Nostalgia & History > Military Train at milepost 753, Erda, Utah, 1986

Westbound Union Pacific unit Army train had SD40-2 3562, 3435, C30-7 2433 and another SD40-2 on August 9, 1986. Train passed milepost 753 near Erda, UT, climbing out of the Great Salt Lake Basin headed for Las Vegas, NV, and likely the National Training Center (Yermo) in California. Aboard the unit military train were M520 GOER trucks, M60 tanks, and a variety of trucks all in the Army's dark green scheme of the 1980's. The Gulf War is far from the minds of Pentagon planners.

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In the early 1950s, reports from British intelligence indicated the Soviets had developed a new heavily armored medium tank, the T-54. This new tank was armed with a 100mm gun, superior to the American M48 medium tank, which used an old 90mm main weapon developed in World War II. In response, the US developed a strategy to bring the M48 up a level to compete with the new Soviet tank -- the M60. It was fitted with a 105mm main gun and manned by a four-man crew. Initially produced in 1960, over 15,000 M60s were built by Chrysler and first saw service in 1961. Production ended in 1983, but 5,400 older models were converted to the M60A3 variant ending in 1990. This tank model saw action with the Israeli forces during the Yom Kippur War in both the Sinai and the Golan Heights.

Besides its main gun, the M60 series tanks are equipped with a 7.62mm M240 coaxial machine gun and 12.7mm M85 antiaircraft gun. Power is provided by a Continental AVDS-1790-2C 750 hp V-12 engine and an Allison CD-850-6/6A powershift crossdrive transmission. The first M-60s retained a turret similar to the M-48, but had a revised hull with better ballistic protection. The M60 tank hull was designed with a unique rounded boat shape, made from five cast pieces that combine to provide excellent ballistic protection for the four crew and equipment packed inside.

The army ordered the M60 into production in 1959 and the first M60s entered service with U.S. Army units during the fall of 1960. Most of the initial production vehicles were sent to Europe to offset the Russian T-54, then coming into widespread service with Warsaw pact armies. While it was an improvement over the M48, especially in armament (having a 105 mm gun, a much roomier M19 Commander Cupola and new road wheels), the M60 was regarded as somewhat of a stop gap measure. It has 750 hp. with a maximum speed of 30 mph and maximum range of 350 miles.

Used in Vietnam and Desert Storm, it proved itself to be a dependable vehicle in all areas of operation. Thanks to... http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m60.htm

Unit military train with DODX 40206 and M60 (A3?) at UP milepost 753, Erda, UT, August 9, 1986. Copyrighted 1986-2004 photo.

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Cool pics, Uncle Sam is on the move even in peacetime!

Great shots!!!