The Railroads at War
Beginning with the Civil War, the railroads in the United States played an important role in warfare. During World War II, the railroads and their employees did their part to keep the war fronts supplied. Locally, the railroads were busy hauling troops to and from Camp Grant and servicing the various heavy industries in Rockford. The public were discouraged from photographing or talking about railroad movements for security reasons.
“The Railroads at War” is a temporary exhibit on display in conjunction with the new military exhibit “Byron Goes to War.” The items are on loan from local railroad collector Dave Wise and include home front advertisements from the Milwaukee Road railroad and an 1862 Confederate railroad scrip issued by the Western and Atlantic Railroad for twenty-five cents.
