Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

The photo below was taken at the Whistlestop Museum in Burlington, NC. It is a to-scale model of Engine 8, the first 4-4-0 steam locomotive produced at "Company Shops" (former name of Burlington) and named the Pioneer. It is depicted as emerging from the Engine Shop which is now represented by a mural display.

The present Railroad Depot was once the site of a large locomotive repair shop facility during the mid-19th century for the North Carolina Railroad. On this site was a camp of recruitment and instruction for the 6th North Carolina Troops during the American Civil War. In July 1861, these troops left Company Shops to ride by rail to the Battle of Manassas, Virginia. This was the first time in American history that military personnel were transported by rail in to combat.

The South suffered from a logistics problem that did not exist in the Northern states, and it all had to do with the gauges of their railroad tracks. Railroad companies were privately owned in the South and to stifle competition and prevent another company from using their tracks, they built them at different widths (gauge). This was to prove devastating when transporting supplies to the troops because one train could not run directly from one place to another. There are instances where a train would pull into one town and have to stop while all of its cargo was offloaded and transported by wagon to another city where it was then loaded to another train for further transfer.

(Download)

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Very nice image!! great commentary

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Great info and download! Thanks, Bob!

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks Manglesphoto. Who knew? I've lived in my adopted town for 18 years before I finally visited the local train museum. I had no idea it held such an important place in history

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks Swamp-Cork. I thought a little bit of history might appeal to the viewers of the image.

drmarty Loc: Pine City, NY

I never knew this, Bob. Great pic too!

jwt Loc: Texas Hill Country

This shot is super on so many levels Bob and your reference to Model Makers is spot on. I can see that happening. :thumbup:

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice photo and great info, Bob. I'm an American History almost-major (short three hours, both grad & undergrad), an I had never heard of this gauge problem before. Thanks for the information. I learned something new today.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks drmarty. It's fun finding out your hometown (adopted or otherwise) holds a place in history.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Great shot Bob

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks Jim. This photo looks very much like one posted on a website about local history ..... but I assure you this is my own photo. The vantage point in the Museum is rather limited because of the other displays and I'm actually delighted to see that another photographer ended up in almost exactly the same spot as I did to capture the Steam Engine. I saw his photo only after I had uploaded mine.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks jaymatt. The South struck first as far as using rail, transporting troops to the Battle of Bull Run at the very outset of the Civil War. But once the North caught on to the idea, they used it to full advantage - it was easier for them as most of the Northern states all used a more-or-less standard gauge.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Thanks Jim. I spent a bit of time on this one, trying as much as I could to make it look 3-dimensional so that the train really looked like it was coming out of the wall.

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

How unique!!,...love this!!

Moxie Loc: Pensacola, FL

Love the way the red cow-catcher draws you in to the picture.... nice work!