Large Scale Central

New Guy

General Discussion
#1

Hello all, I recently signed on to this forum and found this to be an excellent source of information for this new expensive hobby. (Just what I needed.)

I really have nothing yet, but have decided on trying to model everything around the Civil War (War of Northern Aggression) era since I enjoy reading American history and am a veteran so modeling the raid that earned the Union troops the first Medal of Honor, seems interesting.

It is not news to most here to say I am having difficulty finding a period engine to begin with. This seems to be the logical place to start since all the other buildings and rolling stock will be based on what scale is available for the engine. Civil War Railroads by George B. Abdill has plenty of photos of locomotives that could be helpful if I need to make some modifications to get close to the period made units from the later 4-4-0’s and 4-6-0’s.

I am planning on building most of the rolling stock, buildings, etc one piece at a time, picking up used brass track as it becomes available. Would someone here will be able to direct me to scaled plans for building a basic freight car. I have trucks and couplers, etc. but would like to find what the proper dimensions and configuration for the frame to mount them.

Thanks in advance for any tips & tricks. I hope to be able to return the favor sometime.

Dave

#2

Welcome David. There are a few earlier issue locos around but most are based on narrow gauge. Bachmann makes a 4-4-0 and 2-6-0 in 1/20 and the 4-6-0 Annie in 1/22.5 (good loco for the money). Hartland Locomotive Works makes a generic 4-4-0 in 1/24 that might be adaptable for your purposes -

(http://www.h-l-w.com/Products/Steam/General-web-large.jpg)

Most of the plans I have seen are 1/20, 1/22.5. You often find New Bright cars on eBay that are 1/32 and are from an earlier era. With a bit of tweaking they may work for you. -Brian

#3

If yer not terribly particular…Bachmanns older 1:22.5 line might be just about right for Civil War era stuff…remeber back when the Damn Yankees came calling, there was no “standard gauge” and narrow gauge was much in vogue, in fact there was talk of a National 3 ft gauge system at one point. Look back into the history of any of the major railroads, and theres some narrow gauge there somewhere. Bachmanns 4-4-0 and 2-6-0 would look right spiffy. as far as building stuffs, get one car and use it as a ‘story stick’ for guageing the rest of your fleet. I’d recommend a flatcar…cause everything else is just a flatcar with stuff on it…

#4

Welcome aboard! Cool choice of theme. I’ve always thought the Civil War era would make an interesting layout.

#5

I love how those 19th century guys dolled up their equipment! Of course, during the war itself, they might have let maintenance slide a bit.

#6

Don’t forget that you will also have to use the correct link and pin coupler, too.

The [Janney] knuckle-coupler was not invented until long after the terrible day at Appomatox.

'Up until the late 1800’s, most railroads used a coupler called the link and pin coupler. It was simply a large metal link that looped around a removable pin on each car. It was simple and easy to manufacture. It was also very dangerous.

Coupling between each car was sloppy and links routinely broke when jerked too hard. Broken couplers accounted for a lot of train wrecks. A brakeman had to step between cars to insert or remove the pins. Hundreds of trainmen were crushed to death every year, and thousands more lost fingers or whole hands in accidents while working between cars.

In 1872 Eli Janney invented the Janney Automatic Coupler which was tested by the Master Car Builders Association from 1885 to 1887. The Master Car Builders (a group which represented most of the major railroads) selected the Janney coupler over 41 other types to be the standard coupler for all American railroads. The Safety Appliance act of 1893 made the Master Car Builders recommendation mandatory for all common carriers.’

tac

#7

Welcome David,
According to what Civil War history I know(very minimal), I live in the furthest town north captured by the Confederate’s. I will be interested in seeing future progress.

#8
David Russell said:
Welcome David, According to what Civil War history I know(very minimal), I live in the furthest town north captured by the Confederate's. I will be interested in seeing future progress.
Shame on you, Sir!

Why, over here in darkest dankest East Anglia, hardly a day goes by without us talking about the recent War of Northern Aggression, as we huddle around our twig fires, warming up an old can of water to make nettle soop. We often wonder, and shake our heads, what the turn of events would have been if our brave Confederate boys had won at the Battle of Sporting Hill…Gettysburg may never have taken place at all, and all that came after would have been totally different.

We might even have been welcoming the new POTUS - General [Retired] Robert E Lee the Fifth!

What a great day that would have been!

But it was not to be [sigh].

tac

#9

TAC,
I have two books you should read. They are quick readers. First is the Politically Incorrect Guide to the South and the other is the Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War (War of Northern Aggression). Simply amazing how facts are changed to suit those who are offended by them.
N

#10

Hi David,

Welcome aboard. If you can get your hands on a copy of George B Abdill’s Civil War Railroads, this book would give you lots of ideas for your railroad. Check on amazon they have used copies or maybe your local library might have a copy that you could borrow.

Chuck

#11

Hi Dave,

Guess I should have read your post all the way through, looks like you already have the book.

Chuck

#12

Welcome David , its a great hobby . I orginially started with the same idea myself , and started with a Hartland 4-4-0 , found the Hartland cars to be close , out of the box . I am the biggest fan of the great locomotive chase . My problem and the reason that I gave up on the CW period …was lack of CW troops and people , as you research the RRds and the CW , every photo , has lots of people , so the lack of CW troops , ended my attempt . But please post your progress as you restage the chase .

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/thechase.jpg)

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/cannon%20transport%20in%20snow.jpg)

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/HLW/2loco’s.jpg

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/dennispaulson/HLW%20comeing%20round%20the%20bend.jpg)

#13

Thanks for the welcome and tips ya’ll. I love the artillery pieces on the flatcars with USMrr boxcars. If I model the Confederation’s RR are the markings CSArr?

I’ll take pics as I go, just a piece of track and set of trucks to start my first build. Still hoping for a scale drawing of the underside of a wooden flatcar to fasten to the trucks.

#14

I think there was a small amount of CSArr , but due to the southern states being so wrapped up in their ‘state’ and not so much as a one united southern states , the problems were too large , as compared to the USMRR .
There is so much written about the many problems of transportation in the south , as compared to the north .

David you have watched Walt Disneys movie , "the Great Locomotive Chase " ?

#15
Dennis Paulson said:
I think there was a small amount of CSArr , but due to the southern states being so wrapped up in their 'state' and not so much as a one united southern states , the problems were too large , as compared to the USMRR . There is so much written about the many problems of transportation in the south , as compared to the north .

David you have watched Walt Disneys movie , "the Great Locomotive Chase " ?


As I am reading about the Southern RRds most seemed to retain their “road names” i.e. Florida, Atlantic & Gulf Central. I have not found any CSMRRds equipment yet. I am finding out that the motive power usually retained the honorary name given or was changed for Southern sensibilities, i.e. the the BEAUREGARD Engr. James McCandlish and the JEFF DAVIS both captured New Jersey built locomotives and renamed.

I have not seen the Disney movie, but I will have to now.