Surprise Dig

[Woods-walker]

Several weeks ago a friend and sometimes relic hunting companion dug these items near Hamilton's Crossing.
During the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns, Hamilton's Crossing served as the supply hub to the ANV on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac rail line.
I ve been a relic hunter since the early 1960's and usually discard such stage and unidentified finds.
But my friend "Ron" is also a civil
war railroad buff and knew his dig that day was special.
Here's a picture of it use

This rail car coupling was in use until the system used today was inverted in 1865!
I m proud my friend dug something close to his passion and knew it's civil war use.

 

[lelliott19]

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing the photos!

 

[DixieRifles]

This rail car coupling was in use until the system used today was inverted in 1865!

Great find. I can't believe the latch system used today dates all the way back to 1865.

I live near the Memphis & Charleston RR that dates back to 1857. I've looked at some relics dug in this area by others and have wondered if they were strictly RR related.

 

[Woods-walker]

Great find. I can't believe the latch system used today dates all the way back to 1865.

I live near the Memphis & Charleston RR that dates back to 1857. I've looked at some relics dug in this area by others and have wondered if they were strictly RR related.

Ron is a long time collector of antique RR memorabilia and a retired RR worker. He's my source for the current car connector system dating to 1865

 

[DixieRifles]

He's my source for the current car connector system dating to 1865

My brother got interested in model railroads and he would be interested in this.

 

[riruhane]

Very cool. I spent several years on the section gang in a former life and have never seen these.
Of course they had long been out of use but the local railroad museum doesn't have anything this old.