Guys, after information and ideally roue map for the old Camp Claiborne > Camp Polk WWII military railroad. Very interested in this line and any information about it for a project.
BONUS points if anyone has any detail on any lost kit - especially the engine in the quicksand! Name, model, location, etc - anything!
I know I'm probably clutching at straws here but its for a very interesting project if I can get it off the ground!
If you have any stories about the line - people on it - equipment - etc also interested to hear!
Many thanks in advance.
That happens to be one of my niches that I enjoy! Currently I'm in the Army stationed in Korea for the second time and when I was in Afghanistan I found out about the "Crime and Punishment" (as the GI's called it). The 711th Railway Operating Battalion were the guys who operated the Claiborne and Polk Military Railway from both obvious posts in LA. Camp Claiborne was also home of both the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, which is special to me since prior to me coming to Korea I was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY, the current home of the 101st Airborne Division.
I have found lots of info about the line on a few sites, here are some:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://griffincunningham.net/Griffin/MAIN/robstuff.htm#Korean_War_Units_">http://griffincunningham.net/Griffin/MA ... War_Units_</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://militaryrailwayservice.blogspot.kr/search/label/714th%20Transportation%20Railway%20Operating%20Battion">http://militaryrailwayservice.blogspot. ... %20Battion</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9950/m1/1/?q=%22United%20States.%20War%20Dept.%22">http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/675 ... 20Dept.%22</a><!-- m -->
While there's not much about the railroad on here, there is the main site:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.campclaiborne.com/">http://www.campclaiborne.com/</a><!-- m -->
I model the late 30's to mid 40's in south central Wisconsin and I'm planning to incorporate a Army training facility for the guys of the Ordnance Corps to maintain wheeled and tracked vehicles. I've been taking lots of notes on Camp Claiborne and Fort Eustis, VA (before they started ripping out the rails) to be as prototypical as possible while in a freelanced setting.
Fort Eustace holds fond memories for me. My father was stationed there way-back-when when it was the home to all of the Transportation Corps' activities, including the hard had divers school, and the reserve fleet. On holidays, we got to ride the troops trains around the base and to the various activities. Armed Forces Day was especially elaborate and involved everything imaginable, including DUKW's to take us out to the fleet for lunch and games. Good times!
