Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-07-05
The First American Railroad.

The controversy in regard TO the first
steam railroad train operated in this coun-
try is as yet unsettled, but the preponder-
ance of the evidence would seem TO show
that it was the train run over the Albany
and Schenectady road in 1881. The char
ter Of this road was granted in 1926 TO the
Mohawk and Hudson River railroad COM
pany, and work upon it was begun in $780,
1t was completed in 1881, and in September
Of that year the first passenger train, which
is also claimed TO be the first steam passen
ger train ever run in this country, was sent
over the rails from Albany to Schenectady
and back. Among the passengers on this
memorable excursion was the venerable
Tbrrlow Weed, and his memory of the event
is still very vivid. In speaking of it to a
New York Times reporter, Mr.. Weed said
1t is still a more or less disputed point
whether the Albany and Schenectady road,
or short road near Charleston, S. c., was
the first railroad operated in this country,
but am inclined to think that the claim of
the South Carolina road has been pretty
well disposed of, and that history will de-
eide that the Albany and Schenectady line
was the first one completed and oper-
ated. There is no doubt that both roads
were constructed almost simultaneously,
but have a very strong impression that
the first train was run over the New
York line. The road was narrow gauge,
and followed the same route as it does
now that it has been consolidated and forms
the eastern terminus of the New York Cen.
tral, but in 1881 the country through which
it passes was very thinly settled. 1t ran
through a pine forest, and / suppose there
were not half dozen houses between AL
bany and Schenectady distance of sixteen
miles. There was hill at both the AL.
bany and Schenectady ends of the line, and
the cars were drawn up and let down these
hills by strong rope, which was worked
by stationary engine, so that the locomo-
tive did not enter either of the cities The
locomotive was a queer looking arrange
ment, and would create sensation in these
days 1t was imported from England
weighed four tons and was named John
Bull. The cars of the first train were also
peculiar looking vehicles according to oui
modern notions of railway coaches, but in
1881 they were looked upon as marvels
They were two in number, and consisted oi
the bodies of old stage coaches, taken from
the numbering wheels and transferred to
railroad trucks. 81 remember that first ex
cursion very well, and most of those who
enioyed it," continued MIR. Weed. "Tht
gentlemen who made the trip were Lewis
Benedict, james Alexander, president OF tht
Commercial bank of Albany Charles Z
Dudley, of the Dudley observatory; Jacot
Hayes, high constable OF New York Malo
Meggs, sheriff of Albany; Judge Marvin o.
| Saratoga John S. DeGraff, mayor OF Schen
, ectady; Edwin Croswell, editor OF the AL
bany Argus; John Townsend, Billy Winnie
, the penny post at Albany; ex-Goyerno
Joseph G. Yates, myself, and two or thre
: Others whom do not now recall: Our engin
: eer was John Hampton, an Englishman, WIN
l have been told is still living, but with "a IN
exception OF him ana myself every one Oh III