17th Engineers (Railway) A. E. F.

The Birth of the Regiment.

Shortly after America's involvement in WWI a French mission arrived in America and one of the first things requested was for expert Railroad troops to rebuild the shattered transportation system in France.  Immediately a Bill was passed authorizing the enlisting of nine special railway regiments to be gathered from the best of every department and to be sent to France immediately.  Men ambitious to serve their country; men anxious to get into the big game; men who were willing to sacrifice all; that they might serve rushed to the regiments.  Of these the 17th Engineers was born. (Excerpt from Oo La La Times Vol. I, No.II)

Under General "Black Jack" Pershing commander of the American Expeditionary Force many specialty Engineer units were recruited.  Men with all types of skills from teamsters, track men, construction engineers, woodsmen, sawmill operators, machinists and just about every civilian occupation associated with construction and maintenance of any type were needed.   

Many French railways were of narrow gauge and had to be changed to standard gauge to accommodate the American locomotives and cars being sent overseas. Mechanics were needed to repair these steam locomotives. Massive warehouse complexes and rail yards had to be built to store the flood of materials America was sending to France. Hospitals and troop housing, water and sewer systems were needed.  

 One such unit was the 17th Engineers (Railway) stationed in and around St. Nazaire and Nantes , France. This web site has been written to tell part of that story.

 My great uncle, Frank Anderson, was a member of that unit and this page is dedicated to him and his fellow Railroad Engineer soldiers.

Back to top

Next page