tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post2931983122676866817..comments2024-03-22T22:30:30.297-04:00Comments on USMRR Aquia Line and other Model Railroad Adventures: Alternate History Layout DesignBerniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-3002781458697215352018-08-26T18:30:35.498-04:002018-08-26T18:30:35.498-04:00Thanks for the note. Modeling a CSA railroad is ma...Thanks for the note. Modeling a CSA railroad is made more difficult by the lack or photos. The USMRR had decent photo coverage in Va, Ga and TN, though we would like to have more. There are very few photos of CSA railroads.Berniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-78641442796201403362018-08-26T01:19:18.679-04:002018-08-26T01:19:18.679-04:00http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/Aircraft/Ballo...http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/Aircraft/Balloon-Lowe.htmlBerniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-87010119554115992072018-08-26T01:17:51.426-04:002018-08-26T01:17:51.426-04:00The Balloon operator job is brilliant.
Both side...The Balloon operator job is brilliant. <br /><br />Both sides utilized naval vessels to help transport and support balloon operations during the war. Naval vessels greatly improved the ability to move and support cumbersome balloons in theaters that had navigable coasts and rivers. The George Washington Parke Custis, a converted coal barge, was used by the Union army as an early aircraft carrier. And the CSS Teaser was used by Confederate forces to deploy balloons on the James River. On July 4, 1862 the CSS Teaser ran aground in the James and it and its balloon were captured by the USS Maratanza.<br /><br />Fredericksburg was a port, so the question of whether to model ships in the Rappahannock is one to consider. If the southern bank was not secure below F'burg, it is unlikely Union ships would use it. So I would lean to having no ships atF'burg, except for some sunken vessels emplaced by the CSA to block the river.Berniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-56506763172063178702018-08-25T21:10:19.661-04:002018-08-25T21:10:19.661-04:00Neat concept. I've always been a sucker for a...Neat concept. I've always been a sucker for alternate history theories. I really enjoy seeing your modeling. I've been enjoying Model Railroads Go to War. I was stationed at Fort Hood as a lieutenant with the 1st Cavalry Division so I've been toying with the idea of a railhead switching layout. I'm also a bit of a Reb in my leanings, so I have thought about modeling a line in Confederate territory but I don't think my modeling skills are quite up to that yet!Oklahoma Railshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00917079014216111627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-58538288174387374702018-08-25T18:38:50.270-04:002018-08-25T18:38:50.270-04:00I should add the addition of the Intrepid to the s...I should add the addition of the Intrepid to the scene would be cool. You could even rig it to operate and add a small camera with a monitor on the fascia - making yours the only layout with the operating position of "balloon observer."<br />Of course, you could always pose the balloon on a barge on a short stretch of river - the topography around Fredericksburg could arguably be ideal for the use of a balloon deployed from a barge. Would also give a chance to model an aircraft carrier...CVSNEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17875631602890773160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-48052856818216070342018-08-25T18:31:15.351-04:002018-08-25T18:31:15.351-04:00Norm,
I strongly suspect PoLA's days are numbe...Norm,<br />I strongly suspect PoLA's days are numbered...<br />Bernie, <br />Biggest pill to swallow in all this is a belief that Burnside would have actually moved anywhere quickly! (As I understand it, the issue was a delay in getting the pontoon bridges needed to cross the river but I digress)<br />Otherwise, I think it would look cool. It would add a populated (albeit occupied) town to the layout. CVSNEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17875631602890773160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-63876247729536773272018-08-24T23:43:34.838-04:002018-08-24T23:43:34.838-04:00Nooooooo! I love BOTH layouts (USMR AND POLA)! Y...Nooooooo! I love BOTH layouts (USMR AND POLA)! You cannot get rid of POLA just yet... well, you could and then you'd be truly focused (and mad). As they say, you're the RR CEO and you can do what you want (well, what the shareholder 'upstairs' says you can). <br />As for alternate history (or reality), you can see a vocal and radicalized minority of the population wanting to destroy our history (good and bad), so why not alter it on the Aquia Line.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com