Actually if I remember correctly Micro-Trains released two 150th anniversary Civil War train sets in N scale. Otherwise you may have problems finding rolling stock and locomotives of this era.

Even for HO the choices would be limited although 1860s rolling stock would not be hard to scratch build in HO scale.

Those locos were the ok Bachmann 4-4-0's

Here is what spookshow has to say about them;
http://www.spookshow.net/loco/bach440a.html

Ref. - It's you and not me but I

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I would suggest reading back through some of the threads on here as someone just built a very nice 4-4-0 from a Bachmann unit on here and it looked very good. HO scale will work real well for the time period and models you are looking to put together. It will also fit your space extremely well. In addition to the 4-4-0 there are at least a couple of modelers building equipment in your time period or very close to it and they are doing fantastic work. You will likely be able to find all the items to build your layout in HO scale at reasonable cost and more so there than any other. The reason I am saying this is your choice of modeling theme is a bit off the more popular ones, nothing wrong with that at all, but when one begins to look for the unusual it is often easier to find and keep it working in HO scale than any other.

Once you begin communication with some of the folks that are building similar items to what you are looking for you will likely make some new internet friends that will be vary valuable to your re-entrance of the hobby.

Welcome back and hope that your prospecting turns up gold for you.

Rob in Texas

The white foam is harder to shape due to the beads easily breaking free, but that is not the main reason not to use the stuff. The main reason you don't want to use the white foam is because of fire safety: the white foam keeps on burning when you remove the ignition source, while the blue/pink/green foam extinguishes itself when the ignition source has been removed.

As for which scale: it is highly personal, depending on space available, what you want to model and how (use ready to run or kit bash or scratch build or a combo), hand/eye coordination now and their ability in the future amongst many other factors. If unsure, build a small diorama of like 1x2 or 1x4 in scales you're interested in and see what 'feels' most comfortable to you.

Hello Old Prospector,

Welcome-back-to the hobby. I too am retired military and expecting (hoping) to retire from civilian work in a couple more years.

Lots of good input here from folks and I find this forum the best resource for all sorts of information, but sometimes for a smaller niche, it's good to hookup with folks also interested in that area/time period. 

I know there are some here who do not like the NMRA for various reasons and that's fine (I am not starting a discussion on that here) but they do have a Special Interest Group on Civil War railroading. That's not your location but it is the same time period - 1860s. No doubt they have folks who have specialized information on modeling (in whatever scale) for that time period. I seem to recall that at the last national NMRA convention, there was a display setup with an operating Civil War railroad by one group. At any rate, if you think it worthwhile, you can find out more about the SIG from NMRA's SIG page: http://www.nmra.org/national/sig/sig.html. There's also a link there to their Yahoo Group. 

Happy modeling to you, sir, and thank you for your service.

Thank You Sir, Twice - Once for replying back to me - And again for your Serving as well - Welcome Home Bro - Anyway I'm glad to hear that some other Model Railroading Fans are also interested in that time period Era. I will try and check out that site and see what they have going. I think with my background, (Ever since I was a child my mind has functioned like MacGyver's), I have been able to look at something or find something that has been cast off as junk or scrap, and have been able to modify it, repair it or rebuild it into what I need to suit my own purpose. Because of that I might be able to scratch build, or kit bash, a lot of the scenery and structures that I need. The only thing I'm skeptical about would to be able to build the spoked wooden wheels that I would need for any wagons or stage coaches that would be used in that era.(At this time, I'm not sure where I could actually purchase complete wagons and stage coaches in either HO or N scale) But I know that I could build the wagon box and frames for the wagons, along with the log stockade, and canvas tents for a Calvary Fort and probably the false front buildings of a wild west town and the Teepee's of an Indian village. ( the problems would be to be able to locate the figures of miners, townsfolk,cowboys, calvary troops, Indians and the livestock, such as cows and horses). As far as layouts go, I'm not so much looking at doing a Civil War layout (Even Even though my family ancestors actually did fight on the side of the Confederacy in the civil war) but in doing a layout pertaining to the Wild West area around the Arizona, New Mexico area. Anyway thanks for the comeback and Happy Rails to you sir.

Box Wagon w/2 Horses & 1 Figure
Walthers Part # 528-16703, p. 750 Walthers 2014 HO Scale Reference
HO scale, $26.99, currently in stock at Walthers

 
Sets include wagon, figures and horses.
 There are lots of items in the Wathers Catalog and these items have been around for a fairly long time. You may be able to continue to search further on your own and go to manufacturers web sites. A check of advertisers on this web site may turn up more in the way of items as well. Looking into logging, and circus may also turn up various wagons as well.

Enjoy your modeling

Rob in Texas

Thank you sir, for your come-back. In reference to my handle "Old Prospector". Well that goes back quite a few years to the 1970's, when I was married to my first wife. We decided to take a trip and go to Lewiston, Idaho to visit her cousin "Roy Lagal", and his family who was a well known gold prospector (after all these years I'm not quite sure of the spelling of his last name. I haven't heard from him, or his family in about twenty years, he may have passed on into the land of solid gold, but his son may still be around in that area doing some prospecting). He usually always had his name listed somewhere in most of the mining and gold prospecting magazines, as well as in the "Garrett" and "White" Metal Detector magazines. While we were visiting with him and his family, Roy and his son, taught me how to go prospecting and panning for gold. As a tribute to him (back in the 70's when I was strongly into "CB Radio"), I selected the name of "Old Prospector" to use as a "CB" Handle. I have since used that particular handle for just about everything. So, as "Paul Harvey" would always say; Quote "Now You Know The Rest Of The Story" Unquote. Thanks for your come-back reply and Happy Model Railroading to you sir. - The Old Prospector.

Look in the Walthers on line catalog, product # 360-234, by Jordan Products.  They also have several wagons and a buggy that would fit your time period.

Good luck with your space and concept.

Chuck

(And while I was typing the above, Rob sent you the name of another manufacturer.)

Walthers Part # 360-234, p. 739 Walthers 2014 HO Scale Reference
HO scale, $9.95, currently in stock at Walthers
This product is on-sale today for $8.98

And here is a picture of the item Chuck was telling you about. I think you will have lots of fun discovering what is now available for you to utilize in your model railroading pursuits.