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From Nürnberg, one can go by road to various towns on the Donau (Danube). One of these roads
could be replaced with a rail line. We could choose either Ingolstadt or Regensburg as our railhead later.
Regensburg seems to be a bit more appealing, but we would need to build the station there on high
ground because of frequent flooding. We should build this access as soon as resources and political
situation will allow, because a rail linkup to the Donau gives us access to the biggest trade network into
the Balkans, Turkey, Black Sea area and even southern Russia. If we ever come to more friendly terms
with Austria this link will see a lot of traffic to Turkey and over the Brenner Pass to Venice and Italy.
Until then, we will see a lot of military transports. The distance from Nürnberg to Regensburg is about 30
miles.
Bibliography
Rossberg, Ralf Roman, Geschichte der Eisenbahn, Sigloch Edition Künzelsau 1977/1984
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Weisbrod, Manfred et al., Dampflokarchiv Bd.1-4, Transpress Berlin 1979
Samter, Sr. Heinrich, Reich der Erfindungen, Reprint from 1901, Gondrom Verlach Bindlach 1998
Grosser Weltatlas, Planet Medien AG Zug
Harnessing The Iron Horse: Railroad Locomotion In The 1632 Universe
By Iver P. Cooper
Railroading in 1632 Canon
At the first "cabinet meeting," Mike Stearns says, "We got rail tracks leading most of the way from the
mine to the power plant, but as far as I know there isn't a locomotive anywhere around. We may have to
haul it by truck." (1632, Chap. 8)
The principal focus of this article will be on how the USE will design its first locomotives, but first I will
explain what Canon (the entire set of1632 series novels and anthologies) tells us about railroading after
the Ring of Fire (RoF).
Mike decides that Grantville's best survival strategy is to use its "modern technology, while it lasts, to
build a nineteenth-century industrial base." Mike muses, "Steam engines, steam engines. The railroads are
about to make a big comeback in the world." (Chap. 11)
By the time of Becky's first cablecast (Sept 10, 1631), some kind of new track had just been laid to the
new foundry, "but the first steam locomotive was still being built." (Chap. 33). That was still true as of the
October 8 cabinet meeting (Chap. 40).
The next reference to railroads in "canon" is in the David Weber story, "In the Navy" (Ring of Fire).
There, Eddie Cantrell lobbies Mike Stearns to turn over enough miles of salvaged railroad track to armor
several ironclads, prompting complaints from Quentin Underwood about undermining the economy.
Nonetheless, the up-timers did lay steel rails between Grantville and Halle. Although incomplete, the line
was in use as of a September, 1633 cabinet meeting (1633, Chap. 34). The trackwork was not modern
steel T-rail, but rather "dinky wooden rails with an iron cap." Quentin is equally contemptuous of the
motive power; the "pathetic" cargoes are "being pulled as often as not by 'locomotives' made up of a
pickup truck or even a team of horses."
By June of 1634, when Iona left Grantville, the trains were running all the way to Halle ("Until We Meet
Again,"Grantville Gazette , Volume 4).
Besides the civilian railroad, there is also a railway battalion in the U.S. Army, commanded by Major
Elizabeth Pitre. Its mission is to build and operate narrow gauge military railroads (TacRail). Pitre's
activities are described in "Elizabeth" (Grantville Gazette,Volume 4). TacRail will not be discussed
further here.
However, there are a few important references to the civilian railroad in "Elizabeth." At the beginning of
the story, in summer 1633, Frank Jackson complains that the rail line to Halle had not yet been
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completed. Nonetheless, at that point Charlie Schwartz had already "worked on the railroad link to the
coal mine and helped to build the steam locomotive." The story ends in spring 1634, when the railway
battalion rides civilian flatcars to Halle.
Grantville Railroading Knowledge
Having some track is nice, but it is not enough. We have to know how to plan out a rail network,
manufacture and lay track, build locomotives and other rolling stock, and operate the railroad.
Naturally, there will be some information on railroads in the public libraries. Of the documented sources
(those known to exist in Mannington, or mentioned in canon), the most useful from a locomotive design
standpoint are the encyclopedias (especially the "Railways" [EB11/R] and "Steam Engine" [EB11/SE]
articles in theEncyclopedia Britannica , Eleventh Edition) and Alexander'sIron Horses: American
Locomotives 1829-1900.
* * *
There is more knowledge of railroads than just book knowledge stored in the libraries, of course. The
first group to whom would-be railroad barons may turn for help are the retired railroad workers.
According to the Up-timer Grid, there are ten such people in Grantville. These people have practical,
first-hand experience with real railroads. They may also have souvenirs of interest. But bear in mind that a
ticket taker isn't going to know how to build a firebox.
* * *
Next, there are the mineworkers. Some of them may have laid narrow gauge track to service the mines,
or operated and repaired the mine cars or even locomotives. ("Elizabeth" says there were a couple of
locomotives used in the Joanne mine.)
* * *
The third group are "rail fans." They may go out and watch (and perhaps photograph) real trains in
operation, try to ride behind particular locomotives or on particular tracks, collect books, videos and
railroad memorabilia, or build and operate model railroads.
There are at least three rail fans (Hardy, Pitre, and Szymanski) so identified on the Grid; there may be
additional hobbyists. A town the size of Mannington (the model for Grantville) is likely to have five to
seven model railroaders (Atlas Model Railroad Forum).
Of the rail fans, "Monty" Szymanski is of particular interest because he "helped restore locomotives for
the Cass State Park Scenic Railway and had built several one-eighth scale models of steam locomotives."
(Up-timer Grid)
* * *
Even up-timers who are not retired railway employees may have something to contribute. There are the
steam engine buffs, of course. People who rode a scenic railroad may have home videos of the
experience. Movie lovers who have videotapes of any of the many movies, including Westerns, mysteries
and thrillers, which contain locomotive or other railroad footage. We know thatThe General (1927) is
available; that is the movie which introduced Buster Keaton to the down-timers.
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Motive Power
A train, running on rails, may be propelled by any of several different means. Despite Quentin
Underwood's sneering, animal power is actually a pretty reasonable propulsion system, at least for
moderate speeds and loads. A draft horse, with a body weight of 1,200 to 2,000 pounds, can, for as
long as ten hours, exert a pull of 180 to 220 pounds. If the load is carried in a wheeled vehicle, riding on
rails, the rolling resistance of the load is perhaps 1/100th to 1/250th of its weight. In other words, a 200
pound pull moves a 20,000 to 50,000 pound (ten to twenty-five ton) load, i.e., 1000% to 2500% of the
body weight. (See Cooper, "Transportation Cost FAQ,"www.1632.org .)
Teams as large as thirty horses were used in the American West to haul heavy loads. Even an eight
horse team can move 80 to 200 tons on rails.
* * *
Clearly, steam locomotion is one of the options the USE is considering. In the early days, the greatest [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]