Railroads

[MikeyB]

Had a couple of questions on the railroads for the group.
1) What kind of speeds were railroads getting back then?
2) Anyone read any accounts of how railroads were viewed by the soldiers? Was it super excitement and anticipation being able to travel on one? Its nice not having to walk, but I can't imagine being cramped up in an over crowded, over heated rail car in the summer time would be all that enjoyable either.

 

[DaveBrt]

We have an entire forum on railroads -- you will find interesting material there.

Confederate railroads all realized that they would not be getting much, if any, replacement rail as soon as the blockade was announced. One way to make your rails last longer was to run the trains at slower speeds, so they reduced speeds to about 10 to 15 miles per hour, INCLUDING STOPS. So travel speeds were about 15 mph for passenger trains and slower for freight and troop trains. As the war progressed, the locomotives received far less maintenance they they needed and the speeds dropped as the engines could no longer pull the long, heavy trains at the desired speed.

On Confederate trains, officers got the passenger cars and the troops got the box and flat cars. The usual load was about 50 men per car, with many choosing to ride on the roof of the box cars for room, comfort and scenery. Those IN the box cars broke open the cars to allow air flow (it is the South, remember) and to combat boredom.

 

[Lubliner]

Please do join us over at the Railroads and Steam Locomotives Forum here; Railroads & Steam Locomotives (civilwartalk.com).
Whether it be knowledge of grades and rail capacity, or bridging and superstructures,, or maybe the laying down of railroad ties, you can find it here. Also if you are interested in the motive power of Steam and the production of Locomotives, it can also be found with Links provided on the site.
Thanks,
Lubliner.