CSA 1Q1899

[Borys]

he views expressed in these pages are those of the publication concerned, and need not represent the official stance of the Confederate States of America.

Los Angeles Gazette, 7 January 1899

The Wellesley Investigation into the cause of the train bombing of 4 October last year has come at last to a close. Evidence is scarce, but the Army has established that a charge of no less than fifty pounds of guncotton must have been used to achieve the degree of carnage seen at Topock.

The deaths, numbering one hundred and fifty-seven, were almost entirely from the first-class section of the train, where the bomb is believed to have been placed. This, in association with other items found in the debris, suggest that the attack was launched by a branch of the Worker's Champion, the revolutionary organisation behind the strikes and ensuing riots of 1894.

If this indeed turns out to be the case, there is little chance of safety. The anarchists behind the atrocity must be hunted down and brought to justice in the shortest possible time, before another attack can take place.

Soldier Magazine, 22 January 1899

At long last, the national rail network has been started! The first line – running from the Anahuac border to Richmond – is expected to be completed within the year, with trains as much as twelve feet wide carrying soldiers and materiel to the border region. Other lines, using a special 5' 6" gauge, nearly a foot wider than civilian trains, will traverse the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts and cross the country from west to east.

Smaller trains, using a diminuitive 2' gauge, will also be constructed. The small size of these lines allows them to be built quickly and cheaply, making them ideal for field support. As such, the Army has sent out requests to the main engineering firms for a lightweight locomotive and a 'universal wagon', capable of carrying all kinds of load, including infantrymen and cavalry horses.

Los Angeles Gazette, 12 February 1899

The Federal Bank of Nevada, one of the largest repostionries of gold bullion in the Eastern Confederacy, was robbed late yesterday. A ton and a half of gold, along with an estimated million and a half dollars in banknotes, was stolen by the bandits. The Phoenix Sheriff's Department responded quickly, surrounding the bank within ten minutes of the start of the raid.

A dramatic scene ensued as the robbers – widely believed to number over twenty – fired upon the officers of the law, losing only three of their number against seven deputy sheriffs. The explosion of a bomb in the nearby baker's shop created confusion, allowing the raiders to make their getaway.

Although the stolen goods have not yet been located, there is some hope yet to recover much of the wealth. The fallen men were seen to be armed with an unusual 0.276" rifle calibre, and bore the symbol of two crossed swords surrounded by thorns on their right forearms. The likes of this robbery have never yet been seen in the Confederacy to date.

OOC: The observant amongst you may see links to other news stories...

Naval Gazetteer, 18 March 1899

In light of the recent losses of Rohirrim freighters, the Confederate States' Merchant Navy has been ordered to fly the Naval Ensign at all times, distinguishing our ships from those of either side. This is only the latest in a series of measures intended to safeguard Confederate shipping against the machinations of Rohan and Anahuac.

Although not confirmed, rumours persist that the Confederate States' Navy is planning to arm merchant ships to provide some means of defence against hostile cruisers. Some captains welcome this development – especially in the piracy-rife Gulf of Texas – but Admiral Fisher, renowned for his radical ideas, has suggested that a new generation of cruisers may serve the Navy better.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Aug 10 2005, 02:28 PM


Großeadmiral Sumpfhühn
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"Gulf of Texas", eh? wink.gif

Wide gauge, narrow gauge...methinks the Confederacy will soon be having the experiences that in @ discouraged such things (i.e. the difficulties of interchange).
   
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RLBH    
Posted: Aug 10 2005, 02:58 PM


Hegemon
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QUOTE
Wide gauge, narrow gauge...methinks the Confederacy will soon be having the experiences that in @ discouraged such things (i.e. the difficulties of interchange).


I was inspired by a visit to a French narrow-gauge railway museum. Both they and the Germans seemed to have a good degree of success - perhaps by minimising the links between the narrow-gauge network (a local one anyway) and the main network.

Of course, I'm complicating matters by having three gauges - there's Standard Gauge in there too, for the civilian trains. LOTS of chaos if someone presses the wrong button...

RLBH
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Aug 10 2005, 03:32 PM


King of Rohan
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Your transfer points are going to be a mess shifting materials from wide gauge to narrow gauge. I'm trying to remember when the standard gauge became "standard" in the United States. With narrow guage used in places where standard was too wide, or too expensive. But I don't recall a dedicated wide gauge on quite that scale....maybe for short tracks to move huge guns or some other massive item, but standard guage seems to work fine for most things...at least when adiquate power is applied to pull the items.

Rohan has a rail system, I imagine its standard gauge so that trains can pass from Rohan to the United Kingdom and the Confederacy.
   
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RLBH    
Posted: Aug 10 2005, 03:58 PM


Hegemon
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The standard gauge network is the only one that will be involved with border crossings; the military-only wide/narrow combination will rarely meet them, and never have any real links. As for linking between the two military networks - I've selected sizes so that two narrow-gauge carriages can fit abreast on a broad-gauge transporter.

In any case, it isn't intended that 2' gauge will be widespread.

In Australia (Queensland?) the 3' 6" rail lines have been beefed up to such an extent that they can do anything that standard gauge can. I'm deliberately ignoring this example to give the ability for trains to be more stable.

RLBH
   
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JLDOGG    
Posted: Aug 10 2005, 06:38 PM


The Flying Dutchman
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QUOTE
I'm trying to remember when the standard gauge became "standard" in the United States.


Around the end of the American Civil War because of the problems moving men and materials.
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Aug 10 2005, 08:08 PM


King of Rohan
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I guess the Confederates have not had that problem yet.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Aug 10 2005, 09:55 PM


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QUOTE
I guess the Confederates have not had that problem yet.

'Fraid they soon will.

In all honesty the exsistance of an entire military rail network running along with the civilian one - using two different gauges, both different than the civilian, no less - will likely wind up at some point with someone's head(s) rolling.

   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Aug 10 2005, 10:12 PM


King of Rohan
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But, it does make for good storytelling. What better way to screw up the Confederate Army then by having anarchists strike (or is that spike?) the rails or burn the depots. Oh, General Johnson will have a stroke over this.