Just another routine day, going to work. But wait, what's that train? Not you usual Joint Line coalie snaking through... Heading up an otherwise normal manifest was this group of tanks on 6-axle flatcars:
Every once in a while they move stuff around getting units deployed to the Sandbox or to one of the training areas. Always long trains of gear. Bakersfield and LA can be a good place to see them. M1's are HEAVY so no wonder the six-axle flats.
DODX 40000 series were designed specifically for carrying M1 tanks, although can be found hauling other types of mil cargo. The M1A1s in this picture are roughly 70 tons per. Somewhat rare occurrence because Green tanks are harder and harder to find these days. Would be interested in the unit, because not much Armor would be routed through Denver on BNSF unless it is maybe National Guard.
Side Question Do you know anything about the DOD Series that would include D.O.D. #21024? [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
any troops ride with the armor, or do they just lock them up and take the keys???:tb-wink::tb-shocked:
Being most military vehicles have no keys...can't lock them up and take the keys. However troops normally fly to meet up with their armor, either commercial charter or an Air Force transport.
That's a good question. Wikipedia puts the cost per M1 at 4.35million, estimating about 30 on that train, 130 million has got to be one of the most valuable trains out there (just speculation there though). Not to mention the danger of one of these bad boys getting into the wrong hands. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AcVSEY2DP0"]YouTube - Stolen Tank...San Diego...WAR...fun for all[/ame].
If that is the video I'm thinking it is (I can't watch YouTube anything from work) then yes it is. He stole the M60A3 from the NG Armory and went busting through the nieghborhood. CHP, SDPD, and SDSO followed him at a reasonable distance as they weren't sure initially if he had ammo for any of the guns. After he got it stuck on he K-rail it was all but over. The officer that climbs up on top was a tanker and knew how to get the hatch open, ending the chase.
I have been told by people in the know on this case, that Camp Penelton had been contacted and the Marines were on the way down with some sort of anti-tank missile team. Had they gotten down there in time, that video would have ended in a more spectacular fashion...
As for locking the vehicles, yes they are. Almost all the hatches (once secured) can only be opened from the inside, and the one that can't is secured with a padlock for storage/transport. Armed guards from the owning unit do go with the equipment (least in my time) and usually ride, I believe, in the cab of one of the locos. Not so much crime prevention but becuase of things like the M-1's armor composition (which is classified and could become exposed in a derailment/accident)
Partially correct, all vehicles that can be locked are, those that can not are secured with wire, i.e. cloth doors on a Humvee. Troops no longer ride with the equipment, unless it is of extreme sensitive nature. Even then I believe DoD may contract out the security. Beleive it or not most railhead ops are now contracted out, soldiers drive the vehicles on the railcars, but they are blocked and tied-down by contractors. I was just on a railhead last month and saw a pretty funny sight...Units used to put cardboard or plywood over windows to prevent vandalisim enroute. This generally protected against rock throwers. Last month a unit came down to the railhead to load up, and had the cardboard placed over the windows to protect them. The funny part was these were all up armored vehicles with bullet proof/blast resistant windows. If a kid can wing a rock and shatter one of these, let him have at it!!! I guess old habits are hard to break ....
Well I'm a Tanker so I can tell you all tanks at least can be locked from the outside. All hatches except for the loader hatch are closed from the inside the loader hatch is closed and locked from the outside. However if you can break the lock and get in side you dont need anything to start it up and get her moving. In Germany the entire company rode with the tanks when we were on the rail. I never went any where in the States with our tanks we usually used some "loners" when we were in the desert.
