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Wikimedia Commons

These are the incredible armoured trains of World War I and World War II

Forgotten war machines.

TRAINS MAY SEEM pretty mundane in the 21st century when compared with jet aircraft.

Trains have fallen out of favour as the dominant form of transport. This contrasts vividly with the previous century, when not just trains but armored trains were a vital piece of machinery in the two largest military conflicts of the era.

The armored train was first seen in the American Civil War, according to The Jamestown Foundation, but the battle-ready form of transportation came to prominence in World War I, when Russia used it as a means of defense during cross-country travel.

Patrol the coasts

The trains were used by most of the European nations fighting in World War II: Poland took advantage of them extensively; Nazi Germany reacted and began using them; and the Russians kept their fleet up. Even Canada patrolled its west coast with one for a time in case of an invasion, according to Canada’s Virtual Museum.

These trains were not just armored — they were heavily armed. Cannons, machine guns, anti-aircraft weapons, and even tanks were on board these moving walls of terror.

While the armored train could transport large amounts of firepower rapidly cross country, it also had quite a few drawbacks.

They were hardly stealthy. Their reliance on tracks not only limited where they could go, but it provided the enemy with an easy target: Sabotage the tracks, and you disable the train.

After World War II, automotive technology had caught up sufficiently to render the armored train obsolete. But these insane trains have left an indelible mark on history.

This early Polish train, Smialy, is one of the most famous of the era. The rotating turret on the front helped clear out anything that got in the way.

this-early-polish-train-smialy-is-one-of-the-most-famous-of-the-era-the-rotating-turret-on-the-front-helped-clear-out-anything-that-got-in-the-way Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

Here is another shot of Smialy. It was captured by Poland in 1919 but was used in both wars by four different nations: Austria, Poland, the USSR, and Germany.

here-is-another-shot-of-smialy-it-was-captured-by-poland-in-1919-but-was-used-in-both-wars-by-four-different-nations-austria-poland-the-ussr-and-germany Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

Extensive armour plating could withstand a lot of punishment.

extensive-armor-plating-could-withstand-a-lot-of-punishment Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

Each nation’s trains were an imposing force.

each-nations-trains-were-an-imposing-force Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

Over time, the compartments for the soldiers became increasingly secure. This one resembles a fortress.

over-time-the-compartments-for-the-soldiers-became-increasingly-secure-this-one-resembles-a-fortress Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

There was no job too big or too small. Anti-aircraft weaponry was common on many of these trains.

there-was-no-job-too-big-or-too-small-anti-aircraft-weaponry-was-common-on-many-of-these-trains Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

Some of the cannons on these locomotives appear to be a size that would be more appropriate for a battleship.

some-of-the-cannons-on-these-locomotives-appear-to-be-a-size-that-would-be-more-appropriate-for-a-battleship Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

As we said, the main issue with these trains was that they ran on tracks. Derailments and fires were their Achilles’ heel.

as-we-said-the-main-issue-with-these-trains-was-that-they-ran-on-tracks-derailments-and-fires-were-their-achilles-heel Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

During WWII, the Germans derailed this Polish train with a bomb dropped by the Luftwaffe. It was deserted next to the tracks as the German soldiers neared.

during-wwii-the-germans-derailed-this-polish-train-with-a-bomb-dropped-by-the-luftwaffe-it-was-deserted-next-to-the-tracks-as-the-german-soldiers-neared Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

Here’s another shot of the carnage.

heres-another-shot-of-the-carnage Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

The wartime role of trains has not been totally forgotten. This Russian train, now decommissioned, is part of an installation in its home country.

the-wartime-role-of-trains-has-not-been-totally-forgotten-this-russian-train-now-decommissioned-is-part-of-an-installation-in-its-home-country Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

This is is a replica of a Slovakian armored train, now situated near Zvolen, Slovakia.

this-is-is-a-replica-of-a-slovakian-armored-train-now-situated-near-zvolen-slovakia Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

Some of the trains are still on display, in Poland.

some-of-the-trains-are-still-on-display-in-poland Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

Battles, and time, have taken their toll.

battles-and-time-have-taken-their-toll Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons

Here’s a clip of an armoured train in action.

Valentin Izagirre Bengoetxea / YouTube

An earlier version of this feature was written by Alex Davies and Travis Okulski.

Read: The most powerful militaries on earth ranked from 20 to 1 >

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    Mute Frank Dubogovik
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    Oct 6th 2018, 7:33 AM

    anyone else suffering from ” brexit fatigue”…its been non stop in the media for nigh on 2years. every day there’s a new ” angle”…a new “scare” story. The world isn’t going to stop turning in March 2019- deal or no deal.I wonder what’s the media going to be so obsessed with after brexit

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    Mute FartyTowels
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    Oct 6th 2018, 8:24 AM

    @Frank Dubogovik: completely agree. However I want to know will brexit mean that we will once again be able to buy duty free on ferries between Ireland and the UK? Up yours high duty on my beloved vino

    33
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    Mute JustOneScoop
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    Oct 6th 2018, 9:22 AM

    @Frank Dubogovik: no not really.just because your a bot programmed to disperse apathy doesn’t change the fact that brexit is an immensely serious problem for this island. Disperse your apathy elsewhere

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    Mute Frank Dubogovik
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    Oct 6th 2018, 9:59 AM

    @JustOneScoop: ??? whatever morphine or cocaine or whatever you’re on there lad you need to check the doses. I’m a “bot”…wtf is that that supposed to mean??

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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    Oct 6th 2018, 7:25 AM

    The product will still be there. It just might (or not) be subject to a customs check, like 100% of all other non EU goods that come through Irish & European Ports.
    The way some people are going on you’d swear the Brits were intent on rolling up their country like a carpet and moving it to the Southern Hemisphere.
    After next March, they’ll still be right next door, doing fine and getting on with life. And all the disappointed drama junkies will find something else to fret about. Somebody rightly compared all this hysterical carry on to the millennium bug nonsense.

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    Mute Greg Blake
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    Oct 6th 2018, 9:21 AM

    @Tweed Cap: of course it’ll be there. The very reason the world will not come to a grinding halt is that these things are being put out there, now, by organisations such as this. So their concern is that it will be business as usual for most of them providing the bureaucrats do their thing in the background. ‘It’ll be alright on the night‘ requires the backstage staff to be on the ball.

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    Mute JustOneScoop
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    Oct 6th 2018, 9:22 AM

    @Tweed Cap: bot alert . Incoming

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    Mute John Horan
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    Oct 6th 2018, 10:47 AM

    @Tweed Cap: Incorrect. You cannot import whatever you like from the rest of the world into the EU. There are restrictions on certain items coming into the EU but if they are produced in the EU they circulate freely. Additionally the items that get imported to the EU are subject to duties and taxes that make them more expensive. Remember that bit where the customs check your luggage to see what you bought on your shopping trip to NY and if you have certain stuff you get a big bill? Like that but worse

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    Mute wattsed
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    Oct 6th 2018, 11:39 AM

    @Tweed Cap: Agreed. You would think there will be folks watching Sky News at midnight on the night waiting for the country to disappear into a large sinkhole or at best for the UK to be plunged into darkness and wiped out with the plague.

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    Mute eastsmer
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    Oct 6th 2018, 7:04 AM

    Another thing that a United Ireland will solve

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Oct 6th 2018, 7:09 AM

    @eastsmer: Relactification!

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    Mute Helen O'Neill
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    Oct 6th 2018, 7:55 PM

    Hopefully won’t become an issue as they do incredible work in the milk bank! Such an amazing thing to do m, if you can. I donated almost 6L about2.5 years ago and it’s so lovely to hear back how many babies got your milk and a little broach as a keepsake. Amazing work up there!!

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    Mute Johnny Mason
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    Oct 6th 2018, 8:02 AM

    We survived before without it I am sure we can do it again !

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    Mute AnneMarie Roche
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    Oct 6th 2018, 8:54 AM

    @Johnny Mason: The point is that vulnerable premature babies don’t survive without breast milk. Options of feeding this population is mothers breast milk, donated milk, TPN (nutrition delivered via its veins)-in that order. Mothers supply is often affected by the stressful situation she finds herself in and donated milk is required.

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    Mute Johnny Mason
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    Oct 6th 2018, 12:59 PM

    @AnneMarie Roche: Yes but we don’t need to make a Industry about it and worry ourselves to death !

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    Mute AnneMarie Roche
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    Oct 6th 2018, 10:24 PM

    @Johnny Mason: Tell that to the parents of a premmie born at 24weeks. Just because it doesn’t affect you directly doesn’t make it unimportant. And the Republic could do with “making an industry ” of it, we spend alot of money buying it from the north.

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