How did the Prussian Etappen system move supplies to army corps?

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logistics Orange and Alexandria Railroad wrecked by retreating Confederates, Manassas, Virginia, photograph by George N. Barnard, March 1862.

The Prussian Etappen system utilized a chain of magazines extending back to a railhead to move supplies to army corps. Behind each corps, a series of shuttling wagon trains transported essential materials forward.1

To maintain this flow, the system relied on a specific distribution of resources:

Organic Transport: A small train accompanied the troops, carrying a basic load of baggage, rations, and ammunition.1
Individual Load: Each soldier carried additional ammunition and three days’ worth of emergency rations.1
Operational Constraints: The system was designed for a steady, slow advance along a predetermined route and a rigid schedule.1

Because the shuttling wagon trains were unable to keep pace with rapid advances, the system often struggled during fast-moving campaigns, such as the Franco-German War. In such instances, forces frequently outran their supply lines and were forced to rely on local resources.1