The Merci Train was a train of 49 French railroad box cars filled with tens of thousands of gifts of gratitude from at least that many individual French citizens. They were showing their appreciation for the more than 700 American box cars of relief goods sent to them by (primarily) individual Americans in 1948. The Merci Train arrived in New York harbor on February 2nd, 1949 and each of the 48 American states at that time received one of the gift laden box cars. The 49th box car was shared by Washington D.C. and the Territory of Hawaii. Parades and ceremonies of welcome were conducted in the state capitols and major cities of almost all the states. The largest and most attended was in New York City where more than 200,000 people turned out to welcome that state's assigned box car. Lots more here : http://www.mercitrain.org/

Special photo caption sent to Luke Harnish 5/28/24 Document saved as: Luke Harnish email Special photo May 28, 2024 

 Two Whitcomb 65-Diessel-Electric 19A locomotives built by the Whitcomb Locomotive Company in Rochelle, Illinois operated by the 732nd Railway Operating Battalion are pulling a train over the Saar River at Konz-Karthaus, Germany, 5 miles south of Trier, Germany’s oldest city. From the fresh look of a just completed construction project, with lumber scattered around and two men seen actively engaged in work, it appears that perhaps this photo was taken to celebrate the crossing of the first train across this just completed bridge. The original photo caption only gave the date as March 1945. Other photographs within the collection from which this one was acquired are dated March 17, 1945. A question on the March 17 date may be in conflict with the content of a newspaper article that appeared in the June 18, 1945, issue of The Gettysburg Times newspaper from Gettysburg Pennsylvania. That article highlighted the actions of Sgt. John H. Keller, a wartime resident of McKnightstown, Adams County Pennsylvania. Sgt. Keller served with the 347th Engineer General Service Regiment. 

In the article, Sgt. Keller stated that from March 14 to 25, 1945 he was in charge of a group of 40 enlisted men who set spans of steel and rail in constructing a railroad bridge across the Saar River. It appears that March 25 may possibly be the completion of the new bridge. If such is the case then a train crossing on March 17 may not have been possible. An alternative possibility is that the bridge was ready for train traffic on March 17, and the 347th Engineer’s remained on site attending to finishing-up their full project on March 25. Clarification on the questions on these dates may be found in the pages of a WWII memoir written by Arthur T. Harnish a welder in the 347th Engineer General Service Regiment. With the cooperation of the Harnish family a copy of Arthur’s memoir, My life during WWII: Headquarter & Service Company, 347th Engineers, General Service Regiment, Army of the United States could be in the hands of Duayne Forsberg to prepare a more accurate history. 

Two men can be seen at the first bridge pier, could one of them be Arthur Harnish, there is really no way to tell, but it’s a great thought to have. Orientation: This train is heading west, approaching the community of Konzerbruck on the west bank of the Saar River. The town of Konz, Germany on the east side of the Saar River, is visible in the upper left background. The row of buildings were severely damaged during the war and no longer exist. To the right is the wreckage of original bridge on the upstream side of the new bridge. Debris of the old bridge eventually was removed to prevent damage to the replacement bridge during periods of high water.

 

 

 

 

 713th Rail Battalion Holds Annual Reunion

The annual reunion of the 713th Railway Operating Battalion is being held in the Commodore Perry Hotel today. About 100 are expected to attend the reunion which will be highlighted with a dinner and dance tomorrow night.

 

 The 714th's 1944 Baseball Team 

1944 Baseball Team-Standing: Phil LaVelle, Ralph Fogel, Tom Prather, Walt Griffin, Joe Leili, Charlie Bedwell, Newman Bolstad. Sitting: (Middle) Bill Pitman, Bob Thompson, Dana Ellis, Bill Williamson, Irvin Ferguson, Toe King, Hershell Gilliland. Sitting: John (chief) Corrilla, Herbert Sparks, Leuie Workman, Bob King, Jack (Wilbur) Marlowe. 

We feel that this team and this picture minus brass or civilians is worthy of our highest praise. We had a wealth of baseball talent in our team and they proved our confidencein them, being ably managed by First Sergeant Bolstad, and coached by Phil La Yelle. Our pitchers, Pitman, Fogel, Chief Corrilla, Williamson; catchers, Leili and Marlowe;the infield, Ellis, first base; Gillaland, second base; Thompson, shortstop, Bob King, third base; and the outfield, Prather, Griffin, Bedwell, Ferguson, Joe King, Sparks; scorekeeper, Workman. 

Highlights-Defeating the crack Air Corps and Air Depot teams. Frustrations-Our de￾feat at Fairbanks by a crack team picked from their various teams, 2 to 1 and 1 to 0; and the jinx over us held by the 177th Engineers. Our Alibis-None. 

Facts-We used our regular lineup at Fairbanks and the breaks did go "Agin Us." Our Travel-Up and back by air, fine thing for a railroad team, but we had to see how the other half lived. At Anchorage￾Pop Klaemer (777th Engineers pitcher and an old timer.)

 

The Military Railway Situation Twenty-five Years Later It is perhaps understandable that a government which has allowed the civilian railways-lifeblood of its commerce and vehicle of its own defense-to deteriorate to the extent of the American railway system would allow the bitterly learned lessons of military history to be forgotten as well. By the peak of another conflict-the Vietnam, or Indochina, war-nearly a quarter-century after World War II, the U.S. Army carried out its Railway Battalion as a role. Indeed, that unit, the 714th, stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia, had been allowed to fall way under strength and was referred to as a Transportation Battalion. 

There was talk of deactivation of the 714th, even as the last four of its steam locomotives were phased out of service. Although there are a few railway units in inactive reserve status and although there are veterans of the World War II Military Railway Service available to form a cadre should the need for a new MRS arise, the railway defenses of the United States have been reduced to a dangerous extent. This is due in part to the tactics of Vietnam-a minor campaign by World War II standards-which is essentially a guerilla-war situation where the few rail lines were made inoperative early in the conflict and where, because of the minor distances involved, supply of troops in the field can be handled by other means of transport. Should a major war break out, the Vietnam logistics would not be adequate for one week. Better lessons in railway movements remain unlearned if overall strategic planning has allowed the importance of railways in.

Wolmar's appearance on WW2TV  excellent YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@WW2TV)

 

Wall Street Journal ‘Liberation Line’ Review: Engines of Victory Opinion by James S. Hirsch Link

 

Calling all stations podcast: Transport choices in the UK General Election and 1944 Normandy rail heroes starts 21:00 click here

Russell Quimby son of D.M. (Bing) Quimby sent these marvelous photos of his dad's 711th ROB service in Iran. 

Donovan "Bing" Morris Quimby 1918-2015 ( age 96+) Donovan Morris Quimby died at the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home on June 23, 2015. D.M. “Bing” Quimby was born September 23, 1918 in Springview, Nebraska to Dr. Donovan Perry Quimby DDS and Ruth Ann Quimby (nee Morris). He grew up in Wakefield, NE where he graduated high school in 1937. He then attended Wayne State College for three semesters. In 1939, he moved with his parents to South Sioux City, NE where he domiciled for the next 73 years, and worked for the Chicago Burlington & Quincy and later the Burlington Northern Railroads. 

March 22, 1942 he entered the US Army and served with the 711th Railway Operating Battalion, Persian Gulf Command in Iran as a locomotive engineer attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant 4. Bing hauled lend-lease equipment to Soviet forces in Tehran for use against the Nazis in Russia. In 1997, the Russian Government awarded him a commemorative medal for his service. Prior to entering service, he met Ardyce Fern Sides of Dakota City, NE, and they were wed July 18, 1942 for the next 72+ years until his death. A day after their wedding, they did not see each other for the next 3 years. 

Bing was honorably discharged from the Army October 16,1945, and returned to Nebraska as a locomotive engineer until he retired on December 10, 1982, after 40 years of railroading. In 1995, Bing self-published his autobiography, “One of the Last,” which detailed his life in entertaining detail and the historical context of the “greatest generation.” For 50 years, Bing was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in South Sioux City. 

He was a Mason, and also a member of American Legion Post 307, the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, the Military Railway Service Veterans of WWII, and the Persian Gulf Service Veterans of WWII. He was predeceased by his parents and younger brother, Richard E. Quimby. 

He was survived by his wife, Ardyce, and three sons; Donovan Mark Quimby, Russell G. Quimby, and Jay M. Quimby, and their wives, and his sister-in-law Lois Louise Quimby nee Duffy. Bing and Ardyce have seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Bing is buried in Memorial Cemetery, Sioux City, IA with Ardyce, plot 300.

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.

 

Some words are illegible and more research/context is needed. 

Below are the transcribed notes from his notepad: 

View from Kassel Germany from steps of K.S. (?) Generals Gray’s Gull (not sure what that is referring to). 

Kassel hums (?) (Illegible) by A.P. 

Last 25 feet taken 6/17/45 from Die Herkules-Bhan. 

First half taken at Garmisch, Germany Aug 6, 1945. 

The Riviera France. 

First half taken at Riviera.

About the last 15ft taken of dolls dancing at the city hall in Munich. 

 Any additional information is welcomed.