Taking the Cars An Overview of the US Railroads Prior to the Civil War By Ron Beavers cwrr@cox

1. Taking the Cars An Overview of the US Railroads Prior to the Civil War By Ron Beavers cwrr@cox.net 28 April 2009

2. UNITED STATES TERRITORIAL GROWTH

7. EARLY RAILROAD EQUIPMENT

10. York – a competitor to the “Tom Thumb” Comstock

13. Coach heater used by the B&O in the 1830’s – (U.S. Patent Office) White

14. White

19. Cover Page of “The Manual of Railroads of the United States for 1873-74" by Henry V. Poor. Engraving by the Continental Bank Note Company, New York.

20. US Rail Mileage, 1860 • New England and Mid Atlantic: 10,000 • Middle West: 11,000 • South: 9,000 30,000

21. Rail Mileage, 1860 US (North) 21,000 Britain 10,000 US (South) 9,000 Germany 7,000 France 6,000

23. NORTHERN RAIL TRAVEL • Example, Baltimore, a border state city • Baltimore to St. Louis • Slightly over 2 days • Baltimore to Cincinnati to St. Louis • 21st Century 2 hrs. by air • Baltimore to Chicago • Newspaper ads claim 36 hours with only 2 changes • 21st Century 11/2 hours by air

24. SOUTHERN RAILTRAVEL • Example of New Orleans to Charleston • 1860 • 1,000 miles in 1 week assuming all connections made • Via Southerly route • Steamer, carriage, and 6 different railroad companies • Via Northerly route • 9 different railroad companies • Struggling with train schedules with no standard time • Charleston (1:00 PM); Augusta (2:00PM); Atlanta (3:00 PM) • 21st Century • 650 miles in 1 hour via air • Approx. 750 miles in 1 day of hard driving

25. PASSENGER TRAVEL

26. Water Closet Ladies Compartment Layout drawing of 1845 Passenger car showing unique features 1845 Drawing of Passenger Car showing Unique features White

27. Illustration of Passenger Car in American Railroad Journal, Aug 7, 1845

28. “The Illustrated London News”, April 10, 1852 depicting the interior of an American railway car

29. Wood or Coal Stove Used by the B&O RR (Illustrated London Times, April 6, 1861)

30. Presidential Car Built at the USMRR shops in Alexandria A. J. Russell photo (National Archives)

31. Evolution of Passenger Cars 1830 18 feet, 20 seats, 1.75 tons 1835 35 feet, 52 seats, 6 tons 1850 41 feet, 56 seats, 10 tons 1860 52 feet, 50 seats, 18 tons 1880 White 60 feet, 60 seats, 25 tons

32. SLEEPING CARS

33. 1838 Cumberland Valley RR Sleeping Car White

34. Early Sleeping Car White

35. 1859 Woodruff Sleeping Car White

36. FREIGHT CARS, BOX CARS & FLATBEDS

37. Head-end car Afternoon train between Albany and Springfield – drawing based on 1842 Daguerreotype White

39. White

40. COMBINATION CARS

41. Combination baggage, mail, and passenger rail car White

42. DINING CARS

43. Dining Car Service in 1871 in the Western Railroads,“National Car Builder, March 1871

44. FORMS OF PAYMENT

46. CONNECTIONS ANYONE?

47. Richmond: No Interchange Central RR RF&P RR Richmond & Danville York River RR Richmond & Petersburg Chesterfield RR

48. Alexandria: No Interchange A L & H RR Alex & Wash RR Alex Canal O&A RR Potomac River MG RR UCON Legend Depot Hunting Creek

49. Track Gauge 4’ 8 1/2” 5’ Typical Southern Northern “Standard”

50. US Railroads, 1861