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US Army Railway Maintenance Activity, Rheinau
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Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please email me (webmaster).

History (1950-19..)

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Rheinau Railway Maintenance Activity
1950 - 19..
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Aug 21, 1968)
The US Army Railway Maintenance Activity at Rheinau was originally established as the Rheinau Transportation Center on August 18, 1950.

The center was inactivated in July 1955 when the USAREUR Transportation Center was formed in Frankfurt. At this time railway maintenance was done by private (German) firms under contract through the Army.

In 1958, the Rheinau Railway Maintenance Yard was reactivated.

On Jan 1, 1966 the Yard was reorganized as a separate US Army Activity.

The Activity comprises 14 enlisted men and 10 Germans who handle about 1,700 pieces of railway equipment. CO of the Railway Maint Acty is Maj Edward M. Bahniuk; NCOIC is Sgt.1.C. Warren Guiden, Jr.

The mission of the Activity is to provide maintenance for all US-owned and operated railway equipment in Europe and to provide supply support for all installations that have US railway equipment on hand or in operation. Another aspect of the mission is to provide liaison between European railways and the various USAREUR headquarters for the procurement of railroad maintenance.

Major pieces of railroad equipment in Germany:
Sixteen 45-ton locomotives (3 in operation at Rheinau; 13 in storage as uneconomical to repair)    
Fifteen 60-ton diesel-electric engines    
Two 2-car "mobile command posts" in operation (1)    
Three 1-car "mobile command posts" in operation (1)
Four ambulance trains on location (each with a 3-man crew)
Eight ambulance trains in reserve at Rheinau (with utility, personnel, kitchen and ward cars)
Freight equipment at Rheinau - 715 tank cars; 708 flatbed units; 3 guard cars; and 3 mail carriers.
Passenger equipment (2) - 103 sleepers; 10 troop cars; 2 kitchen units (seating eight per meal); 1 prison car; 1 Quartermaster clothing sales unit (3).
(1) The mobile command posts are self-propelled trains that provide USAREUR's senior commanders with rapid transportation over European rail lines; they are equipped to serve the commanders as command posts on location.
(2) This equipment is used primarily on duty trains to and from Berlin.
(3) This car is used on scheduled runs to outposts like Fulda, Kassel and Giessen.
The Rheinau Acdtivity also provides services to SETAF at Camp Darby and the Port of Embarkation, Leghorn, in Italy.

Major pieces of railroad equipment used by the Army's train system in Italy (4):
Three 60-ton diesel-electric engines (used at the General Depot at Camp Darby and to and from the POE Leghorn)    
Passenger equipment: 2 sleeper cars    
Freight equipment: 18 flatcars; 3 tank cars    
(4) This equipment belongs to Rheinau Acty
Every piece of railroad equipment that arrives at Rheinau for maintenance is checked to see if it is beyond repair. The Activity serves as the only railway cannibalization point in Europe. They are authorized to remove serviceable parts and scrap what is left.

Many of the repair parts are purchased locally because most of the locomotives and railroad equipment was manufactured in Germany.

Rheinau maintains a 90-day supply of parts and keeps approximately 680 items in stock. They provide parts for all US railroad units in Europe, no matter where the equipment may be used.

The 60-ton diesel-electric engines are overhauled every six years at the yard.
If you have more information on the history or organization of the Rheinau Railway Maint Acty, please contact me.
 
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