WWI Railroads by Will Kattner https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4 A Padlet about Rail Service during WWI en-us 2021-05-28 13:53:03 UTC 2025-07-23 21:23:17 UTC hello@padlet.com kattnerw https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4/wish/1568562782 The USRA 0-6-0 steam locomotive was built from 1918 to 1919 by the USRA. They helped the railroads quite a bit during the War, as resources and supplies were low and railroads were short on power. Over 255 Locomotives were built for many railroads, after the war, Several companies used the USRA 0-6-0 as a basis to build copies. These were sold to more railroads and were also quite successful. The USRA 0-6-0s were all retired in the 1950s when Dieselization picked up speed. Today only a few are still around in Museums or tourists trains. Source; Proto 2000 Heritage CollectionL 0-6-0 Steam Locomotive (2002) Life-Like]]> 2021-05-28 14:06:59 UTC https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4/wish/1568562782 kattnerw https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4/wish/1568623161 The United States Railroad Administration or USRA for short. Was the United States' Short Lived attempt at nationalizing the railroads. the USRA was founded on December 28th, 1917 by the US Government. The USRA helped the railroads by mass-producing Locomotives and Freight Cars. They also attempted to convince the railroads to become government owned. It didn't work and when the war ended in 1918, the USRA become irrelevant. They closed down in 1920.
Sources: https://archive.org/details/reporttopresiden00un
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/014.html#14.1

Uncle Sam's Locomotives: The USRA and the Nation's Railroads (2002) Indiana University Press

]]> 2021-05-28 14:26:05 UTC https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4/wish/1568623161 kattnerw https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4/wish/1568659207 The USRA 2-8-2 Light Mikado was the most successful locomotive made by the USRA, over 625 were built for many railroads. The Light Mikado was a simple steam locomotive ideal for light freight and other similar services. Along side the 625 USRA Light Mikados, 641 copies were built by various manufacturers. The USRA Light Mikado became a common sight on light freight operations all the way until the 1950s, when the era of steam came to an end. Most of the Light Mikados were scrapped. But 9 survive today, including one that is awaiting restoration in Indiana.
Sources: https://fortwaynerailroad.org/nickel-plate-road-no-624/
https://web.archive.org/web/20110612153345/https://www.steamlocomotive.com/misc/usra.shtml

Uncle Sam's Locomotives: The USRA and the Nation's Railroads (2002) Indiana University Press]]> 2021-05-28 14:37:22 UTC https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4/wish/1568659207 kattnerw https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4/wish/1568699702 The USRA 4-6-2 Light Pacific Steam Locomotive was built between 1919 and 1920. Over 106 were built by the USRA, with several copies following. The Light Pacific was intended mainly for light passenger trains. they were quite successful at that but unfortunately, dieselization doomed them. By the 1960s, they were all retired. Fortunately, One survives in Florida. And one of the copies was at Chicago into the 1980s, when it was scrapped due to a whole host of issues. Fortunately, the surviving one is in on display in good condition
Sources;
https://www.rgusrail.com/flacl1504.html
https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-oct-atlantic-coast-line-1504
https://web.archive.org/web/20190418152607/https://www.asme.org/wwwasmeorg/media/ResourceFiles/AboutASME/Who%20We%20Are/Engineering%20History/Landmarks/147-Baltimore-Ohio-4500-Freight-USRA-2-8-2A.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20190413022006/http://www.steamlocomotive.com/places/jensen/

]]> 2021-05-28 14:50:10 UTC https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4/wish/1568699702 kattnerw https://padlet.com/kattnerw/wi65vnm8i04vuxe4/wish/1568759092 During WWI, the best way to move many people at once was by train, so during WWI. Railroads set up long trains and had them take American Soldiers to ports where they could board ships. The Troop Trains also brought returning wounded soldiers back to their homes. The Troop Train was usually quite simple, a long train of sleepers, usually owned by the railroad operating the line.
When the war ended, the sleepers would usually return to regular service.
Sources: https://www.aar.org/article/10-ways-freight-rail-provides-support-wartime/

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