St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-24
The Oldest Locomotive Engineer in the Uni
ted States,


The Oldest Locomotive Engineer iis the Uni
ted States,
From the Denver Tribune.
The Oldest railroad locomotive engineer in
the United States is Lawson Lufkins, gener-
ally called Squire Lufkins, of Philadelphia
and Reading Railroad. He is tall and thin.
''Mine has been very simple life," said
the Squire, ''and when I look back oyer the
thirty-seven years l ran passenger engine,
it makes me wonder that so few things stand
out. It's all dead level now. l began en-
cheering when | was just 20 years old, which
was pretty young, and you see | needn't be
lettering on the edge of the grave to be the
oldest engineer. When 1 began I hadn't
served an apprenticeship as fireman, but 1
was well-trained machinist. Locomotives
were my delight to study, and when l got one
TO run myself my ambition was realized. [
just settled down to my life work then and
there. At first | was bothered by people
wondering at such boy engineer but l at
tended strictly to my work, and soon knew
| was all right and safe, and the officers came
to the same opinion before long. l loved
my work, and l never let my mind run of
the track. Ny engine and my duty were
more to me than anything else l could think
about. When an engineers mind goes off
on side trips his train is apt to make violent
attempt to follow"
''Didn't you feel the effects Of the work
and responsibility on your nerves."
Il can't say l did. I've read of doctors
saying that no man can stand the physical
and mental strain of running an engine
more than twenty-five years. Idon't believe
this is so. If is is, am great exception. l
L. - Il 7
my life, and l think l could 90 on and com
plete my second twenty-five years. OF course,
the engine shook me up, and therewas noise
and exposure all the time, but got used to
these things. They got to be as matter of
fact as eating. AS to the sense of RESPONSE
bility, l felt it, of course, but it sustained me,
instead of breaking me down. Why, it is
the soul of engineering, this thought that
one is taking care of the lives of others. If
I didn't have it, wouldn't run an engine.
1t would be like running a church without
any God. And | would not work on any
railroad if the safety of the passengers was
not the very first thought in every depart
ment, from President down.
''Did your train ever m eet with an accd-
ent?n
"Nothing bad. I've had little mishaps,
but never had received a censure from my
superiors or my own self. One time a man
was hurt on my train and heard he after
ward died. He was on platform, where he
had no right to be, when COW run into my
engine. She got caught in the wheels and
two coaches were derailed. The passenger
was thrown off and badly hurt. 1 think
there was suit against the company and the
company won it. That's the only accident I
can remember. It was this freedom from
from trouble for so many years that led me
to resign my position about two years ago.
Thinks I. | am getting rather old in years.
III have to quit anyhow before great while.
If [ quit after some misfortune people will
blame me, and the company too, for keep
ing me at work, / am just as good an engin-
eer as ever and I'll end my service on my
own motion. So [ sent in my resignation
and the company gave me satisfactory
place as detective between Broad and Gallo
Will depot and Belmont"
s'Have you kept any record Of your mile
age?'
eyes, a sort of record, but it would take
months to make up any figures from it. 1t
was sort of account book that / carried in
pocket. would enter my boarding house
expenses, my mileage, and other things all
together. But | was an engineer thirty
SeNcn years anu Tdn all tuC Iluc DeIWeen
Philadelphia and Portsville. This is a dis
lance of ninety-three miles, but the run act
ually made is 100 miles for there is lot of
side running. For five years at freight en-
CINE and all the rest of the time passenger
engine. For the last fourteen years doub-
led the run most of the time. Now, you can
make calculation from these figures and
facts.
l,oE
great deal, but [ suppose it will do. l think
an average of $50 miles a day for $50 days
in the year for thirty-six years would be a
moderate statement. That drops whole
year for safety's sake. But I do not take
much pains to study out such sums in arith-
metic If were a Frenchman 1 suppose I'd
know how many times my travels would
have carried me around the world and all
Such things. l only know they carried me
so often between Philadelphia and Pottsville
that know every tie in the track and al
most when each tie was placed there"
''No doubt you witnessed many changes
and improvements?'
eyes, but they came like a boy grows,
and it wouldn't be easy to tell when any one,
occurred. When | began there we're no cabs
on the engines, and we had to dress warm
for outdoor work. Sometimes it wasn't easy
to hang on, but the time made in those days
was nothing to that now made. At sixty
miles an hour, which is an ordinary rate, it
wouldn't do to be without cab in cold
weather. The wind would cut the eyes out.
remember when the cab engines vert first
introduced here. 1t was on the Pennsylvan-
ia road, which then belonged to the state.
The engineers all raised a great row at the
change, and there came near being a strike
They said the houses were death traps and if
an accident happened there would be no way
to escape. They soon changed their minds.
and if the houses were taken off now there
would be riot sure enough. But I've
heard that some Of the English locomotives
ha w M cabs -