Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-26
RaiIroadfng in Glden Times.

William Hambright. an old conductor
on the Pennsylvania Central road, who,
we are tod, Is t4miliar,y known through
out the state as Cap Cappie."
' Pap" OF Conductor Hambright. : has
given to the Columbia Pa )Couraat some
account Of his experience. Mr. Ham,
bright commenced his career as conduc-
TOT by taking the first train horse earl
out OF Lancaster, ii 1888. after Wh.c
time be run regularly. and has been en-
Poyed nearly all the time since as pas
$ niger conductor On the P1nnsy lvania Cen
ira Railroad. He then acted as condue-
tor, brakeman and greaser his compen-
>aton beng eighteen dol ars per month,
wh CD was considered good wages at that
time. HIS train of horse cars would
eave Lancaster II FIVE O'Clock P n, and
arrive II PniIapelphia at five O'Clock the
next morning, making twelve hours for the
journey and the fare charged was s3 so.
Stoppages were frequent, fresh horses be-
lng employed every fifteen OF twenty
miles. At times they would be greatly
detained 10y the severity Of the weather,
the winters in those times being much
colder than at the present day.
There was no fire in the cars, and when
stop VS. made to change horses the con-
ductUr would make tor the nearest hay
stack or barn for the purpose Of procuring
straw or hay to strew upon the toors Of
the cars IN order 10 make his passengers
more comfortable. himself riding outside,
the cars generally being packed so full
that he comp scarcely gain admission.
Down grade the horses were always kept
IT q tuil run. Horse flesh was very cheap
theE sometimes five good animals could be
purchased for Sl00. In the year 1885 a
locomotive. built b = Norris, was brought
from Philadelphia TO Lancaster. in wagons
(why it was not brought By rail We did
not learn : however. the wonderful ma
chine was pat upon the track and frhd up
IN the presence Of an immense assemblage
Of spectators. 1t appears the enterprise
was not very successful, as it would run a
short distance and then halt; then a num-
Ter Of muscular men would lend their as
slstance BY pushing. Every device was re-
sorted 10 10 make the critter 20, but to no
purpose Some tine after this three small
engines were purchased in EuglaBd and
sent over, which answered all the pur-
poses for which they we're intended, one of
which Is in use at the present time in
! York, Pa, saving wood.
The Harrisburg and Portsmouth Rail-
road as II was then called. being laid up
on strong pieces Of wood. using fat bar
iron fastened down with spikes 1t was nee
essary TO carry hammer and spikes on the
engine. Very often spikes would come out
from the end of the bar, causing the end
OF the same TO stick up, which were term
ed " snake-heads, and the engineer would
be obliged to stop and spike down before
TO pass over. Information had
to be given the engineer, before starting,
where stops were to be made.
Here We may state that 10 Mr. Ham
bright belongs the credit of inventing the
bell and rope system for signaling eDgi-
neers. He got permission from his " boss 3
10 put his idea OF the thing into practical
bic shape. Procuring a rope and common
door bell. ne attached the latter near the
no house being over the locomo-
tive at that time, then stretched the rope
over the top Of the cars. Ever after that
aud up TO the present time bell-ropes have
been IL vogue, though in a more approved
style than the one just described.
Conductors were not required TO make
reports at the end of each trip, as is now
Practisel they would hand over the gold
and silver-perhaps two or three hundred
dollars or more-to the clerk, who would
enter It in book provided for the pur-
poses, omewhat in this wise 'EConductor
50 many dollars and that
was all the formality about it. Checks
for baggage we're not used, but when the
cars arrived in Columbia or Philadelphia.
the conductor would open the car door
for the delivery Of baggage, &c. TO the
Passengers who crowded around and Sc
Cured their parcels by answering Mine
10 the conductors inierrogatory, Whose
trunk Is this - which was kept up until
all disappeared If trunk was marked
i b It was TO 90 by boat; if" s = it was
to 90 By stage line. Strange to say. there
was not as much baggage lost then as now.
Very often the conductors would help
the proprietors of the lines during harvest,
and assist at other labor when off duty.
IN. Y. Post.