Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-11-14
Railroading Fifty-Eight Years Ago.

Among recent visitors to the Northeast
ern HITLER sanctum was Mr.. Simon Alder
son, of Austin, Mimi, grain dealer and
miller. Mr.. Anderson was one OF the pas
sengers on the initial trip of the first rail
way passenger coach ever built, was fire
man on some of the first locomotives and
remembers we'll the circumstances attend
ing the introduction Of steam power on
English railways. He relates that George
Stephenson, after failing to secure aid for
building locomotive for the Newcastle
oal railways, the propelling power being
horses, went to the owners of the Stock
ton & Darlington railroads. line twenty
five miles long, between Shildon and
with their aid built the first locomotive.
cry arose, the farmers claiming that it
would burn their houses and stacks and
do away with the use of horses, while the
laborcrs were certain that it would deprive
them of bread by depriving them of
work. An injunction was issued against
the running of the engine and special
act of parliament was necessary to remove
it. 1t was during the progress of the par
liamentary inquiry that Mr.. Stephenson
was asked:
.*How fast will this engine travel-five
miles an hour"
"More than that" was the reply.
six miles?"
''More than that"
"Seven miles?'
YES" said Stephenson, lit will run
twelve miles an hour, at least"
"Well." said a member. suppose it
were running twelve miles an hour and
should strike cow-what would be the
RESULT"
1T would be bad for the co.," replied
Stephenson
Parliament passed the act, and the loco
motive began running. The Stockton &
Darlington railway was built on a water
grade, at great expense, not less than
$500, 600 per mile. The engine took a
long train of coal-Iaden cars from Shildon
to Stockton, horses were utilized in haul
ing back empty cars, riding in a car built
on purpose for the horses, the one engine
not being equal to the task Of getting
them back fast enough, as the traffic was
heavy. The road was laid with the 7 rail
much like that now used. The ties were
of stone. two feet square, bedded in Goa |
and cinders. Holes were drilled through
the stones and iron chairs were bolted to
them, the rail being set into these chairs
and fastened to them with wrought iron
bolts which passed sidewise through the
rails. much after the style of the modern
bolted fishplate. The road was very solid
and substantial. The car wheels were
Hanged as at present. Other railroads
had been laid and used long before at
Newcastle and elsewhere, laid with the
old strap rail, on wooden sleepers, horses
being the power employed. The first pas
|senger coach was modelled after the Eng
lish road coach then in use. 1t rested on
two strong beams over the wheels, not
having the modern thorough brace. 1t
had four wheels and held four inside and
eight outside passengers. 1t was built by
a man named Adamson, who operated a
stage line from Shildon to Darlington.
Previous to this the railroad companies
had never thought of carrying passengers:
Adamson was allowed to use the road
and with fast trotter which he owned
would haul his car load of people twelve
miles an hour over the road. The first
locomotive had but four wheels. This
engine had been used on the road two
years when Adamson's coach was built
and it was long time before the passen-
gers were hauled by steam power. Mr..
Anderson was nine years old when the
coach made its first trip and was one OF
the passengers. Two years later he began
railroad work, being employed to drive
horses which hauled cars. At the age OF
sixteen he became stoker. or fireman, on q
locomotive named Arrow. He afterWard
returned to horse driving, but his last
work in England was as fireman on an
engine; on the Hartlepool & Haswel rail-
road, the locomotive Arrow used to run