The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-17
Rnilroading i'm olden Times.

EXPERIENCE OF A VETERAN CONDUCTOR.
William Hambright, an old conductor
on the Pennsylvania Central road, has
given an account of his experience.
Mr.. Hambright commenced his career
as conductor by taking the first train
fhorse cars) out of Lancaster, in 1888, af-
ter which time he run regularly, and has
been employed nearly all the time since as
passenger conductor on the Pennsylvania
Central railroad. He then acted as con-
ductor, brakeman and greaser his COM
pensatiou being eighteen dollars per month,
which was considered good wages at that
time His train Of horse cars would leave
Lancaster at 5 o'clock p. NJ, and arrive in
Philadelphia at s o'clock the next morning,
making twelve hours for the journey and
the fare charged was So so. Stoppages
were frequent, fresh horses being employed
every fifteen or twenty miles. At times
they would be greatly detained by 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
a stop was made TO change horses, the con-
ductor would make for the nearest hay
stack or barn, for the purpose of pro-
curing straw or hay to strew upon the
floors of the cars, in order to make his
passengers more comfortable, himself
riding outside, the cars generally being
packed so full that he could scarcely gain
admission. Down grade the horses were
always kept at full run. Horse flesh
was very cheap then sometimes five
IL h. 60
800. In the year 1886 locomotive,
built by Norris, was brought from
Philadelphia to Lancaster, in wagons,
twhy it was not brought by rail we
did not learp) however, the wonderful
machine was put upon the track and fred
up 10 the presence of an immense assem-
blage of spectators. 1t appears the enter
prise was not successful, as it would run
short distance and then halt; then num-
Der of muscular men would lend their as
sistance by pushing. Every device was
resorted to to make the critter go, but to no
purpose. Some time after this three small
engines were purchased in England and
sent over, which answered all the purposes
for which they were intended, one of which
is in use at the present time in York, Pa,
saving wood
The Harrisburg and Portsmouth rail-
road, as it was then called, being laid upon
strong pieces of wood, using fat bar iron
fastened down with spikes, it was neces-
sary 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 the engineer would be
obliged to stop and spike down before at
tempting to pass over. Information had
to be given the engineer, before starting,
where stops were to be made.
Here we may state that to Mr. Ham
bright belongs the credit of inventing the
bell and rope system for signalling eng-
neers. He got permission from his "boss"
to put his idea of the thing into practical
BILE shape. Procuring rope and COM
mon door bell, he attached the latter near
the engineer, no house being over the loco
motive at that time, then stretched the
rope over the top of the cars. Ever after
that and to the present time bell-ropes
have been in vogue, though in more sp-
proved style than the one just described.
Conductors were not required to make
reports at the end of each trip, as is now
practiced; they would hand over the gold
and perhaps two or three hundred
dollars or more--to the clerk, who would
enter it in a book provided for the pur-
pose somewhat 10 this wise "Conduc-
tor Hambright, so many dollars" and that
was the Formally. about it. Checks for
baggage were not used, but when the
cars arrived in Columbia or Phladel-
phia, the conductor would open the
car door for the delivery of baggage,
&c., tothe passengers who crowded around
and secured their parcels by answering
Mime" to the conductors interrogatory,
"Whose truuk is this ?" which was kept |
up until all disappeared If trunk was
marked "B" it was to 60 by boat if 49,"