The laying of paved roads and new railroad tracks was among the first construction work started on Huntsville Arsenal in September 1941. This resulted from the need for adequate transportation systems to deliver heavy equipment and supplies to various construction areas. Neighboring Redstone Arsenal experienced a similar need.
After the Ordnance plant's commanding officer COL Carroll D. Hudson (then a Major) shoveled the first spadeful of dirt out of a cotton field in the southeastern corner of the Army reservation in October 1941, large bulldozers and other machinery immediately moved in to begin constructing the first road to the arsenal. About 75 miles of railroad track connecting the east and west classification yards at Huntsville Arsenal, as well as lines to the Gulf Chemical Warfare Dept and Redstone Ordnance Plant, were completed in December 1941.
The photo to the right, taken in 1957, shows George E. Horn, a New York subway motorman, taking pictures of his wife Terry inspecting an ancient train car which used to run on New York City's Second Avenue Elevated. Redstone Arsenal purchased it in 1943 utilized for two years to ferry arsenal employees from Redstone Park to their jobs and back. Sold by the government after the war, the car (built in 1880) was a residence and was parked on West Clinton Street in Huntsville, Alabama, in used as a combination store, house and small office.
At the peak of the railroad activity at Redstone, 1,970 cars per month moved along the tracks. A passenger train was used to transport workers from Redstone Park at the southeastern end of the installation to the manufacturing lines. The railway continued to move ammunition after the war until depot operations were terminated at Redstone.
Loading munitions on train, 1944 |
Huntsville Arsenal train engine, circa 1940s |
Rail activity, 1957 |
Rail accident, 1968 |
By June 1973, the Army made the decision to liquidate its remaining rail assets, which included a 10-car Army train. The decision was made that trucks would take over the hauling tasks. Only three miles of track to the switching yard would remain. The railway equipment -including two diesel locomotives, 10 hopper cars, shop equipment, a locomotive crane, magnetic lifting device, gas generator, maintenance car and tank car - was valued at $191,335. It was turned over to other government agencies.
In 1976, approximately 58 miles of railroad tracks were removed from Redstone Arsenal. Efforts to sell the remaining track continued through 2000.
