So, this youtube video of all the military videos on the train, down near Santa Cruz...

[semillama]

Anyone know the actual context behind the movement of the material? I'm seeing all sorts of things claiming it's for gearing up for war with Iran, but knowing we just left Iraq, would a simpler explanation be that it is related to that demobilization instead? Any military DUer's have insight?

Here's the video:

http://www.military.com/video/combat-vehicles/combat-tanks/tanks-trains-and-automobiles/1409633383001/

[ForgoTheConsequence]

1. Things get moved all the time.

I live near railroad tracks and I see military equipment being moved via rail frequently. Training programs move, technology moves, there are plenty of reasons you would need to move equipment from one base to another.

[hedgehog]

9. I can second that - I used to work right next to a rail yard.

From time to time I'd see military stuff sitting there. I recall especially one train of container cars with personal belongings - apparently a unit transferring home from Europe by the markings.

Then there was the time that a train of plain gray cars with obscure Federal government markings sat there - just when the X-Files was running a story about government rail cars being used to transport aliens!

[Angry Dragon]

2. There has been talk of invading Mexico

Come to think of it that might have been Perry

[yesphan]

3. Considering the paint job

they aren't from Iraq.

[postatomic]

4. New Wal-Mart marketing strategy

If they can't run all the small businesses - out of business - they just blow them up. It's purely a test. If it goes well in California they plan on using this strategy in other states.

[hedgehog]

5. Maybe those are new tanks being delivered?

[MineralMan]

6. That corridor down through the central valley frequently

transports military vehicles to training bases. In addition Interstate 5 is often the scene of huge convoys of military vehicles as well. Camp Roberts on the border of San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties is one training base where Army National Guard trains. There are other training centers in California as well. The most likely thing was that the equipment was in transit to or from one of those training bases. Fort Irwin out in the Mojave desert is a national training center, and they could have been headed there, as well.

[Politicalboi]

7. Maybe it's equipment from Iraq

It's got to go somewhere.

[Brother Buzz]

8. Army Reserves heading to Hunter Liggett would be my guess

[hack89]

10. There are several large training areas in California

movements like this happen all the time.

[semillama]

11. Thanks, everyone. I thought it was probably something routine

DU comes through again!