Railway troops facts for kids
Railway troops are special soldiers. They are also trained as railway engineers. Their job is to build, fix, run, or even destroy railway lines. These lines and their buildings are important for military use.
Contents
History
Railway troops were created as railways became very important. Countries saw how useful trains were for moving soldiers, big weapons, and supplies. At first, these groups were sometimes called field railways. But many countries did not have these special military units.
American Civil War
During the American Civil War, General McClellan was given full control over all railway lines in the North. At first, he used regular soldiers for construction. But he soon realized they needed special training. So, a new group was formed within the Union Army. This group had trained civil engineers and workers.
This army branch grew to about 25,000 men during the war. They were split into two main types of units:
- Railway operating units: These managed how trains ran.
- Construction units: These built new lines and fixed or destroyed railway parts.
For big projects, civilian workers were also hired. For example, about 1,400 carpenters helped build the Etowah and Chattahoochee Bridges. The railway troops had a big impact on the war. This led European countries to create similar military groups.
Germany
Prussia
In 1866, Prussia formed three railway units. This was during the Austro-Prussian War. These units had twelve railway engineers. They also had about 50 men from the Ministry of Trade.
The 2nd Railway Regiment was connected to the Royal Prussian Military Railway in Berlin. This railway was part of the army's budget. It was managed by the Royal Military Railway Division. The railway regiment built and fixed lines. Other groups from the Ministry of Trade ran the trains on captured railways.
Bavaria
Until the First World War, the Bavaria had a Royal Bavarian Railway Battalion. There is a monument in Munich that remembers these Bavarian railway troops. It is open to the public.
German Empire
After the Austro-Prussian War, Germany planned a permanent military railway group. This group would train railway engineers even during peacetime. This plan was not ready by the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. So, new field railway units were created again. There were five Prussian units and one Bavarian unit.
These units were much better equipped than in 1866. Each had 20 civilian engineers, 4 officers, and about 200 foremen and soldiers. More civilian workers were hired for big building jobs. Other groups managed the trains in captured areas. Railway units were used often in the Franco-Prussian War. For example, they fixed destroyed bridges. They also built a railway around the Metz fortress.
On October 1, 1871, a railway battalion was formed in Prussia. This led to the Railway Brigade, started on April 1, 1890. It had 3 regiments. Each regiment had two battalions, and each battalion had four companies. The Railway Brigade also managed a depot and ran the Royal Prussian Military Railway.
From October 1, 1899, railway troops became part of the Corps of Transport. They were trained in building and running railways. In wartime, more reserve and Landwehr soldiers joined them. To train these troops, the army took over the railway line from Berlin to Jüterbog.
Besides standard railways, the railway troops also managed equipment for field railways. These smaller railways were used a lot in the First World War. They moved troops and supplies behind the front line. Germany also used railway troops in the Second World War.
West and East Germany
After the Bundeswehr (West German army) was founded, it created a railway engineering training company. This company was later disbanded in 1974. Its tasks were taken over by other engineer units.
The NVA (East German army) continued to have railway engineer units. The history of railway troops in Germany ended when the NVA was disbanded in 1990.
Spain
The Spanish Army had a railway engineering unit until 2008. It was called Railway Regiment No. 13. Its history goes back to 1872, when railway companies were created. In 1884, a Railway Battalion was formed. A railway regiment was created in 1912. This grew to two regiments in 1936. During the Spanish Civil War, two railway groups were formed. In 1963, these became regiments. In 1994, the two regiments joined to form Railway Regiment No. 13. This regiment was disbanded in 2008.
Switzerland
Until 2003, the Swiss Army had a group for military railway operations. For a few more years, they had "railway engineer companies." They operated a ten-story underground bunker in Zürich. This bunker was reachable through the Hirschengraben Tunnel. Today, it is open to the public.
Railway troops today
- Russia: Russia still has railway troops. For example, they went to Abkhazia in May 2008. They helped rebuild and fix damaged railway lines there.
- Italy: The Italian Army has a Railway Engineer Regiment. It is the only one of its kind in NATO.
- Brazil: Brazil still has two railway battalions. They are part of the engineering branch of the Brazilian Army.
