REACTIVIATION OF THE THANH HOA-VINH RAIL LINE

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP78B04560A006400010043-1
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
10
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2016
Document Release Date: 
April 12, 2000
Sequence Number: 
43
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
October 1, 1968
Content Type: 
MEMO
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP78B04560A006400010043-1.pdf1.93 MB
Body: 
Ar wllywor Release 2000/06/30,: CIA-RDP78BO456.OA006400010043-1 25X1.C PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION MEMORANDUM REACTIVATION OF THE THANH HOA-VINH RAIL LINE Declass Review, NIMA/DoD GROUP 1 EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING AND DECLASSIFICATION 25X1 C Approved For RSE1 811000/06/30 : CIA-RDP7813456OA006400010043-1 NO FOREIGN DISSEM Approved For Release 2000/06/30 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA006400010043-1 This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States, within the meaning of Title 18, sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law. Approved For Release 2000/06/30 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA006400010043-1 CUT TO COPIES CUT TO COPIES CUT TO COP I ES 16 DAY YR. F TITLE DISPOSITION DATE(S) CUT TO COPIES CUT TO COPIES DIST UNIT NPIC/Rr115 50 rv 50 DATE RECEIVED . ILOCATION 0A00640001004 ease 2000/06/3015jjfRIi 6b T I MUM I& RECD ISS D 3 NpIC R^115 Approved ,For Release 2000 OCTOBER io P78B04560A00640001 Approved For Release 20lt : CIA-RDP?gl?61&560~#Olq?~R943-1 REACTIVATION OF THE THANH HOA-VINH RAIL LINE Recent aerial photography reveals that the entire Thanh Hoa-Vinh rail line is serviceable and probably in use by two-axle rolling stock. Conventional rolling stock is being utilized as far south as Tho Trang (Figure 1). This is the first time since bombing restrictions were imposed on 31 March 1968 that the rail line has been serviceable between the 19th parallel and Vinh, and the first time in recent years that conventional rolling stock has been observed south of Thanh Hoa. The rail line south of the 19th parallel was apparently reactivated between One of the by-pass bridges over the Song Cau La (river), 11 nm north of Vinh was reconstructed during this period (Figure 2). On 12 canvas-covered and nine empty two-axle flat cars were observed at the previously inactive Vinh trans- shipment point (Figure 3). After the imposition of the bombing restrictions and prior to the reactivation of the southernmost rail segment, material was being transferred from rail cars to trucks at three transshipment points immediately north of the 19th parallel: My Ly, Tho Trang, and Qui Vinh. The overflow from this transshipment operation was stored at adjacent facilities along Route IA. Since the line has been reactivated to Vinh, the transshipment points at My Ly and Qui Vinh have shown a drastic reduction in activity, with Tho Trang becoming the point at which material is transloaded from conventional to two-axle cars (Figure 4). Thus, it now appears that the rail line is once again the primary mode for transporting supplies into the Vinh area and that vehicles are utilized only in a supplemental capacity. During the period in which the rail line was subject to repeated airstrikes, many of the rapidly constructed temporary bridges south of Thanh Hoa would support only the smaller two-axle ("lorry-type") rolling stock. The introduction of conventional rolling stock indicates that the axle load limits have been significantly increased on that segment of the rail line. 25X1 D 25X1 D 25X1 C Approved For Release 2 Q/30 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA006400010043-1 NO FOREIGN DISSE Approved For Release 200 61/50 : CIA f8BO456OA006400010 ,1R-n5/68 NO FOREIGN DISSEM NORTH VIETNAM 'QUI VINH TRANSSHIPMENT POINT THO TRANG TRANSLOADING POINT RECONSTRUCTED BY-PASS BRIDGE (FIG. 2) SOUTHERN TERMINUS OF CONVfEN11ONAL ROLLING !STOCK (FIG, 4) MY LY' TRANSSHIPMENT POINT SOUTHERN TERMINUS OF 2.AXLE ROLLING STOCK (FIG. 3) FIGURE 1. THANH HOA-VINH RAIL LINE. 25X1 C Approved For Release 2000/06/30 : CIA- B0456OA006400010043-1 NO FOREIGN DISSEM 25X1 C ~R L Approved For Release fM&51/30: CIA-RDP78B0455(ff0614(~U~810043-1 NO FOREIGN DISSEM 25X1 D 25X1 D 25X1 D 25X1 D 25X1 C Approved oo ~ReleaNs 04560A006400010043-1 25X1 C Approved For Release 2000/06/30 : CIA-F$bWT304560A00640001004YIc/x-115/68 NO FOREIGN DISSEM 25X1 D 25X1 C Approved For Release 2000/06/30 : C NO FOREIGN DISSEM 10043-1 25XX1C NPIC//R-115 68 Approved For Release ~WB96/30 : CIA-RDP78B04560A0064 0010043-1 25X1 D SECRET Approved j ,g& 4560A006400010043-1 FIGURE 4. RAIL TRANSLOADING POINT, THO TRANG, NORTH VIETNAM. -5- 25X1 C 25X1 C Approved For Release 2000/06/30 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA006400010043-1 Approved For Release 2000/06/30 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA006400010043-1