And maintenance of Nuclear Weapons. Forsafest method transportation of this material was by rail. We begin our look at the history of the pantex plant with a look at the Railroad Museum were several cars once used by the plant are now on display. To preserve the rich Railroad History of the texas panhandle. Most of these towns would not be here if it was not for the coming of the railroad. We realized quick that railroads were evolving and changing. We were seeing new locomotives. We were seeing so many changes. Preserve somed to of that before it disappears. The amarilloed as Railroad Museum as that goal to preserve it. We bought this property here in the northeast part of amarillo, and it already at the Railroad Track on it. We have been keeping our eyes for opportunities to acquire certain pieces of rolling stock. Theere fortunate to get cars from the formerly called white train, which was used for transporting Nuclear Weapons. We can display them so people can see these things that they would not be able to see anywhere else. This role of cars i have set up kind of in the way the white train used to operate. On the end is the escort coach with the raised car facing the cargo. Is the buffer car. Cannotl is by law people ride into a car adjacent to explosives. That red car is the sole surviving of the armor plated cargo cars. Around 1980, the modified the train for protecting the Nuclear Weapons. That is the sole survivor. Now we are in the coppola of the escort coach. It is an elevated area. You can see it has bullet resistant glass around us. Ofs is the security perch where the careers would be be at all times. There would be at least two watching to make sure that there are not intruders trying to get on the train. Anyase that there would be difficulties with anybody trying to get on the train, there are these gun portals here. They are blocked off right now. The couriers could use those if they needed to. Primaryoday is the assembly and disassembly facility for Nuclear Weapons in the United States. The story of pantex begins in 1941 when the japanese attacked pearl harbor. That launched the u. S. Into world war ii. Prior to that we had many lend these programs with our future allies. Pantex is the primary plant to imeter howitzer shells. We built conventional weapons during world war ii. Amarillo makes a great location to build one of these facilities. It is no accident. It exists because of the railroad. The railroad is hugely important for transporting goods during world war ii. It is the most reliable means of transportation. 1942, we dont have a national highway system. There is no easy way to move good. Ods through the United States easily. One of the first things they do is they lay spurs off of the Main Railroad line so they can direct those. Pantex soble to build quickly because they bring those materials from the railroad to where they are building. Where they areo putting the load lines. And any of thes explosive materials they would railroad. Yovia the amarillo is a great place to build pantex. As well as the Amarillo Army airport. That is constructed in 1941. Is where the amarillo airport is today. Y plant. Is an arm it is pretty efficient. Amarillo had a decent sized population. You are going to need workers. 1943, we had over 5000 employees. All of those people need a place to live. Lots of provided that, Housing Options for people to live so that pantex could have the size of workforce it needed. Pantex throughout the cold war has a remarkably consistent mission. Our mission was to build and dismantle Nuclear Weapons. We become the primary Nuclear Weapons assembly and disassembly site in the United States. The shift in our mission is in 1991 when the first president bush gives his speech on dismantlement. The u. S. Will take it on itself to start dismantling some of its Nuclear Weapons stockpile. We now have an unparalleled opportunity to change the their posture of both the Nuclear Posture of both the United States and the soviet union. If we take the right steps, some on our own, some on their own, some together, we can dramatically shrink the arsenal of Nuclear Weapons and discourage the spread of Nuclear Weapons. You can rely more on defensive measures in our strategic relationship. Weekend and instability and we can enhance stability and reduce the possibility of nuclear war. The soviet union was coming to an end when president bush gives this speech. Exists,et union still but it is a few months later, and the soviet union falls. Wee the cold war is over, dismantlement. To pantex still has a vital function dismantling our Nuclear Weapons stockpiles and figuring out how to dispose of certain materials within a nuclear weapon. Furthermore today, we are focused on life Extension Programs so we ensure that we have a reliable stockpile for the future. When we started building Nuclear Weapons back in the 1950s, we did not have a highway system. Most everything and everyone traveled more by train, by rail than by highway. In the meantime, to move the goods, these railcars were specially designed by Sandia National laboratories for caring Nuclear Weapons carrying Nuclear Weapons safely. We recently traveled to amarillo, texas, to learn more about its rich history. To learn more about amarillo and other stops on our tour, visit cspan. Org citiesotour. You are watching history tv on cspan3. Early 1945,ago in the u. S. Marines invaded the Pacific Island of you would team o jima in one of the bloodiest battles of world war ii. Actions earned him the medal of honor. The National WorldWar Ii Museum conducted this interview in 2006