The Railroad and Campaign Strategy

The Federals (Lander's Division) starts THE WINTER WAR command simulation with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad under their firm control from New Creek Depot to Green Spring Depot. This gives the Federals several advantages.  1) They can quickly move troops from the north border of the campaign theatre to the western border.  2) They can move supplies to the various supply depots along the railroad, and 3) Their ammunition is resupplied by rail as long at it is open out the western side of the campaign theatre at New Creek Depot.

If the railroad is cut, however, Federal commissary supplies will be at diminished capacity. Confederates will restock commissary supplies faster and deliver more commissary supplies with their commissary trains (wagons).

So how important will the railroad be in the players' campaign strategy? How much effort will the Federals put into defending the railroad, and how much is it worth to the Confederates to cut the rail connections?  Allocating resources to defend or attack the railroad will have an influence on how many resources can be allocated to take and hold objectives in other parts of the campaign theatre. Difficult strategic choices are ahead....