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Union locomotives during the American Civil War

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Posted by 7j43k on Sunday, September 17, 2017 12:19 PM

Jes fer fun, I dug out my copy of E. P. Alexander's "Iron Horses, American Locomotives 1829-1900".  He provides pictures and text about 96 engines of the period.  Looking at the first 57, built up to 1865, shows the following wheel arrangements:

0-4-0    In the early years, pretty much THE wheel arrangement

4-2-0    The wheel arrangement that followed quickly.

0-6-0

0-8-0    Both this and the above were based on the idea of maximizing weight on drivers--as opposed to having guiding pilot wheels for higher speeds and/or better tracking

0-12-0  Didn't see an 0-10-0, but this one was built for the Philadelphia & Reading

6-2-0    Another one-off, built for the Camden & Amboy--84" drivers!

4-4-0    The absolute winner in popularity in 1865

4-6-0    Several of these showed

 

 

Ed

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Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, September 17, 2017 11:05 AM

A good rule-of-thumb is during the Civil War anything that could raise steam and pull trains was used, both north and south of the Mason-Dixon Line.  Mainline locomotives would have been of the 4-4-0 types, they were definately in the majority, but any other wheel arrangement existing at the time would have been used.

Kind of like Civil War era guns.  If it's a military type muzzle-loader of any kind and was around at the time, went "BANG!" and took a bayonet, you can bet it was probably used, at least  up to 1863 when some form of standardization finally caught up with both armies.

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 16, 2017 6:55 PM

I second checking out Bernard Kempinski's blog:

http://usmrr.blogspot.com/

Modeling exacty what you are looking for. (I think)

 

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Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, September 16, 2017 6:25 PM

Ron Hume
I have been unable to discover what locos were used by the Union during the American Civil War

Really?  I thought the strategic importance of railroads was documented fairly well at the time.  Pintrest, of all things, has a bunch of photos.  I imagine the National Archives does too.  At one time I had a really good link to search the Nat Archives, but I lost it.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by dknelson on Saturday, September 16, 2017 6:12 PM

I strongly recommend George Abdill's book on railroads of the civil war, which uses actual civil war era photos.  There was no one make or type of 4-4-0, given that the military was ordering up its own but also commandeered locomotives from the railroads.  

https://www.amazon.com/Civil-War-Railroads-Pictorial-1861-1865/dp/0253335361 

Dave Nelson

 

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Posted by garya on Saturday, September 16, 2017 2:01 PM

dehusman

The Union had the bulk of the railroads and the bulk of the engines during the Civil War.  As said before the predominate engines were 4-4-0, 4-6-0, 2-6-0, 0-4-0, 0-6-0 and 2-8-0.  There were also 2-4-2, 2-4-0, 0-8-0, 0-10-0 engines.  The majority of locomotive manufacturers were in the north.

 

I thought the 2-8-0 was developed after the Civil War?  The Lehigh got the Consolidation in 1866...

Anyway, OP, you could check Bernie Kempinski's site.

Gary

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Posted by DSchmitt on Saturday, September 16, 2017 12:57 PM

The appearance of the Western & Atlantic locomotive GENERAL changed over the years.  From descriptions I have read this model appears to represent its appearance at the time of the locomotive chase 

 

There are some photo of Civil War era locomotives on the net, but many photos are mislabled. Locomotives as rebuilt after the war changing their appearance or built post war. 

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, September 16, 2017 11:17 AM

Ron Hume

I have been unable to discover what locos were used by the Union during the American Civil War despite a considerable search on the 'net'.

 

Ron, 

This sentence can be read two ways:  what locomotives were used in the approximately 20 States during the years 1861-1865.

Or.

What locomotives were used by the Union military during the war.

 

It would be good to clarify.

 

Either way, you really should get George B. Abdill's "Civil War Railroads".

I note that entering that title as a search term without the author's name turns up a number of similar books.

 

Ed

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Posted by dehusman on Saturday, September 16, 2017 10:33 AM

The Union had the bulk of the railroads and the bulk of the engines during the Civil War.  As said before the predominate engines were 4-4-0, 4-6-0, 2-6-0, 0-4-0, 0-6-0 and 2-8-0.  There were also 2-4-2, 2-4-0, 0-8-0, 0-10-0 engines.  The majority of locomotive manufacturers were in the north.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by dstarr on Saturday, September 16, 2017 9:58 AM

The bulk of Civil War locomotives, on both sides, were 4-4-0 American types.  The elaborate balloon stacks were the mark of a wood burner.  The elaborate stack caught burning bits of wood and prevented them from flying out the stack and setting the woods on fire.  The straight stack was the mark of a coal burner. A coal fire doesn't throw off burning bits the way a wood fire does.

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Posted by marksrailroad on Saturday, September 16, 2017 3:00 AM

There are only two smoke stack types from the civil war period, one being straight and the other being funnel shaped. The most popular types of locos from that time where the 4-4-0, the 2-6-0 and the 2-8-0 to name a few.  

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Posted by "JaBear" on Saturday, September 16, 2017 1:45 AM
I would presume that you’ve found this site….
 
 
…but would also suggest, if you haven’t already tried it, Googling “United States Military Railroad”.

Cheers, the Bear from across the Ditch. Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Union locomotives during the American Civil War
Posted by Ron Hume on Saturday, September 16, 2017 1:17 AM

I have been unable to discover what locos were used by the Union during the American Civil War despite a considerable search on the 'net'.

I have seen a head-on picture of what looked similar to the 'General' but with a straight smoke stack attributed to the Union, could this be the engine I am searching for?

Ron Hume from down under.

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