Civil War Railroads?

[Hoosier49er]

Anybody have a good online source of maps of civil war era railroad tracks? I also need the names of the rail-lines that used them. I've searched everywhere I can think of and used the search function here.
Thanks in advance,
Joe Snell
49th Indiana

[Poor Private]

What you can do is query for individual route names. One such is the Baltimore and Ohio, try also the Pennsylvania Rail Road, and might even try the NicklePlate road. If I am not mistaken you can try the Monon or CIL(Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville) railroad. Not sure about the New ork Central though. But there are other names from the time period that I am drawing a brain fart about.

[GaWildcat]

Here in GA, the CSX is on the same bed as the Western & Atlantic RR was during the War.

[Mint Julep]

You mean something like this:

You can thank Linda Trent (http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/swayze/swayze.html)

Lots of discussions about railroads, railroading, railroad passes, etc., on the AC forum. The search function is easy.

[Bill_Cross]

Don't post that stuff, Joe, you're being too helpful. According to the build-your-own-hat dude, we're all a bunch of nabobs of negativity. You'll burst his balloon. ;)

[jda3rd]

Google got me this:

http://americancivilwar.com/civil_war_map/Confederate_Railroad_Map.html

and this:

http://www.ushistoricalarchive.com/train_maps/index.html

and this:

http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~34342~1171266:The-American-Republic-and-rail-road

and this, too:

http://www.libs.uga.edu/darchive/hargrett/maps/rail.html

happy railroading.

Frank Brower

[Hoosier49er]

Good information! Thanks to all!

[Hoosier Yank]

Anybody have a good online source of maps of civil war era railroad tracks? I also need the names of the rail-lines that used them. I've searched everywhere I can think of and used the search function here.
Thanks in advance,
Joe Snell
49th Indiana


I would advise not to use the following road names in first person conversations NKP and Monon; these flags (aka names) did not exist at the time.

Several lines that were built between 1840 and 1860 in our Hoosier State are still being used today. The current flag (Louisville and Indianapolis Railroad) rides the same line of the 1840 Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis. This runs along side US 31 south from Indianapolis to New Albany. The Ohio & Mississippi is now a CSX line that runs pretty much along side US Highway 50.

In an earlier post the “Monon” was mentioned. This line was around prior to the war as well. However, it was not known as the Monon prior to or during the war years. The Monon began as the New Albany and Salem RR. In 1859 it became the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago. Many years after the CW the line became known as the “Monon”. During the 1970’s the line changed hands to the L&N and later on it became part of the CSX system. Most of the line south of Linden, Indiana has been abandoned. For the most part the only thing left of this line in southern Indiana is the roadbed and few trestles. In Bloomington, Indiana it is now a rails to trails park!

If my memory is correct the last major railroad in Indiana was completed in 1905. This is my “pet” railroad since I grew up near these tracks and watched many of unit coal trains head into IPL complex on Harding Street. Started off as the Indianapolis and Southern and later on it was purchased by Illinois Central Railroad today it is the Indiana Railroad.

If you are interested in Indiana railroads prior and during the CW (by correct name) pick up a copy of “Railroad of Indiana” by Richard S. Simons and Francis H. Parker.

[50th vice pres]

Mint, not everybody is signed up on the ac forum.

[Poor Private]

HoosierYank.
I'll give you a Homer. I agree Monon was not called Monon at that time. Monon is my hometown. Those names are name that are most known running through Indiana. If you google them it will give you the information that you need. If you look at my post I said C.I.L. in parenthesis I am not goin to give you a History lesson on the Monon Line-(this is the name most commonly known by people who grew up in Indiana). Also I normally do not respond to posts that have no signature, so please sign your posts or go add a signature line in your UserCp.

[97th private]

These links might have Railroad maps that will help you

http://www.civilwarmall.com/bookseller/files/maps1.htm

http://www.mapsandprints.com/antiquemaps_cwa.cfm?pt=Civil%20War%20Maps&s=&start=101&sb=title

http://www.historicmapsrestored.com/antiquerailroadmaps.html

[Hoosier Yank]

HoosierYank.
If you look at my post I said C.I.L. in parenthesis I am not goin to give you a History lesson on the Monon Line-(this is the name most commonly known by people who grew up in Indiana). Also I normally do not respond to posts that have no signature, so please sign your posts or go add a signature line in your UserCp.

I’m not looking for a history lesson on the Monon from you. As your postings have shown you don’t know the early history of the Monon. Additionally, I have more than enough books in my own library about the Monon and Indiana railroads in general where I really don’t need your assistance nor is it desired.

By the way, C.I.L. (Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville) isn’t correct either. That name for the railroad came about 1897. But, you already knew that didn’t ya?

[Army30th]

it started as the New Albany and Salem Railroad in 1847. It makes for interesting reading to see how the chronological history fits if you start with the first name. It has been unofficially known as the Monon since 1882.

2 other railroads of major significance would be the Pennsylvania Railroad, begun in 1846; or the New York Central which began in 1826 as the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad.

For those really interested in history, the Mohawk and Hudson was incorporated one year and 7 days BEFORE the Baltimore & Ohio. The B & O is generally considered the oldest railroad in the US, since it's first section was open one year before the Mohawk and Hudson.

Here are two tidbits from a site on the Monon Railroad:

"The few north-south railroads, such as the Monon and Illinois Central, provided timely service to Union forces during the Civil War. The Monon carried volunteers to mustering centers free; hurried sick, wounded or discharged men home at half-price. It carried troops, ammunition, food, fuel and medicine on contract. In 1861 alone, the government paid the Monon $9,149 to deliver 9,105 men to war-related destinations. Of 17 Indiana railroads running in 1861-65, only two carried more military personnel. A clue to the Monon's vital war role: Confederate John Morgan's raiders from Kentucky in July, 1863, tore out Monon tracks, pulled over water tanks, burned trestles and a depot at Salem, Indiana.

In April, 1865, a Monon engine pulled President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train at 5 mph, per orders, over the 90 miles from Lafayette to Michigan City, one of twenty railroad lines honored to participate in the 20-day, 1,666-mile trail of sadness from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois. "

[Poor Private]

Thank You Will for the information.