TonyWalsham said:What are you whining about? At least I leave my post up as is, and not delete it.
BOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mike omalley said:States rights per the 9th and 10h Amendments.David Hill said:losing an election
I'll take your word for it mike. I haven't read much on the start of the war, only that the South wanted to secede for some of the same reasons some states want to secede today.
I honestly wanted to originally model the Stealing Of The General. It was a famous military action during the war, still is. And the soldiers were the first to be awarded the new Medal of Honor.
I’ll ask everyone to ignore my use of the War Of Northern Aggression in the title, to stop the banshees from screeching. I do want to learn more of the history of this event in our history, without the rancor.
P.S. I’ve had the privilege of meeting two (possibly three) MoH recipients. Two I have heard them tell the story of their heroism. These men ARE heroes, not our actors or athletes.
Bob laid out the rules really clearly. I’d be happy to debate this point(s), but it seems to me it’s clearly a violation of the rules Bob laid out. So I’m walking away.
mike omalley said:Me too, permanently.
...So I'm walking away.
Okay, if we’re going to start a war over a war, let’s get the discussion on the right “track.” Which scale do you use? The southern railroads were built to 5’ gauge, the northern ones to 4’ 8.5". Do you build to 1:32 or 1:34? 
Later,
K
Kevin,
Thanks for the extra “focus”! :lol: What I wanna know: will there be a change-over where one gauge meets the other?
I only have a Bachman 4-4-0 in 1:20.3. I will count on the visitors being non-rivet-counting-train-nutz. (I could write a sign with a full explanation of gauge and scale, but heck, I’m still trying to understand it all.)
If I had the skill and knowledge of how to change the gauge of the wheels and the size of the drivers to 60" or so, I might do that and hand lay the track at standard or 5’ (?) if I did a Confederate theme.
Kevin Strong said:
Okay, if we’re going to start a war over a war, let’s get the discussion on the right “track.” Which scale do you use? The southern railroads were built to 5’ gauge, the northern ones to 4’ 8.5". Do you build to 1:32 or 1:34?
I’m not very well versed in RR history. Were there no narrow gauge lines in the East during this era?
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/139e_1.JPG)
This is an interesting photo. An earlier discussion about “short” boxcars comes to mind. Ralph
From my limited research, B&O, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Reading, Central RR of NJ, Lehigh Valley (hoorah) and Northern Central used 4’8½", but Pennsy had 4’10" from Pittsburgh to Chicago. NYC switched to the standard gauge during the war, while Erie stuck to 6’0". The NY to Washington route maintained a 4’10" section through New Jersey, while south of Philly was standard width.
In the West, Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy, Chicago and North Western, Chicago and Rock Island, Illinois Central, Michigan Central and Michigan Southern used standard gauge. The Ohio roads of Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton RR favored 4’10" with a third rail to be able to operate with the Atlantic & Great Western, or to make wheel treads extra wide to fit both gauges. Canada and Pacific Railroad of Missouri had 5’6".
In the South 5 foot was the norm which hampered the USMRR when moving into Confederate territory. (This is what I should model if I plan to have a Confederate railroad, specifically using The General. {Interesting fact: while the Union controlled the lines in the North and had the USMRR, the South with their strong “states rights” mentality had to coordinate, sometimes not so smoothly, with the privately owned lines for troop and materiel communications.})
Most lines were single track roads, of 59, 60, 63 and 66 pound T rail, but during the war it was swapped for 80 #. Pennsylvania used 67# and some 80#
paraphrased from "The Northern Railroads in the Civil War 1861-1865 by Thomas Weber.
I think the Bachmann 4-4-0 would look a little out of place. A HLW would suit the bill a little better-the drivers look bigger though the model is smaller.
I’ve got a Bmann 4-4-0, and to me it looks wrong for that era. Though I like your idea.
The Great Locomotive Chase is a great movie (though not accurate in some terms). My kids love it, and even without my urging wound up pulling for the South.
Re-enactments are cool, about 8 miles north of here we have the yearly “Battle of Cowpens”, though that is an earlier war, the details the members of the different societies pursue are amazing!
as to the title, that is what I’ve heard it referred to all these years.
cale
Quote:The narrow gauge movement didn't really gain any traction until the early 1870s, spurred on mostly by General Palmer's use of 3' gauge to push into the Colorado mountains, but also by a handful of others promoting narrow gauge simply as a cheaper alternative to standard gauge construction for local communities that were looking for rail service. That was more the premise that pushed many eastern lines to go narrow gauge, as the grades and alignments could very easily have been handled by standard gauge. Areas like the Doe River Gorge which were really only accessible by narrow gauge were very much the exception in the east. When many of these narrow gauge lines were converted to standard gauge, very little regrading (if any) had to be done.
... I'm not very well versed in RR history. Were there no narrow gauge lines in the East during this era?
Later,
K
I admire your desire to spread the word , and share the fun .
As a former CW reenactor of several years I can tell you that normally there is NO power available where they are held . So battery power will be a must have .
Most all sutlers and etc are in tents , or under canvas for shade .
There sometimes are rules and permits involved in even having permission to set up a display or anything , and for a good reason , it keeps some things/people away , that are not needed or wanted .
But , with the correct investment in outfitting yourself for the period , and a tent or fly for your display , you might maybe , be allowed to be at a event .
Most likely NOT .
My orginial entry in LS was with the CW RR interest , and I think the biggest problem is the CW troops , there were a LOT of troops around and on the trains , where are you going to get all these CW troops for your trains ?
The best of luck and good wishes , please post photos as you grow this wonderfull era of military trains .
David Hill said:
I wouldn't be ready this year, by a long shot, but what about setting up a module with 1861-65 era F Scale locomotives and stock at the various "Civil War" (nothing is civil about war) Re-enactment Weekends? Tell a story with an interesting display.I’m already starting to model this era and thought it might be kewl to highlight the value of railroads in prosecuting and defending against the war, all while exposing the hobby to John Q. Public.
Whaddya think?
I do like the Subject Line.