Photo courtesy of the Ebel family.Railroad work appealed to internees eager to prove their American loyalties and to do meaningful work—beyond planting carrots in the compound gardens. They were willing to undergo harsh living conditions to get out of the prison environment at Fort Lincoln. In September 1943, 107 German internees were released into the custody of the Northern Pacific Railroad as track gang members. The crews replaced narrow rails with wider rails from Bismarck to Casselton so heavy munitions could be transported across the country.
