The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-18
gSoilD ARGUS.
Official Paper.
2ailroading In the olden Times.
Experience Of Veteran Conductor.

The N. Y. Eoening Post furnishes ,b,
following "reminiscences of the running O
railroads in their early days in this country
atfordlng au interesting contrast between
old-tims and modern modes.
William HAmbright, en- old condne,or on
t0e Penn. Cen. X, who is familiarly known
throughout the State, has given some ac-
count OF his experience.
MF. Hamoright commenced his career as
conductor by taking the first train horse
cars out OF Lancaster, in 1888, after which
time he run regularly, and has been em
Pioyed nearly ell the time since as psssen
ger conductor on the Penn. Cen. r He
then acted as conductor, brakeman and
gresser; his compensation being eighteen
dollars per month, which was considered
good wages ct that time. His train of horse
oars would leave Lancaster at FIVE O'Clock
P. NJ, and arrive in Philadelphia at five
o CLOCK the next morning, making twelve
hours tor the journey; and the fare charged
was $500. Stoppages we're frequent, fresh
horses being employed every fifteen or
twenty miles.
There was no fire in the cars, and when a
stop was made 70 change horses the conduc-
tor would make for the nearest hsYstack or
barn, for the purpose Of procuring straw or
hay to strew upon the floors of the cars in
order to make his passengers more comfort
able, himself riding outside, the cars pener-
ally being packed full. Down grade the
horses were always kept ct q full run
Horse flesh WAS very cheap then-sometimes
hve good animals could be purchased for
Sl00 In the year 1885, q locomotive, built
by Norris, was brought from Philadelphia to
Lancaster iu wagons, why it was not brought
by rail We did not learn j however, the won
derful machine was put upon the track and
fred up in the presence of an immense as
semb!age of spectators. 1t appears the en-
terprise was not very successful. Some time
after this, three small engines we're pur.
chased in England and sent over, which
answered the purpose, one of which is in
st the present time in ork, Pa. saving
wood.
The Harrisburgl& Portsmouth r. R, as it
WAS then called, being laid upon strong
pieces of wood, using fat bar iron fastened
down with spikes, it was necessary 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 termed "snake heads, !"
and spike down before attempting to pass
over. Information had to be given the en-.
gineer, hsf0rs starting, where stops were to
be made.
Here we may state that to Mr.. Hsmbrighs
belongs the credit Of inventing the bell and
rope system for signalling engineers He
got permission from his boss to put his
idea of the thing into practicable shape.
Procuring q rope q common door bell, he
attached the latter near the engineer, no
house being over the locomotive at that
time, then stretched the rope over the top Of
the oars. Ever after that and up to the pres
eat time bell ropes have been in vogue,
though in q more approved style than the
one Just described.
Conductors we're not req uired to uAke re-
ports at the end of each trip, as is now prao-
tlssd they woad hand over the gold and
silver perhaps two or three hundred dol
lars or mors-so the clerk, who would enter
it in book provided for the purpose some
wn.t IN this wise Conductor Hambright,
30 many dollars" and that was all the for
mality about it. Checks for baggage were
not used, but when the cars arrived in Col
umbis or Philedelphis, the conductor would
open the car door for the delivery of bag
gage, &c, to the passengers VINO croWueo
around aud secured their parcels by answer
ing "Mine," to the conductors interrogstoryi
Whose trunk ia this ~ which was kept up
until all disappeared. If q trunk was mark
ed B." it was to go by boat if IS" it was
20 go by stage line. Strange to soy
there was not SIS much baggage lost then a:
now.
Very often tho conductors would help the
propriesors of the lines during harvest, and
assist at other labor when off duty.