Wagon Train | Geedee Collectables

GeeDee's Wagon Train on the Oregon Trail Diorama

About the Diorama

My Lego Wagon Train on the Oregon Trail Diorama MOC, is intended to depict a small Wagon Train on the Oregon Trail in the USA (circa 1879) setting up camp for the night by a small stream which is connected to the North Platte River. They are somewhere on the High Plains which are a subregion of the Great Plains in Mid-Western USA and approaching Fort Laramie near the Nebraska/Wyoming border. The wagons are beginning to form a circle for security and protection which was common practice for the pioneers on the trail, but some are just arriving and are not yet in place. The phrase "Circle the Wagons" means to "gather together for mutual protection and safety".

The Diorama is certainly not accurate but was fun to build and to research the history of the Oregon Trail and the American Wild West. (This has resulted in a Web Page with quite a lot of Text especially in the Medical Section.)

A few Easter Eggs are also included. As Lego has never had any American Wild Western Themes since about 1998, I had to source many of the parts from other sources.

The Diorama was constructed to be portable, and under the constraints of Limited Funds and the requirement that if had to fit on a 850mm X 850mm folding table. However, I did have some extra wagons left over and also some Lego Wild West US Cavalry that I had purchased way back around the year 2000, so I have added these as an appendage. Interesting to note that the Lego Wild West sets and minifigures are now classified as highly collectable.

There is a plethora of information on various media (especially the Internet and YouTube) about the Oregon Trail and Wagon Trains in general, and I will list a few of these in the general text below with appropriate links to the sites.

My interest in Wagon Trains, Cowboys, and the American Wild West stems way back to when I was about 5 Years old dressing up in Cowboy outfits, and I have been meaning to do this Diorama for several years but never got around it until now. It will be my last Diorama so that's all folks.

About the Oregon Trail - Introduction: Click the Links for lots more excellent information.

The Oregon Trail from Wikipedia

Oregon Trail Map Link

The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) east west wagon route and emigrant trail in North America that connected the Missouri River in the East, to the valleys in the West Oregon Territory. It traversed what is now the states of Kansas, Nebraska Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon.

The peak era was from the 1840s to the 1870s declining after the Transcontinental Railroad opened in 1869 but the trail was used even into the early 1900s. The wagon train journey was extremely harsh, arduous and dangerous, taking from four to six months to complete with conditions ranging from extreme heat and dehydration to extreme cold and starvation, coupled with diseases such as Cholera and Dysentery. Most people (including women and children) walked he entire distance, as the wagons were packed full of necessities such as food, tools and basic essential supplies. Despite the dangers, pioneers took the risks, as they were looking for a promised better life, land, and riches in the west. Approximately 6% to 10% of the estimated 350,000 to 400,000 emigrants who traveled to Oregon (or the alternate destination of California where the trail split at Fort Hall) died along the way. As travel time was critical, most people were buried in unmarked graves along the trail or just left where they perished. The wagon trains had to leave in April or May to avoid harsh summer conditions and to ensure enough long grass for livestock on the Great Plains, and to finish the journey before the harsh winter of ice and snow in Mountainous areas and just before their final destination of Oregon City in the Willamette Valley.

More information about the Trail is given where appropriate near the pictures below as I haven't made a video of this Diorama.

Some Pictures of GeeDee's Wagon Train Oregon Trail Diorama along with some Interesting Details and Information

Top View

Front View

Side View

Rear View

Some wagons have circled and settled in for the night already, whilst others are still arriving. Cattle usually accompanied a wagon train as a source of food when needed and money. This small wagon train has several cattle which have already crossed over the shallow river and are being looked after by three drovers who are members of the wagon train.

Hygiene and general cleanliness were a luxury on the trail, and where possible a river could be used to bath in, wash cloths, and if suitable, to top up water supplies. Two ladies are making the most of a good swim and clean (and there were NO Polar Bears). There were also NO toilets on the trail, so pioneers had to improvise with tools and adventuring gear like with buckets and spades. Contaminated water and food caused fecal-oral diseases like Cholera, Dysentery and Typhoid.

Mules and Oxen were used to pull the wagons and were usually kept inside the wagon circle, if possible, but I didn't have the space, so they are on the outside.

Most wagons are filled to the brim with necessities and not luxury goods which if carried often had to be thrown out as animals tired or a major river had to be crossed. However, in my wagon train, two have been converted to sleeping wagons, and one a medic wagon, as in my wagon train two fully qualified doctors are present - a welcome addition for sure for the pioneers.

Most people slept outdoors, in tents, or even under the wagons.

Children (one looks like a young Harry Potter) with the wagon train and some adults have made a campfire and the adults are preparing a meal. Food and water were top priorities for the adventurers and were carried inside and on the outsides of the wagons, and on pack horses/mules. It was essential at the start of the long journey to pack enough food to survive the journey. Here is a list from a guidebook of what was required for a single person:

200 ponds of flour, 100 pounds of bacon, 30 ponds of beans, 30 pounds of hardtack, 20 pounds of sugar, 12 ponds of dried fruit, 10 pounds of coffee, 10 pounds of rice, 30 pounds of salt, an ample supply of vinegar, 150 pounds of lard, 25 pounds of corn meal and a small amount of tea and saleratus. Other food items should be avoided, as they provided little nutritional value versus the weight they added to the wagon. So, forget the gourmet meals, although the pioneers could hunt for top quality meat and fish along the way when available.

Besides food and water, the wagons carried other essentials like medicines, flint, matches, tables, chairs, spare clothing, cooking utensils, firearms, ammunition, lamp oil, toiletries, personal items, knives, folding pocketknives, axes, pickaxes, shovels and other tools, ropes, saddles, bridles, and wagon part spares, plus other assorted adventuring gear. The pioneers usually had three sets of clothing/shoes for the entire journey.

There were many perils on the Oregon trail, and one was breakdown of a wagon. One such wagon from a previous attempt on the trail is being investigated by chickens.

Three friendly Native American Indians on horses look on at the preparations for camp.

Front views with background painting of a Wagon Train by David Baker which he painted at an early age.

For more of David's Work see My Music/Arts Paintings Page.

The Wagon Train was led by a Wagon Master/Boss who was responsible for law and order and safety of the Wagon Train. My Wagon Master is a man whose hero was the legendary American frontiersman James Bowie (1796-1836) and he carries the signature large Bowie Knife and percussion cap Blunderbuss pistol to keep control whilst on the journey. However, he is never too far away from a Winchester Model 1873 lever-action centerfire rifle (The gun that won the West).

Other firearms that were popular at this time were:

Handguns: American Civil War (1861-1865) percussion cap revolvers such as the Colt 1860 Army and Colt 1851 Navy

Colt Single Action Army (SAA): (The Peacemaker)

Smith & Wesson Model 3 'American'

Long Guns: Double Barrel Shotguns

Winchester Model 1866 (Yellowboy)

Winchester Model 1873

Sharps Rifle (Buffalo Rifle)

The Wagon Master was usually an experienced traveler on the trail and often had a guidebook to help. Some early guidebooks however were incorrect and written by men who had never even travelled the trail. Such was the case of the doomed Donner Party who were a group of pioneers on the Oregon Trail that were delayed in their travel by several mishaps one of which was bad information/directions, resulting in them being snow bound and stranded in the Sierra-Nevada. Some of the migrants resorted to cannibalism to survive.

The Doctors Wagon

The Sleeper Wagon

The Doctors Wagon and Dangers on the Oregon Trail

Ther were many dangers along the Trail: Here is a list of some of them:

Accidents: Being accidently shot, crushed by a wagon, or drowning.

Weather: Intense heat, Intense Cold, thunderstorms, tornados and lots of dust.

Wild Animals - especially snakes.

Native American Attacks: However, not as prevalent as Hollywood movies used to portray. In fact, the Native Indians helped the pioneers a lot of the time and traded with them. Attacks became more common later when the Indians revolted against their land being taken away and Buffalo herds being slaughtered to the point of extinction.

Outlaw/Bandit Attacks: Wagon Trains could be attacked for their supplies and anticipated wealth by "White Bandits/Outlaws".

Mormon Attacks: One large Wagon Train led by an experienced Wagon Master Baker-Fancher

was attacked and nearly wiped out by a Mormon (Church of the Latter-day Saints) Militia in September 1857 in what is now called the "Mountain Meadows Massacre" during the Mormon Utah War.

120 members of the Wagon Train were massacred including innocent women and children in a series of attacks which the Mormons tried to blame on Native American Indians. This Wagon Train was bound for California and was just passing through territory the Mormons considered their own. The Mormon founder Joseph Smith had been murdered and the Mormons harassed because of their polygamy and other religious beliefs. Now led by Brigham Young they were determined to defend their promised land around what is now Salt Lake City in Utah. The real motive for the massacre is still a mystery but maybe it was just to show the Christian belief of Love, Peace on Earth and Good will to all Men ?

Disease: By far the biggest killer was disease.

Cholera: This caused more deaths than all the other diseases put together. Caused by waterborne bacteria in polluted water this disease could kill within 12 hours, with symptoms of rapid onset of severe profuse "rice water" diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cramps and rapid dehydration - great if you were walking. Treatment consisted of pain relief using Opium, Laudanum (a tincture of Opium (with alcohol and sometimes other additives) and a general-purpose fix it for everything), Chlorodyne (a mixture of Laudanum, Cannabis and Chloroform), Camphor, Brandy, and other remedies to try and keep the body warm, which usually did more harm than good. The best way to avoid Cholera was good hygiene and boiling water before drinking. Lucky my Wagon Train has two Doctors.

Dysentery: Again, caused by unsanitary conditions and contaminated food and water. Symptoms included diarrhea with blood and mucus, fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps and pains, but it was usually not as life threatening as Cholera. Treatment was similar to that of Cholera with the addition of Castor Oil, but Rest was the most effective treatment which was often not possible for travelers on a very tight time schedule.

Smallpox: Is caused by a virus to which an effective vaccination was available from about 1850 in the USA. Symptoms included high fever, deep seated pain, and fluid filled blisters all over the body. It was mandatory for all my Wagon Train members to be vaccinated.

Typhoid: Another waterborne illness spread through contaminated food or water causing severe fever, headaches, abdominal pain and a rose-colored rash. Treatment was similar to that for Dysentery.

Other Diseases: Influenza, Measles, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis. Mumps etc.

Miscellaneous Medical Problems: Amputations, Childbirth, Infections and UTI etc. There were no antibiotics to treat these conditions and for UTI, herbal remedies like Cranberry Juice, warm herbal compresses, Laudanum for pain relief and Opium washes via catheter into the bladder were used. Amputations to prevent further infection or to remove a severely damaged limb could be done under anesthesia using either Ether or Chloroform but usually it was done with the patient fully awake and suffering extreme pain. My Wagon Train has two qualified Doctors/Surgeons who have a supply of Chloroform. They know how to use it and just as importantly how to transport it safely. Ether and Chloroform were extensively used by surgeons in the American Civil War, but Chloroform was the most popular as it was non-flammable, faster acting, and more portable. Infection was always a problem but around 1879 antiseptics were being used in operations like amputations, with Carbolic Acid being used as a spray and wash. Leeches were also used on wounds.

Mental Health was another medical problem. Long repetitive hard days in often extreme conditions, concerns over safety, food, water, hygiene and physical health, together with some boredom, could have a devastating effect on mental health. To help with mental problems, travelers brought books, Bibles and writing utensils. Music and dancing helped and children played games. Women mended and made clothes and men hunted etc. Social interaction was important as was the sharing of camp chores. By the end of a 15-mile daily walk, travelers were usually too physically exhausted to be bored.

Minor Skin Irritations: These were treated with Castor Oil, Witch Hazel, Bicarbonate of Soda and Calamine Lotion. For Hemorrhoids, a new treatment in the 1870s of injecting a mixture of Carbolic Acid in Olive Oil had started to be used, along with older methods of surgical litigation/excision, and of course, Laudanum was used for pain relief.

Coughs and Colds: These were treated with a variety of cough syrups containing Opium, Laudanum, Chloroform and Alcohol, many of which could be considered "Quack" remedies. Herbal (family) remedies like flaxseed tea, slippery elm tea, honey and lemon drink, camphor oil, mustard plasters, warm drinks, rum, whiskey, eucalyptus oil, olive oil, vinegar, and steam inhalation were also used.

Extras

Close by to the Wagon Train is a USA Light Cavalry contingent carrying weapons, supplies and Exchange Officers to Fort Laramie. These soldiers could supply extra protection to the Wagon train if required. A small Wagon Train consisting of six pioneers with two wagons flanks them until they reach the Fort.