The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1889-01-04

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ton moved on an inclined plane. Still,
it was wonderful machine for those
days. These first trips were mostly to
Early in February, the road was COM
pleted to New Milford and trains began
to run regularly. On the 18th, grand
excursion was given from New Milford
to Bridgeport. Flat cars were used with
seats placed upon them. These ears
| were small, with four wheels and the
| brakes were of the most primitive style,
consisting simply of stick thrust
| through hole i'll the bottom of the car
and held against the wheel; each car had
but one.
The trip passed without incident until
Bridgeport was reached, when the clum-
sy brake failed to work and the train,
| which had been cut loose from the en-
CINE, ran down to the end of the track
and brought up with a crash against the
huge woodpiie of the Bridgeport Steam
boat Co., just below the Fairfield avenue
bridge. No damage was done to the
train, but number of passengers were
hurt; Mr. u. S. Peck of Newtown still
| limps from the broken leg received there.
For about two years, New Milford re-
manned the terminus of the railroad and
a train carrying passengers and freight
ran down in the morning, taking two
/
hours and a half to cover 36 miles, con-
Meeting at Bridgeport with the a nj
boat for New York. Two engines We're
then used ON the road, burning wood,
with an engineer, fireman and wood pass
er for each. The old wooden tracks,
with strap iron facings, were still in use,
but the entire roadbed was re-laid with
iron about 1916, when all danger was
over from s'snake heads as the ends OF
the irons were called. when they became
loosened and projected upward.
| North Canaan was the next stopping
place for the new railroad, now doing
much local and through business. Two
more trains were added, freight each
way and q passenger which doubled the
road daily. Mr. Hawley and Hank Kim
ball, the first two firemen, were now Civ
en- engines.
In about year, Great Darlington saw
Housatonic engines make daily trips from
the Sound; but the honor of being the
terminus did not long remain here, for, in
less than twelyemonth, West Stock
bridge and State Line had welcomed the
extension of the road. 1t was some time.
however, before trains ran to Pittsfiela
the present terminus.
MIR Hawley left the Housatonic in
1847, shortly after the completion of the
road. For a time, he was with the Con.
solidated, where he also ran one of the
first two trains, then went further West
returning at last to Stepney. Not long
since, he received letter from r. I
Mason, the first superintendent of thu
Housatonic, who still lives and who Gel
ebrated his Sad birthday, September 10
1888. Mr Mason has enjoyed good healtf
and is president of dock company Al
Chicago, where he has passed his late
years.
The great changes that have takeI
place in rai1roading since the inception
of the Housatonic, over 30 years ago
may be seen by comparison Of the en-
gines and equipments of the Housatonic
as described by one Of its early engineers
j. B. Hawlcy and the condition Of tn
road to-day. Note the difference between
the wooden track, with light strips o.
iron for the wheels, the lotion engine
Cables and comfortless) the four-whee
cars with the wooden brake, the seat
placed upon these cars for the first grant
excursion--note the difference between
all these and the heavy steel rails, tn
i9l-ton locomotives, the well-equippe'
, passenger cars and splendid drawing
room coaches of to-day, with their al
brakes and every adjunct for safety
speed and comfort; is there not q won
derfnl Improvement?
y 1t scarcely seems asssible that th
next 50 years will slp5s great change
| In railroad matters ak apsse occurred i
I the last half century this ~ the ag
Of progress and none may say what til
ipenias of man can produce.