The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-29

The long and anxiously-looked-fo event
has come at last. The Richmond and Allie.
chany railroad has been completed as far
as Maiden's.Adyenture dam, twenty-eighl
miles west from Richmond, and an engine
and cars have been put upon the track at
this end OF the llne.
AS has been already stated, the new COM
pany purchased two engines from the Rich
inond. Fredericksburg and Potomac Rail
road Company Qhe locomotive-works OF the
country being unable to furnish any until
December, having so many orders ahead),
and Yesterday No. 1, having been thorough
ly oyerhsuled, painted, and lettered, was
put upon the track.
AT baif-past O'Clock yesterday morning,
after the departure OF the nortbward-b bound
train, the locomotive was brought from the
Fredericksburg shops down 10 the Byrd
Street dep0t, where it was switched upon
the Tredegar track, and then went up to the
Richmond and Allegheny switch, just In
side the Tredegar yard, near the Oregon
Hill bridge across the canal. AT 10 O'CLOCK
General X. Lindsay Walker, who has been
appointed road. master, got ready for short
trialtrip up the line, and at 1910 A. NJ. ne
started of.
The conductor OF the train was Captain
A. G. Wilkinson; engineer, Mr.. w. Il.
Bryant: fireman, w. 7. Lieb-all late EN-.
ployes Of the Richmond and Dapyille Bail
road Company. Iaior G. M. Bolton, dlyl'
sion engineer in charge OF construction be-
tween Richmond and LyDchburg; Mr..
George Il. Thomasson, the veteran track
layer; a Dispatch man. and several other
persons, were the favored ones. The bell
sounded, the throttle was opened, and the
o.. 81 DtoIt nd otAl
Allegheny railroad made its first trip mp a
portion OF the beautiful valley OF James
river. 1t seemed odd indeed to be perched
up in the engineers cab OF locomotive on
a sure-enough railroad, and rot on the deck
nf u boat in the canal, drawn by horses.
Yet 1t was true. Hundreds OF people
gathered at the switch to see the start. and
many followed on up the line. The cow
catcher was full, the tender was crowded,
and we believe one venturesome lad dared
TO ride the boiler. OF this we are not sure,
however. But we were off. The whistle
sounded-a deeptoned whistle that viii
soon resouud through the valley. and stir
up the good people who have long desired
the building OF this great road.
The engine went along at lair rate OF
speed around the curves and across the
lTeSIleS Us sInUOlUI1 dDu ulCt6f ~ JhOhSii
the road had been in use for months. The
trip was a success; and having accomplish
ed his object, General Walker returned TO
the city about IL O'Clock.
At 5 o'clock last evening General Walker,
Superintendent Williams, OF the canal AS
sistant Superintendent Cosby, and several
other railroad officials, besides about one
hundred persons, went up on the construc'
ton as far as the Three-Mile locks and back
in about twenty-five minutes. The track wa,
found to be in az good condition as coulC
be expected in view OF the fact that II has
Just been laid down.
On and after Saturday evening, Septem
Der 4th. navigation will be closed on The
canal between Richmond aud Maiden's-Ad'
venture dam. Within fourteen days there
after the Richmond and Allegheny Rail
road Company will run trains from Rich
mond to Maiden's- Adventure dam, connect
ing at that point with freight and packet
boats, and affordng all necessary facilltle
for the safe and quick transfer OF freigh
and passengers to and from Richmond
The connection Will be made, IL possible
i'm less time than above named, in order tina
bOatmen and the public generally msy b
put TO as little Inconvenience as possible.
Tomorrow the track-layers will go up t
Maiden's- Adventure dam and commence
putting down the line westwardly from tina
DOint