Military railways are a form of transport communication technology used by the military forces for movement of strategically significant forces, bulk cargo or as a platform for military systems.
Due to the expense of building the railway networks, the national railway infrastructure is usually utilised by the military forces, however it often uses specialised rolling stock designed to solve uniquely military logistics or combat problems.
Current railways
- The main US Army repair and storage depot has an internal railway system with interchange to the national network.
Historical railways
Crimean War
One of the first uses of military railways was to establish a more reliable supply of British Army troops in the Balaclava positions during the Crimean War severe winter of 1855.
American Civil War
United States Military Railroad known as the City Point Railroad, which extended to Petersburg during the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War in 1864 -1865.
Trans-Siberian Main Railway (Транссибирская железнодорожная магистраль - Транссиб), before 1917 was named The Great Siberian Way (Великий Сибирский Путь). First construction begun on 19 May (31 May) 1891.
Mahdist War
In 1896-98 during the Mahdist War, Kitchener extended the Egyptian railways into the Sudan.
World War I
Narrow gauge military railways serviced the Western Front, see Trench railways, Decauville (French), Feldbahn (German) and War Department Light Railways (British).
World War II
Japan built several railways for military purposes, notably the Burma-Siam Railway, known as the Death Railway because of the number of Allied prisoners-of-war and Asian labourers who died constructing it.
Sources and references
- Vecamer, Arvo L., Deutsche Reichsbahn: The German State Railway in WWII, [1]
- Connor, W.D., Maj., Military Railways, Professional Papers No.32, Corps of Engineers US Army, Revised edition 1917, Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1917.
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