBILE AND OHIO
  • ILLINOIS CENTRAL
  • CENTRAL OF GEORGIA
  • NORFOLK AND WESTERN
  • SOUTHERN RAILWAY
  • WABASH RAILWAY
  • CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC
  • ATCHISON, TOPEKA, & SANTA FE

UNAFFILIATED RAILWAY UNITS

  • SOUTHERN PACIFIC
  • TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS
  • MISSOURI-KANSAS-TEXAS
  • MISSOURI-PACIFIC
  • TEXAS AND PACIFIC
  • UNION PACIFIC

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE

  • MAJOR GENERAL CARL R. GRAY, JR.
    • CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA VICE PRESIDENT

709TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

  • COLONEL FRANK E. CHESHIRE
    • MISSOURI-PACIFIC ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
  • COLONEL MERLE M. SHAPPELL
    • UNION PACIFIC ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

766TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL E. K. HOBBS
    • SOUTHERN RAILWAY

BURLINGTON NORTHERN INCORPORATED

CHICAGO, BURLINGTON AND QUINCY

745TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ASSAM, INDIA

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM P. WILSON
    • COLORADO AND SOUTHERN (BURLINGTON LINES) SUPERINTENDENT
  • ALSO:
    • PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES AT LINCOLN, NEB.

GREAT NORTHERN

704TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

  • COLONEL ALEXANDER W. CAMPBELL
    • GREAT NORTHERN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
  • COLONEL FREDERICK W. OKIE
    • SOUTHERN RAILWAY SUPERINTENDENT

732ND RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL T. J. BRENNAN
    • GREAT NORTHERN TRAINMASTER

ST. LOUIS-SAN FRANCISCO

750TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. J. STOCKARD
    • ATLANTIC COASTLINE TRAINMASTER

CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN

720TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL C. J. FREEMAN
    • CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RIGHT OF WAY AGENT
  • ALSO:
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL (LATER COLONEL) CHARLES E. HISE, FIRST COMMANDER OF THE 714TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION. UPON PROMOTION HE BECAME DIRECTOR OF TRAINING FOR RAIL UNITS.

CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA

714TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ALASKA

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES E. HISE
    • CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN
    • (LIEUTENANT COLONEL HISE PROMOTED TO COLONEL AND BECAME DIRECTOR OF TRAINING FOR RAILWAY UNITS)
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL HERBERT S. HURON
    • CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA YARDMASTER
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL WALTER F. HASTEDT
    • CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA ENGR ACCOUNTANT
  • MAJOR PHILIP E. BARLON
    • CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA ASSISTANT ENGINEER
  • ALSO:
    • PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES NEAR FORT SNELLING, MINNESOTA.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF MGEN CARL R. GRAY, JR., DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE IN WORLD WAR II.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN FOR MOST OF MRS-GHOS STAFF.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEORGE M. WELCH, AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 711TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION. THE 711TH ROB WAS THE FIRST BATTALION ACTIVATED. IT WAS NOT A SPONSORED UNIT.

CONSOLIDATED RAIL CORPORATION

CENTRAL OF NEW JERSEY AND READING RAILROAD

712TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL F. R. DOUD
    • CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS (BIG FOUR-NEW YORK CENTRAL)

718TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND LUXEMBOURG

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT A. WRIGHT

753RD RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, AND THE PHILIPPINES

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN J. DAUGHERTY
    • SOUTHERN PACIFIC GENERAL SHOP FOREMAN
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES O. BUTLER
    • ATLANTIC COASTLINE

DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA AND WESTERN

763RD RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, BELGIUM

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES PURCELL
    • DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA AND WESTERN

ERIE RAILROAD

735TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. C. BAUGHN
    • ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE

765TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL LAWRENCE H. LEWIS
    • ERIE RAILROAD WHEEL SHOP FOREMAN

NEW YORK CENTRAL

701ST RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY

  • COLONEL J. E. GUILFOYLE
    • NEW YORK CENTRAL SUPERINTENDENT

721ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL KARL F. EMMANUEL
    • NEW YORK CENTRAL

737TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINES, KOREA, AND JAPAN

  • MAJOR CHARLES BUCHANAN
  • ALSO:
    • PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES AT BUCYRUS, OHIO.
    • IN ADDITION, PERSONNEL OF THE NEW YORK CENTRAL TOOK UP DONATIONS, PURCHASED A B-26 MARAUDER BOMBER, NEW YORK CENTRAL II, AND PRESENTED IT TO THE ARMY AIR FORCES ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1943. IT WAS HIT BY ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE AND EXPLODED OVER GERMANY ON NEW YEAR’S DAY, 1945. THE BOMBER, ON ITS 103RD COMBAT MISSION, HAD 410 COMBAT HOURS AND HAD DROPPED 322,000 POUNDS OF BOMBS OVER ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. F. O'CONNELL WHO COMMANDED THE 775TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION IN THE PHILIPPINES.

NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN AND HARTFORD

729TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. S. CARR (TD 708 RGD)
    • NEW HAVEN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL WORTHINGTON C. SMITH
    • NORTHERN PACIFIC TRAINMASTER

749TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINES

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL HARRY E. DONNELLY
  • ALSO:
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL N. S. CARR, WHO COMMANDED THE LINES OWN 729TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, THEN COMMANDED THE 708TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION, SPONSORED BY THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

706TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN FRANCE, LUXEMBOURG, AND GERMANY

  • COLONEL STEPHEN R. TRUESDELL
  • COLONEL LOUIS G. JAMISON
    • PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD TRAINMASTER

717TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. P. LOWERY
    • PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

724TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. D. SHEA
    • CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC TRAINMASTER

730TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN IRAN

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN J. CLUTZ
    • PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD DIVISION ENGINEER
  • MAJOR GEORGE TAYLOR

756TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. U. BATES
  • ALSO:
    • PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES NEAR FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF MAJOR W. THOMAS RICE, WHO COMMANDED THE 791ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION IN THE PERSIAN GULF COMMAND. MAJOR RICE LATER SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE RICHMOND, FREDERICKSBURG AND POTOMAC; THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE; THE SEABOARD COASTLINE. AND CHAIRMAN OF SEABOARD COASTLINE INDUSTRIES, INC. IN ADDITION HE SERVED AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE, RETIRING IN 1969 AS A MAJOR GENERAL, U.S. ARMY RESERVE.

COOPER INDUSTRIES

AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY

762 RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION (DIESEL): SERVED IN IRAN AND GERMANY

  • MAJOR WILLIAM C. ROGERS

CSX CORPORATION

ATLANTIC COASTLINE

703RD RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE AND GERMANY

  • COLONEL CLARENCE L. BURPEE
    • ATLANTIC COASTLINE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT
  • ALSO:
    • COLONEL BURPEE, LATER PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL AND PLACED IN COMMAND OF THE NEWLY FORMED 2ND MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE, OPERATING IN EUROPE.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES O. BUTLER, ONE OF THE COMMANDERS OF THE 753RD RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. J. STOCKARD, TRAINMASTER, WHO COMMANDED THE 750TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE ST. LOUIS-SAN FRANCISCO RAILROAD.

BALTIMORE AND OHIO

708TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY

  • MAJOR RALPH U. JENSEN
    • SUD LINE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
  • COLONEL W. S. CARR (FROM 729TH ROB)
    • NEW HAVEN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
  • ALSO:
    • WAS THE RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL L. E. THORNTON, WHO COMMANDED THE 741ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE GULF, MOBILE AND OHIO.

CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO

740TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL SAMUEL H. PULLIAM
    • CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO SUPERINTENDENT

LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE

728TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL C. D. LOVE
    • LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE SUPERINTENDENT

SEABOARD AIRLINE

722ND RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL CURTIS A. MCREE
    • SEABOARD AIRLINE SUPERINTENDENT

GUILFORD TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRIES

BOSTON & ALBANY-BOSTON & MAINE-CENTRAL VERMONT-DELAWARE & HUDSON

764TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL EMIL RINBBERB
    • BOSTON AND MAINE SHOP SUPERINTENDENT

BOSTON AND MAINE

752ND RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL R. E. TRIBBS

ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD

GULF, MOBILE AND OHIO

741ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL L. E. THORNTON
    • BALTIMORE AND OHIO SUPERINTENDENT

ILLINOIS CENTRAL

715TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL T. P. CRYMES
    • ILLINOIS CENTRAL SUPERINTENDENT

743RD RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRANK G. COOK
    • NORTHERN PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION

CENTRAL OF GEORGIA

733RD RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. P. SCHOPPER

NORFOLK AND WESTERN

755TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, BELGIUM

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL MILES S. STEVENS
    • SOUTHERN RAILWAY MASTER MECHANIC

SOUTHERN RAILWAY

707TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. BREINER
    • SOUTHERN RAILWAY TRAINMASTER

727TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY, ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL FREDERICK W. OKIE
    • SOUTHERN RAILWAY SUPERINTENDENT
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN M. BUDD
  • ALSO:
    • PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS LINES NEAR CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL E. K. HOBBS, WHO COMMANDED THE 766TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL FREDERICK W. OKIE, A DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 727TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, AND THEN COMMANDED THE 704TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION, SPONSORED BY THE GREAT NORTHERN.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL MILES G. STEVENS, A MASTER MECHANIC, WHO COMMANDED THE 755TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE NORFOLK AND WESTERN.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM C. MORRIS, WHO TOOK OVER THE 716TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION AFTER ITS BLACK MARKET EPISODE.

WABASH RAILWAY

726TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL HARVEY PILOHER
    • WABASH

ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD

CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND, AND PACIFIC

725TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEORGE R. BRANCH
    • CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

SANTA FE CORPORATION

ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE

710TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN FRANCE

  • COLONEL D. D. BRILL
    • ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE SUPERINTENDENT

713TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES D. NOTGRASS
    • ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE SUPERINTENDENT
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL ERNEST E. FOULKS
    • ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE SUPERINTENDENT

758TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL CLARENCE V. CONLISK
    • ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND SANTA FE
  • ALSO:
    • PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ITS SANTA FE LINE AT CAMP WILLIAM C. REED, NEAR CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. C. BAUGHN, WHO COMMANDED THE 735TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE ERIE RAILROAD.

SUD LINE CORPORATION

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC

744TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL WALTER G. HOTCHKISS
    • CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

757TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN W. MOE
    • CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, ST. PAUL AND PACIFIC ROUNDHOUSE FOREMAN
  • ALSO:
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL F. R. DOUD, A DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 712TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE CENTRAL OF NEW JERSEY AND READING RAILROAD.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. D. SHEA, TRAINMASTER, WHO COMMANDED THE 724TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD.

SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

SOUTHERN PACIFIC

705TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN INDIA

  • COLONEL STANLEY H. BRAY
    • SOUTHERN PACIFIC

716TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

  • MAJOR WALTER H. MARLIN
    • SOUTHERN PACIFIC ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
    • (MARLIN WAS TRIED BY COURT-MARTIAL AS PART OF BLACK-MARKET ACTIVITIES OF SEVERAL MEN IN THE BATTALION; FOUND NOT GUILTY AND RESIGNED HIS COMMISSION)
  • MAJOR CHARLES T. KENNEY (INTERIM COMMANDER)
    • GREAT NORTHERN SUPERINTENDENT
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT J. MACNAMARA
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM C. MORRIS
    • SOUTHERN RAILWAY

754TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE

  • MAJOR OSCAR E. COLE
  • ALSO:
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN J. DAUGHERTY, GENERAL SHOP FOREMAN, WHO COMMANDED THE 753RD RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO AND ST. LOUIS.

TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS

719TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT F. WILLIAMS
    • TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS SUPERINTENDENT

734TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND HOLLAND

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL RALPH E. JOHNSON
    • TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS TRAINMASTER

UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION

MISSOURI-KANSAS-TEXAS

746TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL N. C. PRUETT
    • MISSOURI-KANSAS-TEXAS SUPERINTENDENT

MISSOURI-PACIFIC

759TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY, FRANCE, AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL ERNEST M. PRICE
    • MISSOURI-PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL EVERARD F. BARNES
    • MISSOURI-PACIFIC ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT
  • ALSO:
    • PROVIDED TECHNICAL TRAINING ON MISSOURI-PACIFIC LINES FOR UNITS AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA AND CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL FRANK E. CHESHIRE, COMMANDER OF THE 709TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION, SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS.

TEXAS AND PACIFIC

748TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN INDIA

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL ALVA O. OGG
    • TEXAS AND PACIFIC

UNION PACIFIC

702ND RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION: SERVED IN IRAN

  • COLONEL ARTHUR E. STODDARD
    • UNION PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT
  • COLONEL PAUL F. YOUNT
    • REGULAR ARMY

723RD RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION: SERVED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL DOYLE GRESHAM
    • UNION PACIFIC CHIEF DISPATCHER
  • ALSO:
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL MERLE M. SHAPPELL, ONE OF THE COMMANDERS OF THE 709TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION, SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS.
    • WAS RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF COLONEL ARTHUR E. STODDARD WHO COMMANDED THE 702ND RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION AND LATER THE 1ST MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE. STODDARD BECAME DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE IN 1951, RETIRING AS A MAJOR GENERAL IN THE ARMY RESERVES IN 1954. HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE UNION PACIFIC FROM 1949 UNTIL 1965.

UNAFFILIATED RAILWAY UNITS

1ST MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE

  • COLONEL ARTHUR E. STODDARD
    • UNION PACIFIC SUPERINTENDENT

2ND MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE

  • BRIGADIER GENERAL CLARENCE L. BURPEE
    • ATLANTIC COASTLINE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT

3RD MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE

  • BRIGADIER GENERAL PAUL F. YOUNT
    • REGULAR ARMY
  • COLONEL FRANK S. BESSON, JR.
    • REGULAR ARMY

774TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION

  • COLONEL WILLIAM P. WILSON
    • COLORADO AND SOUTHERN SUPERINTENDENT

775TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL H. G. BALCH
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. F. O'CONNELL
    • NEW YORK CENTRAL

711TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEORGE M. WELCH
    • CHICAGO, ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA - ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

770TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM P. WILSON (TO 774TH RGD)
    • COLORADO AND SOUTHERN SUPERINTENDENT

790TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION

  • (COMMANDER UNKNOWN)

791ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL WORTHINGTON C. SMITH (TO 729TH ROB)
    • NORTHERN PACIFIC TRAINMASTER
  • MAJOR W. THOMAS RICE
    • PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

760TH RAILWAY SHOP BATTALION

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL A. R. WALKER

WORTHY OF NOTE: THE NORTHERN PACIFIC, ALTHOUGH NOT A SPONSORING RAILROAD, WAS THE RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF:

  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL WORTHINGTON C. SMITH, TRAINMASTER, WHO COMMANDED THE 791ST RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION AND THEN LATER THE 729TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION; AND,
  • LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRANK G. COOK, DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 743RD RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, SPONSORED BY THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL.

IN ADDITION, THE COLORADO AND SOUTHERN, ALSO NOT A SPONSORING RAILROAD, WAS THE RAILROAD OF ORIGIN OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM P. WILSON, DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT, WHO COMMANDED THE 770TH RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, AN UNSPONSORED UNIT. HE WAS PROMOTED TO COLONEL AND GIVEN COMMAND OF THE 774TH RAILWAY GRAND DIVISION.

 

Military Railway Service -- WWII Army Deserters Pay Cards, 1943-1945 part 2

Elmer G. Piker Mar 1945 38233465 Co A 732d Railway Operating Battalion

Walter L. Poole Jul 1945 34888800 Co C 724 Railway Operating Battalion
John E. Frazier Aug 1945 35768924 735th Railway Operating Battalion

Military Railway Service -- WWII Army Deserters Pay Cards, 1943-1945

Roland O Dillon Feb 1945 32857414 Co B 764th Railway Shop Battalion

Martin A Doss May 1944 36764802 Co. A. 764th Railway Shcp Battalion
Preston W. Ford Apr 1944 38520322 Hq Co. 733rd Railway Operating Battalion
Sherman C. Frank Sep 1944 35499189 Co. A 714th Railway Operating Battalion
Sherman C. Frank Oct 1944 35499189 714th Railway Oprating Battalion
John E. Frazier Aug 1945 35768924 735th Railway Operating Battalion
Dolphus N. Gambill Sep 1944 35417629 Co. A 714th Railway Operating Battalion
Thomas S Lukasiewicz Jul 1945 36712687 Co A 743rd Railway Operating Battalion
Clarence R. Beavers Apr 1944 35894739 Hq Co. 733rd Railway Operating Battalion
Kenneth Bello Mar 1944 32881027 Hq Co. 743rd Railway Operating Battalion
Elmer G. Piker Mar 1945 38233465 Co A 732d Railway Operating Battalion
Walter L. Poole Jul 1945 34888800 Co C 724 Railway Operating Battalion
Wallace C Resoff Dec 1944 399516 Co A 714th Railway Operating Battalion
Miguel A Alverez Aug 1943 39835580 Hq Co. 791st Railway Operating Battalion
Lewis W. Cook May 1944 33157232 Co. C. 791st Railway Operating Battalion

722nd Railway Operating Battalion wooden shoes

 

 Gloria writes... I have a question, these wooden shoes (pictured below) were bought at a yard sale in Red Bluff, California. 

A teenage girl selling them said they were found in her grandfather’s house when they were cleaning it out. 

 Would the ROB stand for a railroad battalion? And would Co. B have been in Germany in 1945? 

We have had no idea what the writing stands for. 

Thank you for your assistance.

Answer: Maybe a gift sent home from Holland by the soldier ? Company B was in charge of the rolling stock. 

Unfortunately she did not get the soldiers name .

717th Railway Operating Battalion etched soldier's cup

This cup was destined for the metal recycling at a thrift shop, was rescued and given to our Sisters Museum in Sisters, Oregon.

It is a diary and timeline compactly etched into the cup issued by US A Co 1943. 

Etched is the following: 

On the base: Co - A H D B 717th Ry. Opr. Bn 

1943 

  • Oct. 9 Ft. Dix 
  • Oct. 19 Cp. Harahan 
  • Dec. 16 Cp. Scott 

1944 

  • May 2 Cp. Kilmer 
  • May 25 ENGLAND 
  • Sudbury Bury Southampton 
  • Hereford 
  • Longmoor 
  • Sept 1 FRANCE 
  • Cherbourg-Chartres-Paris 
  • Valenciennes - Bohain 
  • BELGIUM 
  • Liege 
  • Sept. 23-29 

1945 

  • Antwerp Dec. 23-Jan 13 '45 
  • Apr 4, 45 GERMANY 
  • Frankfurt Bremen Bad Nauheim 
  • Wesel 
  • HOME

706thRailway Grand Division: Military GI Railroading with the 706th RGD Vol 10 No 3 winter 2004

717th Railway Operating Battalion - Yacono

 





Front- line Express by Charence Woodbury This Week Magazine March 11, 1944

Right now Yankee hoggers and brake-heads, engine hostlers, car knockers and gandy dancers are delivering goods in five continents. They are operating rail lines from Alaska to North Africa and from Iran to Caledonia ... This Week Magazine March 11, 1944

Research : Hospital Trains

US Army in Germany https://bityl.co/IiA0

 

WW2 US Medical Research Centre 

https://www.med-dept.com/articles/ww2-hospital-trains/

Movements of Railway Battalions ETO illustration Transportation Corp V. 5 Part II-3

One of the most important documents on this blog!

WWII and Korea Campaigns - Unit Citation campaign participation credit register

Campaign Register Prior to 1962 pages 322 - 429 (700s units)

715th Railway Operating Battalion - Lane

Railroad men from the 705th Railway Grand Division and the 720th Railway Operating Battalion training in New Orleans

Troops demonstrate military tactics. Official caption: "Railroad men from the 705th Railway Grand Division simulate defense against aerial attack. ASFUTC, New Orleans, La., 11/9/43." "

. Soldiers line up to eat dinner. Official caption: "Captain Chennault of the 720th Railway Operating Battalion supervises the messing of his company as they camp in the Combat Bivouac Area. ASFUTC, New Orleans, Louisiana, 7/14/43. Official U.S. Army Photograph. New Orleans Port of Embarkation. Publication Prohibited Unless Authorized. When published credit line must read: 'Photograph by U.S. Army.'" New Orleans, Louisiana.
Photos donated by : Richard Vernon Powell Jr. was born 14 July 1920 in Beebe, Arkansas and served in the United States Army duing World War II. Powell had been attending Harvard Business School when he registered for service. He would later serve as a captain in the U.S. Army at the New Orleans Port of Embarkation (NOPE). Powell passed away on 17 August 1999 in Norman, Oklahoma. The collection consists of 200 black and white photographs, most created by the U.S. Army Signal Corps, that Powell collected during his service in Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas. Subjects include: The New Orleans Port of Embarkation (NOPE), the Army Service Forces Unit Training Center (ASFUTC), Services of Supply Unit Training Center (Camp Plauche/Camp Harahan), British Lend-Lease, Jackson Barracks, mosquito control, 814th Signal Port Company, 493rd Port Battalion, Sanitary Corps, Army Nurse Corps, 720th Railway Operating Battalion Transportation Corps Officer Candidate School, and the 400th and 393rd Stevedore Battalion. https://www.ww2online.org

716th Railway Operating Battalion - Chaplin Addison