The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-14
THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVE In
AMERICA.
The Pioneer of Iron Horses.

There has been SO much confusion an
inaccuracy of late regarding the first locomo
tive run in the United States, we have mad
some inquiry, in order to place before on
The Pontchartrain Road, here, has for man,
years claimed to be the first road over which
locomotive passed, but it appears notwith
standing the fact that the Pontchartran Roat
was built quite early, there was another
earlier.
1t appears that the attention of the Liver
pool and Manchester Railroad Company was
called to the fact that it was possible for their
cars to be drawn at a cheaper rate and greater
speed than they were then 1929 by horses.
In the spring of 1929 the directors appointed
George Stephenson, Lock, Walker and Ras-
strick, experienced engineers, to visit rail-
ways where practical information respecting
the comparative effects of stationary and
locomotive engines could be obtained. When
their report was made to the company in
favor Of locomotives, a reward of $500 was
offered for locomotive which should perform
q certain duty by certain day.
Stephenson went to work and built the
famous Rocket, which carried coach and
thirty persons at the rate of twenty-six miles
an hour.
The competition in England for the $500
prize attracted many scientific men from
America, and among them Horatio Allen,
of the Delaware and Hudson River Railroad
and Canal, a line run with horses. Allen was
employed by the President of the company to
purchase three locomotives in England, and
he therefore devoted his attention to the prize
contest.
Pursuant to his instructions, he purchased
three locomotives, one, and the first, being
named the Stourbridge Lion" It was
shipped to America in April, 1929, and in the
middle of May it arrived in New York city
on the ship John Jay. 1t was landed at the
wharf of the West Point Foundry Works,
foot of Beech street, and Horatio Allen at
once took charge of it.
The locomo i've shortly after its arrival was
raised on blocks, its wheels some two feet
from the ground, and steam applied. Much
to the satisfaction of large crowd gathered
in the foundry the wheels revolved and the
crowd cheere1.
About the first Of July it was shipped up
the North River to Rondout, thence via canal
to Carbondale, where it was placed on track.
The other two locomotives from England
were never set up, as the road was not strong
enough to sustain the weight. The account
of the first trip can not be better given than
in the language of Mr. Allen, who acted as
engineer, used at the celebration of the COM
pletion Of the Erie Railroad in 1851
After picturing the thousands of cars then |
running and the busy scene it would present |
could it be all taken in at o single glance, he |
said "When the Imagination has attained to |
some conception of the scene, let it seek to |
go back to the time when only one of these |
iron monsters was in existence on this CONT |
nent and was moving FORTH the first of its |
mighty race. When was it? when was it /? |
and who awakened its energies and decided |
its movements? 1t was in the year 1929, on |
the banks of the Lackawaxen, at the COM
mencement of the railroad connecting the
canal Of the Delaware and Hudson Company,
with their coal mines, and he who addresses
you was the only person on that locomotive
The circumstances which led to my being left
alone on the engine were these: The road
had been built in the summer, the structure
was on hemlock timber and the rails of large
dimensions notched on the caps placed far
apart. The timber had cracked and warped
from exposure to the sun.
"After about five hundred feet of straight
line the road crossed Lackawaxen Creek on a
i
q curve Of three hundred and fifty feet radius.
The impression was very general that the iron
monster would either break down the rad or
that it would leave the track at the curve and
plunge into the creek My reply to such APP
prshension was that it was too late to consider
the probability of such occurrences, that
there was no other course but to have the
trial made of the strange animal which had
been brought here at such great expense, but /
bat -
should be involved in its fate that !
would take the first ride alone, and that
the time would come when should look back .
to this incident with great interest. As / I
placed my hand on the throttle valve handle !
was undecided whether would move slowly t
or with fair degree of speed, but believing {
that the road would prove safe, and, prefer {
ing, If we did 60 down, to 60 down hand .
somely and without any evidence of timidity, /.
started with considerable velocity, passed
The curve ever the creek safely and was soon t
out Of hearing of the cheers of the large as q
;emblage present At the end of two or three f
miles l reversed the valve and returned with .
,ut accident to the place of starting. having !
made the first railroad trip by locomotive on he
Western Hemisphere" !
Therefore. to the Delaware and. Hudson !
lanai Company is justly due the credit of hav- v
ng introduced and run upon their railroad b
he first locomotive that made revolution c
With its driving wheel upon this continent.
The Lion was not considered as an entire L
uccess, and the company removed her to one .
ide the track and built temporary shelter 4
'ver her. Here the pioneer locomotive re- fl
NAMED for some years, piece after piece drop ri
ling off, until, at last, there was but little left
f her but the boiler. This was removed to u
where it did duty in a foundry q
or twenty years, but at present is placed in y
The owner holds it as curiosity, =,
nd wants $1,000 for it. ii
Blsckmsn's Commercial College, 131 Caron N
elet. Terms reduced. See advertisement. RI
1t will pay to buy your coffee, parched or o.
round, at the Tea Depot,5 Camp street. It