The "real" Richmond Depot (con't from another thread)

[CJDaley]

I didn’t want to get sidetracked from Stillwagon’s post regarding the correct
terminology for the Richmond Clothing Bureau, but Tom Smith posted: If
you're trying to find the Railroad depot, you will first have to know which
railroad, as I believe they all have their own depots.( I think there were
three serving Richmond)

Here are some of the railways serving the CS capital in the War Between the
States (there are others, but remember you don't actually need to go to
Richmond to be serving that city):

The Richmond & Petersburg Railroad (1838-1845) As the name
suggests, it went from the two main cities in VA's eastern portion.

The Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (1834-1845) This one didn't
actually go to the Potomac, but went to Aquia Creek and steam boats did
the last leg.

The Richmond & Danville (1847-1856) This railroad brought production
from south-central VA to the capital. It was cut in 1864 and never rebuilt
until after the end of the war.

The Richmond & York River (1859) Actually connected Richmond to
steamboats at West Point on the York. It was also the first railway to use
artillery at Savage Station in June 1862.

The Petersburg (1832-1833) Crucial railway once ports were blocked
heading to Richmond.

The Tuckahoe & James River This was originally a mule path and it is
unknown when it converted to steam. It was in operation until the 1890s.

The Virginia Central (1836-1850) Connected Richmond to the Valley until 1865
Here is a photo of the Petersburg and Richmond Depot after it was captured
in April 1865.
http://www.mikelynaugh.com/VirtualCivilWar/Yesterday/Images/Richmond5.jpg
Very few images survive of CS locomotives, but sketches found on CS
currency like the one below found on a GA $1 bill are valuable to anyone
researching the topic.

http://www.csa-railroads.com/images/1%20D%20Ga%20detail.jpg

Here is another image of the remains of a CS Engine house in Atlanta. There
are 6 CS Engines as well as some rolling stock visable in the image. I wonder
what those engineers thought when they came back to find no home?
http://www.civilwarphotos.net/files/images/082.jpg

Here is what is left of Hood's Ammo Train after it was attacked in 1864:
http://www.civilwarphotos.net/files/images/083.jpg

Please let me know if there are any other CW Train Geeks out there tailor@cjdaley.com

[MassVOL]

I wouldn’t say that Hood's train was necessarily attacked...more like deemed no longer practical to keep by him.

[Dignann]

I'm not a railroad geek, but I thought those of you who are might find this interesting.

Mike Gorman maintains a great website on Civil War Richmond. He's recently begun to post info on Richmond's wartime railroads, mostly accounts he's found in the Richmond Dispatch. Check them out at:

Richmond Railroads (www.mdgorman.com/Railroads.htm)


Here's some info on the locations of Richmond rail stations and their schedules. This taken from The Stranger's Guide and Official Directory for the City of Richmond. (Richmond, Va.: Geo. P. Evans & Co, Printers, 1863):

Fredericksburg Railroad Depot, north side Broad street near 8th. Train for Hamilton's Crossing, 6 miles from Fredb'g, leaves daily at 6-30 A. M., arrives 3 P. M. Train for Ashland leaves daily, except Sundays, at 3-15 P. M., arrives 9 A. M.

Central Railroad Depot, on Broad street, near 17th street. Train for Staunton leaves daily at 6-30 A. M; arrives daily at 6-15 P. M. Accommodation train for Charlottesville daily, except Sundays, at 3 P. M.; arrives at 9 A. M.

Danville Railroad Depot, at terminus Virginia street, which is south of Cary, between 13th and 14th streets. Train for junction (to connect with South Side train for Lynchburg) leaves daily at 4 P. M.; arrives at 4.40 A. M. Train for Danville leaves daily, except Sunday, at 7.30 A. M.; arrives at 2.30 P. M.

Petersburg Railroad Depot, corner of Byrd and 8th streets. Train for Petersburg leaves daily at 5.50 A. M.; arrives 7.30 A. M. Accommodation train leaves daily, except Sundays, at 4.50 P. M.; arrives 6.30 P. M.

York River Railroad Depot, on the Dock, south of Main, near 22d street. Trains leaves daily at 8 A. M.; arrive at 4 P. M.


Eric

[huntdaw]

The locomotive in the foreground of the roundhouse picture is marked "A&WIIRR". I assume it is Atlanta and "something". Does anyone know what the "something" is?

[CJDaley]

The locomotive in the foreground of the roundhouse picture is marked "A&WIIRR". I assume it is Atlanta and "something". Does anyone know what the "something" is?

That tender belongs to the "Atlanta and West Point Railroad". All the engines in the photo belong to that railway. They are identified as follows: The one on the turntable is the "O.A. BULL", The one in the foreground is the "TELGRAPH" adn the others are the "E.Y. HILL", "M.P. STOVALL", "E.L.. ELLSWORTH" (not the famous zouave) and "HURCULES".

[marine05]

The Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (1834-1845) This one didn't
actually go to the Potomac, but went to Aquia Creek and steam boats did
the last leg.


Where on Aquia Creek did it terminate as this tributary empties directly into the Potomac at Aquia?

S/F

DJM

[GBaylor]

The W&A is the road that runs from Atlanta to Chattanooga and stands for Atlantic & Western RR (the Great Locomotive chase took place on this line among other things). A&WP is the road that runs from Atlanta to West Point, Georgia, hence A&WP. I know this because I worked for these railroads. The RF&P did terminate on the Potomac, but at Aquia Creek as you posted Chris. It didn't make it to Alexandria until the 1890's.

John Sweeney
(Former Railroader)

[CJDaley]

The RF&P did terminate on the Potomac, but at Aquia Creek as you posted Chris. It didn't make it to Alexandria until the 1890's.

I must have been looking at an 'unfinished' rail map. Sorry.

[Dignann]

Dan,

The northern terminus for the RF&P was Aquia Landing. Today the site is part of Aquia Landing Beach Park and is located at the end of Route 608 in Stafford County. Approaching the park, Route 608 follows the abandoned rail bed. The park itself contains interpretive signs that discuss the railroad and the Union supply base there. Just outside the entrance of the park is a preserved gun emplacement erected by Confederates in 1861. The artillery position is itself a small park containing a walking trail up to the battery and interpretive signs along the way.

Eric

[marine05]

Thanks to all on the terminus at Aquia, I'm about 5 miles from there and while at the Basic School in the mid-80s waded across Aquia Creek many times.

I was just curious as it is so close to my office aboard MCB Quantico. Not far from where I am sitting now there was a Confederate battery then it was in Dumfries, now MCB Quantico.

Thanks again!!

s/f

DJM

[CJDaley]

FYI: This photo is often misidentified as being taken at/near Aquia Landing. It was taken at Devereaux Station.

General Herman Haupt (who organized the Construction Corps of the US Military Railroad) can be seen overseeing excavation on the Orange & Alexandria line near Devereaux Station. He is the one in the black slouch and high boots.

The time frame for this image is pretty specific. Haupt resigned in Sept of 1863 and the locomotive in the image (the GENERAL HAUPT) wasn't made until 1863 so that is a pretty good time frame.

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/titles/history/inv/preview/media/devereux_excavation.jpg

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Here is a great book; Civil War Railroads by George B. Abdill.

It is loaded with pictures of Civil War trains and depots.


By the way, I had an interview with Union Pacific last Tuesday. :cool:

[Dignann]

Dan,

Being so close, if you haven't already visited the White Oak Museum in Stafford County, I highly recommend it. DP Newton, who runs the place, has a wealth of info on CW sites in the county, including many of the railroad stations and sidings that served the Union Army. At the museum, you can pick up a copy of a driving brochure, entitled The Army of the Potomac in Stafford County, produced by the Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table. The brochure guides you to over three dozen CW sites such as: Falmouth Station, Stoneman's Switch, Brooke Station, Aquia Landing, and Potomac Creek Railroad Bridge (site of Haupt's "beanpole and cornstalk" bridge.)

MCB Quantico not only has surviving CW gun emplacements but numerous Confederate campsites from the winter of 1861, many of which are still visible.

Eric

[CJDaley]

Here is a great book; Civil War Railroads by George B. Abdill.

Abdill's book rocks! He's done a ton of work on the subject and is very knowledgable.

Good luck on the job interview!!

[Jefferson Guards]

Another book that I have always enjoyed, which combines the best of three worlds: Civil War, Railroads, and model trains:

Alexander, Edwin P. Civil War Railroads & Models. NY: Potter, 1977

[Jefferson Guards]

Three stories concerning the use of trains by the 34th Mass. while enroute to and at Harpers Ferry from:

Lincoln, William S., Life with the Thirty-Fourth Mass. Infantry in the War of the Rebellion., Worchester, MA: Press of Noyes. Snow & Company, 1879.


July 9, 1863-11: PM

"It was past eleven P. M. when the long train of cars moved out from the station, in the direction of Baltimore. We left behind Lieut. Elwell, charged with the proper disposition of our own and the Government property, and first Asst. Surgeon Thorndike in charge of the hospital, its sick and supplies. The Relay House was not reached till after sunrise the next morning, and our stay there was long. At length we started: our running was slow. Many of the men had clambered upon the roofs of the box cars, there being no provision made for them to sit down inside. As we neared Ellicott’s Mills, we were all startled by a cry that a man had fallen from the train. It was Fitzgerald, one of F;s best men. His body, horribly mangled, was left in charge of a brother soldier from his own company, who was directed to see to its proper burial; and, saddened by the occurrence, our route was resumed. It was evening when we reached Frederic Junction. Crossing the Monocacy on a frail wooden bridge, in place of the splendid iron one destroyed by the rebels last December, and rolling along through a most lovely valley, the train came to a stand at “Sandy Hook” about 9 P.M. Disembarking, the regiment threaded its way through almost countless trains of cars, and army wagons. Thick, heavy clouds obscured the moon, and, in almost Egyptian darkness, we felt our way. Our route lay along a narrow road between the canal, on our left, and Maryland Heights, which towered to a great height, on our right. In the darkness one man fell into the canal, but was rescued with the loss of his musket only."

July 23rd, 1863

"Two companies, "C" and "E," A.D. Pratt commanding, in answer to orders, garrisoned three "monitor cars" each armed with two howitzers, and loop holed for musketry, for a trip to the front, on the Winchester Railroad. The condition of the road was such as to render an advance impossible, and after proceeding about three miles, the expedition was abandonned."

August 3rd, Sunday (1863)

"Post General Order forbids the moving of Government trains on Sundays. "what's to be done?" asked the Commissary; "we've no bread!" It's "roothog, or die." Trains to be used in spite of the order, or the boys to go hungry! So the trains were ordered to "Sandy Hook" for rations; and Capt. Blakely of the Cavalry, being without forage, took courage from our action, and despatched his wagons for hay."

[Emmanuel Dabney]

There is a pretty interesting website out there on Southern/Confederate railroads. http://www.csa-railroads.com/ Gives a list of officers for certain rail lines, time period of construction and usage, known names for locomotives and their places of construction if known, how many cars, how many slaves, etc.