I have just received from my cousin the September 2008 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. Included in, “Safety Valve” - their letters to the editor section, there is on page 6 a letter from a reader who states that he has been modeling the CW era for over 20 years. He continues to say that after seeing the BTS models mentioned, same one’s suggested in reply’s to your original post, the writer to RMC - Lebron Mathews from Midland, Georgia, also states that he has replaced almost every car in his roster with accurate models from, BTS and others. Anyway to read the letter in it’s entirety check out the magazine for yourself.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Civil_War_RRs/ is the Civil War group that LeBron mediates. Loads of good info & links as well as pics! Free group, just log on and register - you’ll be a member in a couple of days!![:)]
I strongly suggest going to the Yahoo Civil War group. Some fellow there have done a lot of research. The Files Section and Photos sections have a lot of information. You might have to dig a little for CSA trains information. I do know from the Civil War railroading books I have the, some of the rolling stock and engines came from the North during raids. The South took quite a few B & O Winans Camels south.
I have built a Camel from RMC September 1999 issue using a MDC 2-8-0 old timer. No doubt you will have to compromise. The couplers in the Civil War were link & pin, not knuckle couplers. Go to the below link for my Camel locomotive. Yes, my “fantasy”, it is oversize but captures the flavor of the era. The B&O railroad Roundhouse and museum has a layout of the Civil War era with Camels.
I have used a Mantua General and ground off the General name board for a generic Civil War locomotive. If you do a diorama, just remove the drive shaft between the tender and loco.
Rolling stock colors are difficult to determine. I have read that Winans in the 1850s delivered 0-8-0 Camels in “dreary green” according to White. White and Abdill
Many thanks to you both, Ivanhen and Rich, for the leads and information. Some time back I became interested in how the CW impacted on Florida and I’ve been re-reading about the Battle of Olustee and the Ambush at St Mary’s River - no mention of any thing of railway interest though.
I’m just looking at the date and time reference when I printed this information from the internet and it was in January 1997. I had forgotten I had this stuff until just last week when I was sifting through a box of reaserch I had collected to aid my modeling.