Choo-Choo Afficianados

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Alright...I've been looking into some information on Period Trains, Stations, Rail-lines, Ephemera, etc...and realize there's alot of stuff out there I'm probably not finding.

I'm in search of someone to aid in this search/research...with possibilities...

If interested...contact me @ paulboulden[at]hotmail.com

Thanks,

Paul B.

[BobbyHughes]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

Paul,

Sent ya an email.

[LindaTrent]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

Alright...I've been looking into some information on Period Trains, Stations, Rail-lines, Ephemera, etc...and realize there's alot of stuff out there I'm probably not finding.Paul B.

Hi Paul,

I'm not sure whether you're more interested in Northern or Southern trains, but one great site is "Hill & Swayze's Confederate States Rail-Road & Steam-Boat Guide, Containing the Time-Tables, Fares, Connections and Distances on all the Rail-Roads of the Confederate States; also, the Connecting Lines of Rail-Roads, Steam-Boats and Stages. And Will Be Accompanied by a Complete Guide to the Principal Hotels, with a Large Variety of Valuable Information, Collected, Compiled and Arranged by J. C. Swayze" yeah, that's just the title. :D

I also have some information on Barney and Smith Car Works in Dayton, Ohio. They were organized in 1849 and ran through the early 20th century. If you're interested I can share more on them both before and during the war.

Linda.

[A Baltimore Confederate]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

Paul,

I have been a member of the B&O RR Museum for several years now. The Ellicott City Train Station Museum (part of the B&O museum system) does Civil War era programs from January thru late May/June every year (local Union Reenactors station guards, military and civilians sit in the passenger waiting rooms, etc, on the weekends).

There is also a website on CSA Railroading (http://www.csa-railroads.com) that is pretty good, and is always being updated.

Hope that helps. Send me a PM if you wish.

[Becky Morgan]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

May I suggest our International Railway Links?

http://www.trainnet.org

or directly at

http://www.tadlane.com/rrlinks.htm

Confederate Railroads will certainly help, but look around. There's a lot of information out there.

[Prodical Reb]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

Try searching for the RF&P railroad. It stands for Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac RR. It was chartered in 1834 and ran from Richmond to Aquia landing via Fredericksburg. From Aquia landing you could catch a steam boat that took you to/from DC on the Potomac river. There was also a spur line that went as far as Quantico.

This line was tore up and laid many times over the course of the war. This was a main supply route for the Union Army, Lincoln rode the train to Fredericksburg when he visited there. The line is mostly still there. It doesn't go out to Aquia landing any more. Brooke road now runs the old RR bed from the intersection of Brooke Rd and Andrew Chapel Rd. The rest of the line is still the same and owned by CSX now. the VRE, Am Track and CSX all run this line yet today.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

Does anybody know if there are any antibellum locomotives in operational condition? The oldest engine that I know of is the Virginia and Truckee Inyo at the Nevada State RR museum.
I would love to get behind the throttle of an prewar or wartime locomotive. The oldest engine Ive run is 1938.

[Prodical Reb]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

One more thing, the RF&P line or Aquia Creek Line, had the bridge that spanned Potomac creek. This is the bridge that after it was hastily rebuilt by Haupt, Lincoln was quoted as saying

"There is nothing in it but beanpoles and cornstalks!"

This bridge was about 400 feet long and nearly 100 feet high.

[PogueMahone]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

Have you contacted these folks yet:
Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History

I took a tour a few years ago. They have the original General. There is a guy working there that is a reenactor and his name escapes me at the moment, but I've done some events with him in the past.

It is across the street from Wildman's.

[pfeiffer3964]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

Does anybody know if there are any antibellum locomotives in operational condition? The oldest engine that I know of is the Virginia and Truckee Inyo at the Nevada State RR museum.

The William Mason (built 1856) is operational. It currently resides at the B&O Museum in Baltimore and is brought out only a few times per year. If I'm not mistaken the Inyo is ca. 1875.

--Jim

[AndrewGrim]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

Here is the information on the "Inyo" http://www.nsrm-friends.org/inyo22.html
It was built in 1875.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

The William Mason (built 1856) is operational. It currently resides at the B&O Museum in Baltimore and is brought out only a few times per year. If I'm not mistaken the Inyo is ca. 1875.

--Jim

Thanks James, I did not know the Wm Mason was operational. One of these days Im going to hit up the B&O museum.

[Becky Morgan]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

The replica "John Bull" atthe RR Museum of PA in strasburg is also operational, if pre-period. Ironically, it's more accurate to the original blueprints than the ORIGINAL, and also operational, John Bull, now residing in the Smithsonian, which was heavily modified during service. Check this:

http://www.steamlocomotive.com

Click on "Surviving Steam Locomotives".

[ndnchf]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

One more thing, the RF&P line or Aquia Creek Line, had the bridge that spanned Potomac creek. This is the bridge that after it was hastily rebuilt by Haupt, Lincoln was quoted as saying

"There is nothing in it but beanpoles and cornstalks!"

This bridge was about 400 feet long and nearly 100 feet high.

I live in Fredericksburg. A couple years ago I went looking for the remains of the "Beanpoles and cornstalks" bridge. The stone abutments remain and while overgrown, it is easy to see that they match period photos of the bridge. Its a neat piece of history that most people don't know still exists.

Steve Blancard
13th Va. Inf. Co A.

[rebelfirefighter07]

Re: Choo-Choo Afficianados

In Tunnel Hill, Georgia you can vist the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center. They give daily tours of the 1477 ft Western & Atlantic Railroad tunnel that was completed in 1850. The tunnel is mentioned in accounts of the Great Locomotive Chase which ended just to the north in Ringgold, Ga.
Across the railroad tracks from the heritage center is the original Tunnel Hill Depot. It was part of a conagra feed mill for years and many people didnt even know it was there. Recently the feed mill was torn down and the depot was purchased by the city of Tunnel Hill. They plan to restore it sometime in the future. Jefferson Davis stopped and gave a rousing speech at the depot while he was on his way to the Confederate Capitol. It was also the location where hundreds of troops were brought in from area battles to the Tunnel Hill hospitals.

http://www.tunnelhillheritagecenter.com/index.html

http://roadsidegeorgia.com/city/tunnelhill.html