Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-11
ALMOST INCREDABLE.

The Largest Loaded Train Ever
Hauled by One Englne--MaIor M.
Burke Gives a Practical Demon
stratIon of What an Engine Can
Do.
About two weeks since the manage
ment of the Morgan's Texas railroad,
placed and run into New Orleads from
the limit Of their road an immense
train of freight cars consisting of
ia cars. This achievement gave rise
to much comment and speculation in
railroad circles, as it was the greatest
number Of loaded cars than had ever
been hauled in this section; it also ami
mated the ambition Of other railroad
managers Supt. M. Burke, of the l.
N. 0. & L. r. R., after consulting with
his master mechanic, Capt. Ed. Ander-
son, proclaimed his intention Of haul
ing 10 New Orleans from Wilson. a
distance Of 122 miles, with one
engine, train to consist of $50 loaded
freight cars. When this intention of
Major Burke's was made known many
of the more experienced railroad men
shook their heads knowingly, and said
"the Major has attempted too much. /"
Sunday was appointed as the day, and
G. II, reporter was invited by Major
Burke to accompany him in his special
car and witness the feat. The train
was made up of trains and cars from
all tributary roads which had arrived
there on the day previous, consisting
of 81 cars In the switch at VIII
son and SO from the sidinGs
at Ethel and Slaughter, nine and
fourteen miles below. The engine
was Mcqueen, of So tons and was a
six driver ten wheel locomotive and
Mr.. Hefeli was her engineer, while
Mr.. G. H. Merritt was conductor Of
the train. There were in the train
1874 car loads of cotton, 10 loads Of
slaves and 6 Of merchandise. These
cars averaged "a feet in length, aggre-
eating 5,lO0 feet or 80 feet over a
mile, allowing 30 inches to each car
for slack and drawheads 375, or a
grand total length of train, including
68 feet length of two cabooses
and 40 feet of engine, of 1888
feet or 578 feet over mile.
Some difficulty was experienced in get
ting links and pins to stand the strain
required on those in front. The tonnage
of freight on the train was l,852,83l
pounds, l52 cars at an average of "a
900 pounds each, 3,648,000 with az
aggregate weight of freight and cars
to be hauled Of 5,44283l pounds. Mr..
G. Barrow, of the freight department
of this road, was sent for by Mai. |
Burke to take charge of the
way bills Of the train. Capt.
Ed. Anderson, master mechanic |
of the road, was on the engine
with Mr.. Hafeli. Superintendent
Burke, while his car, drawn by special
engine, remained several hundred feet
to the rear Of this train. remained him. |
self in company with Master Of Trains
Marshall on the big train. The rate
OF speed made was about nine miles
per hour, and could have been made
much greater but for the breaking of
pins in taking up slack in
running. This is beyond doubt,
as it is pronounced by the
New Orleans press, the longest
and heaviest train ever pulled by one
engine II run to LA Place" Sunday
night and went into the city yesterday
with banner hanging from the rear
car upon which was printed in large
letters, "The Champion Load"
Maj Burke is go-ahead man and
In this he has demonstrated that when
he wills there is always a way and he
will make it go,