The War Came by Train

The B&O Railroad Museum has a special display to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War called, "The War Came by Train."  The display takes their existing collection of Civil War era railroad artifacts and embellishes it with special displays, placards, some videos and lots of American flags. If you are at all interested in Civil War era railroads you must visit this exhibit.

Bill posing by the 4-6-0 Thatcher Perkins

I went there Friday with my father-in-law, Bill Worthington. He has genealogical connections to the B&O, C&O and  Maryland. One of his ancestors, Captain John Worthington, immigrated to the US through Annapolis in the seventeenth century. He is buried on the cemetery on the state house hill in Annapolis. Bill also had relatives on his mother's side that helped build the B&O main line in Ohio. Bill's father was a Methodist preacher in Kentucky and had a pass to ride on the C&O. Bill grew up in Pikeville, KY where he saw first hand C&O steam engines pulling coal out of the mountains.

Locomotive 2-2-2 Pioneer from Cumberland Valley RR

The B&O Museum has an excellent collection of Civil War era railroad equipment. The 4-4-0 Mason engine is still operational. It has appeared in several movies and is occasionally used in steam excursions. Other civil war engines in their collection include the 0-8-0 Mennon, the 4-6-0 Thatcher Perkins and the 2-2-2 Pioneer, which I must admit I found quite charming.

The museum also has several freight cars in the collection including an iron pot hopper, an iron box car and some coaches.  They also had an Adams Express Wagon on display showing cargo being transferred to an iron box car. The cargo included various crates, hard tack and a coffin.

There were several realistic mannequins depicting CSA Capt Sharp, two Union soldiers including a member of the construction corps, a young brakeman and a female passenger.

0-8-0 Mennon, which was heavily damaged in the roof collapse,
is back.

It was great to see that most of the damage from the 2002 roof collapse during an ice storm has been fixed. The flag display was also very cool.

The museum is well worth a visit. I do not know the time frame for the ACW display, so check with them if you want to see it.

We also visited the Ellicott Mills Museum, the oldest railroad station in the US. It had more Civil War related displays including the creation of a Provost Marshall office in the station agent office in the station.

I need to get a Lincoln painting like they had over the fireplace.

The Ellicott Mills Station also served as a engine house and freight depot. A turntable was added in 1863. The turntable was filled in when it became obsolete and then partially excavated in the late 20th century as part of he museum display.

Later that evening my mother-in-law Anne Worthington and sister-in-law Susan, visited the layout and took some trains for a test ride. Susan got a kick out of operating both the Whiton and Haupt using the wireless DCC throttle. Needless to say, it was a first time experience for her.It's times like this I wish I had more finished on the railroad.

Sister-in-law Susan drives the Whiton while her mom supervises.

Bill inspecting the depot at Falmouth with the intent of recommending a good location for the field hospital. Bill was a Navy doctor assigned to a USMC unit just after WWII.