U.S. War Department Film Bulletin #71 “Army Railroad”
May 22nd, 2009 Posted in Prototype, Video
At the start of World War II, the United States Army acquired a defunct motion picture studio at 35th Avenue and 35th Street in Astoria, Long Island City, Queens, New York, taking over in February 1942. The studio became the Signal Corps Photographic Center, later Army Pictorial Center, home to filmmakers and still photographers who covered the war and who produced countless training films.
One of those films restricted to internal eyes only, War Department Film Bulletin Issue #71, used as its subject the U.S. Army Railroad based at Camp Claiborne, LA and the headquarters of the 725th Railway Operation Battalion during the early 1940’s.
It is very interesting to see good film footage of railroading during the WWII era; Throw-in military precision, prison-like work conditions and bombs falling all around and you have a situation certain to satisfy any testosterone level.
Outside of the well-publicized motion picture releases, information about the SCPC and training films produced during WWII are scarce. I hope you enjoy this rare piece of American railroading history.
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6 Responses to “U.S. War Department Film Bulletin #71 “Army Railroad””
By mike on May 23, 2009
i wonder if this isn’t the ‘astoria’ studio where the marx brothers filmed “the coconuts” and “animal crackers”? nice thought.
By Dapet on May 23, 2009
This one rates a 10 in my book!
By Merck82ABN on May 24, 2009
One of the many MOS’s that I held while in the Army was for railroad conductor, with the 1151st Operating Detachment.
I operated railroad equipment at various posts, where the civilian railroads would bring the trains to the edge of the post and then we would move the equipment to the loading areas.
I also found a good “Troop Train” movie awhile ago at InternetArchive.org.
There is also some good books about military trench trains (WW I).
By Sean on May 30, 2009
I am amazed at how hard they work that little diesel! Wow, that was one hard coupling to that caboose! But hey, its the Army, what does the FRA care?
By Utah Rogers on Dec 30, 2009
Good web page. I worked for several RR and retired from the BNSF in 1994.
By Master Chief on May 13, 2010
My Dad was in the 744th ROB during WWII and this movie provided invaluable insight as to what his working and living conditions were like. Thanks so much for posting this.