Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-13
NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA
RAILROAD.
something About Its Earlier History.
"reminiscences of its Ohicers, Engines
and Operations Twenty Years Ago.
Old Harry, the Pioneer Superintend.
emit, HIS 'sTlme COcE,'' etc.

Like sill old human institutions the Nash
vile and Chattanooga Railroad has 1t remin-
iscenees of the early past, when 1t was
weak corporation, and many pertaining TO
its officers are interesting to many OF our
readers. To see the large round house
where thirty or more engines can be stored,
the immense shops, the long locomotive
shops, foundry, depots, ETC., one would
think that the memory of "man runneth
not to the contrary" so far as to tell you
how small and ill-contrived was
THE FIRST ROUND HOUSE
of this great and rich corporation, whose
lines extend over 600 miles. Il was located
in the suburbs of Nashville, and to speak
strangely vet honestly, it was like the home
of the fox, mere hole in the ground. A
few boards we're placed over the cut at
Ewing's avenue, and being planked up con-
stituted the first round house Of the Nash
vile and Chattanooga Railroad, Into this
pit
THE FIRST ENGINE
was run at night and stored away; yet this
illustrates that all greatness must have It's
infancy, its poverty of incipiency and only
is the goal Of prosperity reached by hard
labor and judicious energy. The little
mountain stream, scarcely able to bear Oh
its morning gemmed wavelets the petals OF
the wild rose, pursues its murmuringly JOY
GUS course and at last becomes the mighty
river on whose bosom rests the commerce
of the country. So with railroad; in its
beginning it is weak, but finally becomes
channel Of commerce ITSELF The first en-
CINE used by the company was
efTHE TENNESSEE"
Of "a tons, Is inch cylinder, "a foot stroke
and Al feet drivers. She wore q smoke
stack shaped like an inverted churn capped
nv an old black hat. She was monstrous
GOOD machine, and not only afforded nov
81 sight to the countless country people who
flocjxed here to see the railroad and "kears,
but under the control of her Thomas Web
ster did some wonderful climbing" equal
d ONLY ny that of an Arkansas swamp
coon when ascending tree with buck
negro hanging to its tail. Among other
feats extraordinary, the Tennessee used to
pull a train of three loaded cars
OVER RAINS HILL
before the present cut was made. The as
cent then was much heavier than any grade
on a Southern road, and for an engine with
train TO get up this hill was somewhat like
law man climbing the heights offsme. Even
now. the grade is very heavy, and locomo-
tives find full head of steam and plenty OF
sand quite desirable adjuncts to their pro-
cress at this time. Despite her excellence,
sad indeed was the
FATE OF THE TENNESSEE,
for when the Confederate army retrested
in 1862. she was run South, and although
quite aged, having commenced her career o.
wonderful usefulness in 18-, she was cut
I'D like a hog in pork house, at Atlanta,
and each piece sold ike spareribS. From
tina proceeds of this murdered engine
enough money was realized to pay the ex-
penses OF her men back home.
THE FIRST ENGINEER
was Thomas Webster, master mechanic,
who drove the Tennessee most admirably.
This gentleman, to-day, is wealthy man,
and conducts a large rolling mill at Chatta-
noooa. His prosperity may be accredited
to his energy, faithful devotion 70 MS Dusi'
ness and the thoroughly practical kno~l-
edge he had of machinery and engineering
especially. His life affords inducemens for
| others to pursue the same path, and attain
q like goal, where fortune bestoWs her bless
ings in pleasant hberality. About the sec
ond engine used was the
y.K. STEVENSON,
vhose uamesake was President of the road
the interests of which were so advants-
ceouslv promoted by his judicious manage
mont. Mr.. Stevenson is well-known IN
Tennessee. and may be regarded as the
nioneer of the Nashville and Chattanooga
! Railroad. which being the first enterprise OF
its kind in this State, has grown 10 pros
perity and wealth, while its pristine officer
has grown in age aud yet in honor. This
en0i1e weighed twenty-five tons, and wa:
the same size as the Tennessee. Her engi
neer was
! JOHN U. EASTMAN,
a master mechanic, whose modest merit
have NOT been unrewarded, for to-day b.
il Superintendent of the machine shops o
the COMPANY. Such position he eminent
10 deserves and is qualified to I'LL will
credit and satisfaction.
THE FASTEST TINE
made from Nashville to Chattanooga, dis
lance of $50 miles, was live hours anC
twenty minutes, including stoppages ant
detentions. The engioe accomplishing thi'
good run was the
HUGH L. SMITH.
The Tennessee happened to break down a
the tunnel. aud although the time from
Nashville to chattanooga at that period Of
the roads history was from 10 to II hours
yet the
determined to have his passengers landed
there according to the schedule. So the
HUGH l.. Smith was steamed up, and re-
ceiying orders, dashed along the road at a
fearful rate of 80 miles an hour, tootht