The military train, if it launches, would carry 800 to 1,100 Army soldiers from Fort Lee to a drop-off point in Milford. Local buses would be arranged to carry soldiers the approximate three miles between Milford and Fort A.P. Hill.
After training for five days, a southbound train would carry the 800 to 1,100 soldiers back to Fort Lee, said Stuart Gregory, executive officer, deputy to the commanding general at Fort Lee.
The train would run an estimated 37 to 40 weeks in a year, Gregory said.
Fascinating stuff. I haven't been on AP Hill in a while, but I do not recall a rail head there. It is, however, a somewhat active range post, with limited barracks facilities and not much of an AAFES/PX/Commisary. I was mob'd there for the Persian Gulf War (circa 1991). There are two distinct areas; one is for annual type or field type training. There are hard decks which accomodate GP medium tents. It is used by both reservists and Boy Scouts, who have an annual jamboree there. The BSA actually built a very large shower facility adjacent to this "camp ground". There is also a barracks area with some older style barracks (which may have been modernized since 91) that are fairly decent; unlike Devens old "splinter city", these are not old style wooden WWII barracks.
Later in the article it mentions that the last time trains were actively used to transport soldiers was the 1960's. This may be referring to chartered trains, or military operated trains. In 1979 I took the Amtrak Crescent (shortly after Southern withdrew this train from passenger service, I believe Feb 79, and gave it all over to Amtrak) to basic at Fort McLellan (Anniston) AL. I also took Amtrak on ocassion from Stamford, CT to BWI (Fort Meade) at government expense for training.