Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-17
AMERICAS FIRST LOCOMOTIVE.
Built in England and Operated in Penn.
sylvAniA.

sylvAnia.
The first locomotive in America was
brought from England by the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Company, placed upon
the track and given its trip at Honesdale,
the site of which was then laurel and
hemlock thicket, broken only for the
construction of half dozen humble
houses.
The locomotive, which was called the
"StOurbridge Lion" was built IN England
in the little city whose name 1t bore, I'M
der the supervision of Horatio Allen, an
American, and civil engineer who had
been engaged upon the cOmpany's noun
tain railroad. 1t was intended for use
upon the so-called "levels" OF the road be-
tween the planet, whose stationery en-
gines supplied the power necessary to
draw up or lower cOal-car trains. Allen
returned to America in 1923, and the
'Li0n' became veritable lion of New
York in the succeeding autumn, being
given a partial trial there 1.-THE wheels
revolved while the body OF the strange
mechanism was supported upon blocks }
greatly to the admiration OF the metro
pOlitans of the time.
Taken to Honesdale by canal in the
summer Of 1928, il was duly placed upon
y
trial Aug. s. before great crowd of
people who had come from the surround
ing country, some of item many miles, to
witness the novel spectacle. 1t was
thought TO be too heavy for the trestle
work, of which the railroad largely con-
sisted, and many predicted a disaster, but
Allen, who was TO act as engineer, was
willing to assume the risk, and bravely
started out alone. The trestle creaked
ru4 ho-s hue
ii did not crash, the people lifted up their
voices in cheers, and the clumsy little
pioneer Of locomotives sped along the
strap-rail track with considerable swift
ness and as smoothly as could be ex-
pected. 1t was run only two or three
miles, but the experiment demon
strated the practicability of the use
of locomotives, and convinced the
most far-seeing at last that
they were to form the transportation OF
the future. The Stourbridge Lion in pro-
portion to power was large and cumbrous
compared with those of the present dav
and not of strikingly handsome appear.
ance. 1t had no cab, but was provided
with a small tender. The wheels of the
latter, and OF the locomotive itself, were
four IN number. The spokes and fellows
were wood; the tires and hubs OF iron
The cylinders were upright, and tbs
power was conveyed 10 the wheels by
walking beam on each side. The smoke
stack was straight, and there was nothing
about its construction, or that of the en-
tire machine, which was ornamental
Thin locomotive was little used upon the
railroad, horse and gravity power being
employed, and the latter finally taking
the place of the former entirely. Some
! portions Of the locomotive are still pre-
served at Carbonate.
Horatio Allen, who enjoys the distnc.
| ton of having been the engineer OF the
| first locomotive in America, is still living
a hale old man of "a years or Whereabouts
and has a comfortable home in South
| Orange, n. J. When he made the tria
/ trip OF the "Lion" at Honesdale there
were but % miles of railroad constructed
in the United States, and now there are
/ about 100000 miles in operation. lie lef
| the scene Of his now distinguished labOrs
and assisted at West Point, n. Y, in tbs
/ planning Of the first locomotive built IL
/ the United States and the second one
! placed upon track. This was "rhe Bes1
/ Friend OF Charleston" placed upon the
\ South Carolina Railroad, CONNECTING
Charleston and Augusta, Ga, on Nov. =
/ 1890