For the Ferroequinologists
Max Sigler has worked months on the Texas. Image via Civil War Picket blog.
Over at Civil War Picket, Phil Gast has a neat post up on the restoration of Civil War locomotive Texas, that formed the trailing component of the “Great Locomotive Chase” in 1862. The challenge in this case is what colors to paint the restored locomotive — something similar to the bright, colorful (but unknown) livery she carried when new in 1856, and likely still in 1862, or the dull, black finish she had by the 1880s, when she was rebuilt to her present configuration? (Texas remained in service until 1907.) It’s an interesting question, without an easy or obvious answer. Check it out.
Speaking of the Great Locomotive Chase, have you read Russell Bonds’ Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor? What are you waiting for?
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Dead Confederates, A Civil War Era Blog 
I saw the Texas several years ago at the Atlanta Cyclorama. Is this the same Texas or was the one I saw a reproduction?
Same one. It’s amazing that both Texas and the General are still around, even though both have been somewhat modified from their 1862 appearance.
I haven’t read the book, which sounds very interesting.
But I have seen the movie, perhaps the greatest CW epic of them all: https://youtu.be/ilPk-SCHv30
Cheers, y’all!
Love that movie. No CGI, no miniatures. Probably no stuntman, either. Just really good physical comedy, Using real locomotives moving down the track. I’m almost willing to forgive them destroying a locomotive in that shot of the bridge collapse. Bastards.
And the book is very good, BTW. I take every opportunity to plug it that comes along. Far more detail than I would ever have expected. It’s a cliche to say that a book is the “definitive” work on a subject, but in this case that’s probably accurate.
I gave that book to my uncle for his 80th birthday—he was a ferroequinologist, just as I am—and when we cleaned out his apartment after he passed away I took it, with the permission of my cousins. I need to get around to reading it, though 😦