The purpose of this thesis was to explore the risks associated with changes in United States military capabilities relative to the decline and recovery of the post-World War II domestic railroad industry. Since 1946, the commercial railroads of the United States witnessed numerous mergers, bankruptcies, and abandonment of routes that contributed to the continued shrinking of the domestic rail network and associated service. Accentuated by the dynamic environment of various competitive forms of transport, government regulation and other rail-based commerce, the capability of the railroads to support military requirements declined along with the railroad industry well into the 1970s. This degradation has roots in the organization, infrastructure, and capital equipment of the railroads as well as the military, with heavy influence by various governmental and competitive forces. While the railroads of the twenty-first century have since fully recovered from their difficult economic times, the rail support for the military has not, despite its strategic importance to the country. This paper examined the forces at work since World War II and offered recommendations to lower the risk for the military to employ the domestic railroad industry effectively in 2006 and beyond.

ADA 495249 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)