Civil War Railroads

By George B. Abdill

Book Overview

The Civil War, like all others, was not all gunfire and panic. It was supply and transport, trains and trouble on the line, men in Blue and Gray fighting against almost unbelievable odds with lumbering, woodburning engines. This book recounts and pictures these dramatic events and it is neede to round out the story of the War Between the States. It is written and prepared by a present day engineman who has a profound respect for history and the part the railroads played when the bloody conflict set brother against brother. Here in quaint and curious scenes which no man alive today has ever seen is the actual record of Civil War railroading, many of the photographs printed here for the first time - the rolling stock, stations, bridges, car floats and rail-borne artillery - wrecks, raids and wild rides. Here are exciting eyewitness accounts of guerilla warfare, adventures behind enemy lines, vivid stories of the Iron Horse at work and in adventure. Also learn about such noted Army railroaders as Generals Herman Haupt and Daniel C. McCallum; conductors Carter Anderson and William Fuller; Engineer Jeff Cain and Superintendent J. H. Devereux.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0007DVMS4
• ISBN13: 9780517012437
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Superior Pub. Co
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 10.8"

Customer Reviews

Blue and Gray on the Rails

Civil War Railroads by George Abdill is a wonderful browsing book on railroading in the 1860's. One can open to most any page and find an interesting story, anecdote, biography or fact about Civil War railroading. The book is organized chronologically with no clear academic theme. It draws few conclusions. It is, however, flooded with over two hundred photos mainly from the Library of Congress and the National Archives. There is a wide mixed spectrum of topics including locomotives,rolling stock, structures, yards, track, car ferries was well as burned and destroyed trains and bridges on both sides. Somehow Abdill seems to have identified by name almost every locomotive pictured. Devastation is certainly a common thread. Book length topics like the Andrew's raid (the great locomotive chase) and the Lincoln funeral train are covered in only a few pages. Readers should note this is a word for word reprint of Abdill's 1961 book of the same title. The Indiana University Press digitally enhanced reprint on glossy paper greatly improved the photo quality from the muddy first edition. For the modeler it has no scale drawings, track layouts or even color lithographs. It is very pleasing blend of many railroad topics. I was never bored.I would recommend it to Civil War buffs, model railroaders and anyone interest in a fascinating part of our history.