A few months ago we outlined the basic hallmarks of the 5 key eras of railroading history. In this new series, we’ll be taking a closer look into 4 of these eras, examining what types of rolling stock, locomotives, industries, and scenery items would best fit these periods on your model railroad. For our first article, we’re going to look at what makes a Pioneer Era (1860-1910) layout.

Era Overview

The Pioneer Era was a crucial period in railroading history, where rail technology broke with the practices of previous transportation methods, and came into its own. This was also a tumultuous era in North American history, marked by events such as the Civil War and aggressive westward expansion. Railroading as an industry was less than half a century old at this point, but had already become the clear future of transportation, with lines springing up across the east and west to carry both goods and passengers. The largest feat of this era would be the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, linking the east and west for the first time in history, allowing explosive growth of industry and commerce across America. This was certainly an exciting time to witness.

The Trains of the Era

Locomotives

Although railroading was still a relatively new technology, locomotives were evolving at an incredible rate. Just 30 years since the first steam locomotive took to North American rails, designs had gone from looking like something resembling a distillery on wheels to having an appearance which even railroading novices today would recognize. Featuring driving wheels, a cast iron boiler, an enclosed cab, and separate tender, the locomotives of this era would set forth the basic hallmarks of all successive steam locomotive designs.

The most common locomotive of the era was the 4-4-0 American. This was the locomotive which conquered the west, however it wasn’t the only type to be developed during this period. Other wheel arrangements developed during this time included the 2-6-0, 2-4-0, and the 4-6-0. Early locomotives were fairly ornate in design and decoration, but became gradually more functional in appearance the more time went on. By 1900, the vibrant paint schemes and ornate decorations of mid 1800s locomotives were replaced by functional, but still attractive, larger locomotives with predominantly black and gray finishes.

Passenger Cars

The Pioneer Era brought a massive improvement in passenger transportation, the likes of which had never been seen before. People accustomed to riding in cramped stagecoaches over rough terrain could enjoy a smooth ride at a considerably faster pace on the railroad, with plenty of space for their luggage and personal comfort. Cars of this era were predominantly made of wood, and included classic features such as open platforms at each end. Earlier cars would feature flat roofs, rigid frames, and generally wouldn’t exceed 40 feet in length, while later cars featured clerestory roofs, sprung trucks, and were a little longer, at around 50 to 60 feet in length.

Freight Cars

Railroading revolutionized freight transportation during this time as well, allowing for the bulk transfer of goods with a rate of efficiency and low expense that was previously unheard of. This spurred the development of new industries and helped drive an increased demand for raw materials and agricultural produce. One of the most revolutionary developments was refrigerated transportation, allowing produce to be shipped longer distances in specially built refrigerated boxcars. In wartime, freight trains played a particularly important role in the transportation of weapons and supplies. Cabooses were also developed in this period. They were used to monitor and protect the rear of a train while guarding goods against robbers and saboteurs, the likes of which were fairly prevalent in this era, particularly during the Civil War and later in the western states, as Native Americans fought back from being driven from their land.

Industries and Scenery

Although massive growth was taking place during this time, America was still in it’s infancy. Most towns were newly established, and architecture was mostly small-scale and fairly rudimentary, even in larger cities. Dominant industries of the time included mining, agriculture, manufacturing and lumber. Large corporations were not common in this era, with most industries being operated independently or regionally. Roads were still essentially dirt trails, with the exception of brick and cobbled streets found in larger communities, and aside from rail travel, most people and goods were still traveling by horse and cart. Electricity was in existence, but many communities and homesteads still relied on gas lighting, so power lines were not quite a common site yet. Telegraph poles often followed railroads, connecting to stations and signal towers, and railroad infrastructure was predominantly constructed out of wood, stone, or blasted out of rock.

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