Trains and steam in twilight

[StainlessSteelCynic]

That AA gun could be the Soviet Bofors copy, specifically the 37mm M1939 (Soviet name 61-K)
Apparently the Soviet navy got some Bofors guns in the 1930s and developed a 45mm copy but the army wanted a 37mm version. This was the 61-K.
Also made in Poland and China. Yugoslavia was a customer for the 61-K along with Romania and East Germany.

[Raellus]

I'll bet that's what it is. Thanks, SSC. I was unaware that the Soviets had cloned and disseminated their version of the Bofors.

[kalos72]

So what would be the purpose of these armored trains How would you use them

Say specifically back in the "States" for example versus Germany.

[Raellus]

So what would be the purpose of these armored trains How would you use them

They have several purposes. One is protecting rail lines and cargo shipments from hostile forces (usually partisans). This is what the Germans mainly used them for on the Ostfront in WWII.

Their second main purpose is acting as a mobile fire support base for ground troops (see the Wikipedia article I linked to about the Krajina Express).

Say specifically back in the "States" for example versus Germany.

I'm going to assume that you mean during the Twilight War and, "as opposed to Germany", not against it.

Armored trains in CONUS would be used in the same ways to do more or less the same things. In the SW, they would provide protection against Mexican, Cuban, and Soviet raiders. In the SE, they'd likely operate against New America.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

As an aside, they also make a particularly good show of force if you're trying to rebuild rail lines and convince the civvies that you mean business - "Yes we are committed to keeping the rail lines open.This special train will deter enemy forces who try to destroy our railways so you can all rest assured, this railway will continue to operate!"

[StainlessSteelCynic]

I'll bet that's what it is. Thanks, SSC. I was unaware that the Soviets had cloned and disseminated their version of the Bofors.

I'd have to check but I believe the 45mm version was not adopted for service but apparently they did use a twin barreled version of the 37mm so the 37mm is for want of a better (more accurate) term, the Soviet Bofors
I know there's a book out there about the Bofors gun by author Terry Gander that apparently has lots of detail on these things but I've never seen a copy anywhere. I don't recall the title or even know the ISBN unfortunately



Edit: A quick search while typing this revealed that the book is titled (surprise, surprise) "The Bofors Gun"

[Raellus]

Thanks, SSC. I was unaware that the Soviets had copied the Bofors.

Here's an article on an armored train of WWI.

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/a-remarkable-armored-train-fought-its-way-across-eurasia-db3e3180b50c

[swaghauler]

Swaghauler's mentioning of improvised "rail service" make me look for pics.

Here are some i found.






I expect a lot of these rail runners would pop up in areas where the military did not destroy the rail lines.

They are a bit fancier than the one in Africa, but the concept is spot on. It's amazing how resourceful the "third world" can be. NOTHING is wasted. Not even rusty metal, plastic or old cloth.

[WallShadow]

Walkersville Southern Railroad Museum

I know this is thread necromancy, but this little gem was in my backyard all along: The Walkersville Southern Railroad Museum, located just NE of Frederick, MD (home of Ft Detrick, USAMRIID "cancer research" facility. and hopefully far east enough of Camp David, which got nuked. The Museum opened in 1995 and has several active engines and railstock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkersville_Southern_Railroad

[Vespers War]

Scranton has "Steamtown, USA", a collection of restored steam locomotives. Scranton also has an artillery shell production factory (right downtown, IIRC). Also nearby is the Tobyhanna Army Depot, and lots and lots of coal mines (hearly all defunct, however).

I was at Steamtown this past summer, and spent a few days wandering the site. The artillery shell production facility (the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant) is literally across the street from the current museum (it's in the old locomotive erecting shop from when part of Steamtown was the Dickson Manufacturing Company building locos for the DL&W). There are tunnels linking the two, though walls have been built in the tunnels to prevent people from entering the shell factory. Supposedly it has machinery to make the bodies of 105mm and 155mm artillery shells and 120mm mortar shells. AFAIK, it's not set up to fill them or to make fuses.

Unfortunately, most of what seems to be operable at Steamtown are switchers. That does make sense, since they're useful for moving other locos and cars around as working engines, but it means the collection's less useful for freight or troop haulage, since the long-haul trains are mostly cosmetic restorations or awaiting restoration. On the flip side, it does have a working roundhouse that can do the restoration work, which would be an incredibly valuable resource.

For TNE, I was working on a locomotive design sequence at COTI. It's not nearly complete, but it might make for a useful set of notes for anyone working on their own locomotives for T2K.

[Raellus]

Russian Armored Train Rolls Into Ukraine

Armored Trains are no longer a thing of the past.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44620/a-russian-armored-train-has-joined-the-invasion-of-ukraine

-

[swaghauler]

Armored Trains are no longer a thing of the past.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44620/a-russian-armored-train-has-joined-the-invasion-of-ukraine

-

Russia actually has 30K railway troops just for the War in Ukraine. I wonder what the old Pact had

[ChalkLine]

Russia actually has 30K railway troops just for the War in Ukraine. I wonder what the old Pact had

There were 50 Railway Brigades in 4 Railway Corps. I can get you their locations if you like. There was also 25 Road Brigades.

[swaghauler]

There were 50 Railway Brigades in 4 Railway Corps. I can get you their locations if you like. There was also 25 Road Brigades.

This alone would make a significant logistical difference from modern Russian operations. Combined with other PACT countries' logistical support, one could see a significant difference from the current Russo-Ukraine conflict.