If memory serves, German tanks were designed to run without treads, so they could easily use railroad routes. One of the reasons the initial push against France and Britain went so quickly is, Rommel ran his entire tank force across a high railroad bridge over, hmm, one of the major rivers (considered to be a significant barrier) during the night, reinstalled treads, and merrily rolled on into attack the following morning.
Dear Sunken, About “run without tracks” Unfortunately you are mistaken. The Germans didn’t have that feature. They did take some tank turrets and mounted them on specially built rail cars for railroad support fire. Note the front drive sprocket, that powered the tracks. All the road wheels did was to roll along the track. Break the track and all you have is a big pillbox for defense. Think of the immobilized Sherman tank in the current movie “Fury.”
Your memory serves incorrectly. Some armored cars were fitted with steel wheels to patrol railroads, but not tanks. The Russians had a tank that could run (much faster) without tracks, actually designed by an American, but it was too lightly armored to be much use against another tank.
what the Germans did have were narrower transport tracks for their larger vehicles (e.g., Tiger I and Tiger II) so that they could fit on standard rail cars without overhanging the sides and pass through tunnels, by other trains, and such.
they would install these tracks before loading the vehicles onto the rail cars, and at the destination, switch back.
here's a pic with a Tiger I fitted with transport tracks, with the wider combat tracks stowed underneath.
