Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-21
NATHANIEL ". COCHIN.
His Death on Saturday--HaIf Century
Spent in Railroading.


Nathaniel w. Gookin, Wilmington sta
ton master of the p, W. e b. railroad,
died at his residence, No. 1904 French
street, on Saturday, few minutes after
midnight. He had been i'll since February.
Ills death resulted from complication Of
diseases, the most marked OF which was
dropsy. He had large acquaintanceship,
r, W. d X. railroad. =. -
Mr.. Gookin was born in Biddeford,
Maine, in 1926. When IA years old he
went TO sea and for tWo years was a sea
man on sailing vessel, during which
period he made voyages to South America
and Europe. On his return from his last
cruise he went TO Boston with the inten-
he was offered the position Of locomotive
fireman, which he accepted and held for
two years when he became a locomotive
engineer. In 1915 he opened the Fitch
burg railroad of Massachusetts. and in
1878 he opened the Vermont Il Massachu-
setts. railroad, running gravel train over
the former.
While he was an engineer in the east he
ran with woodworking locomotive the
New York-Montreal daylight express, a
distance of 60 miles, including six stops, in
8 minutes. The famous trip was made in
1850 and an account of ii has been pub
lished in a book on railroading. It is
claimed tibet this record has never been
beaten, even with coal-burning locomo-
tive,
He first came to this vicinity in 1854,
when he obtained a position as engineer
on the Baltimore end of the p, w. IL d.
railroad, which then was in its infancy.
His run was between Baltimore and Hayre
de Grace. After holding this position two
years lie went to Shirley, Mass, and en-
gagged in the manufacture of a horseshoe
nail which he had patented. He had been
there only ~ months when his plant was
destroyed by fire. In 1858 he returned
south, going to Philadelphia where he
secured the position Of engineer Of the
"lightning,' the fastest train then on the
D., w. a. B. railroad. His run was from
Philadelphia to Perryville. In those days
engineers did not wet their coal and by the
time his train reached this city he was
covered with coal dust. This greatly an
noyed him and he soon began studying
how to abate the nuisance. He conceived
the idea that if he wet his coal he would
be troubled less with dust but he hesitated
making the experiment because he was I'M
certain what effect it would have on the
speed Of the train. One day, however, he
determined to make test and without
consulting anybody he wet the coal to be
used on his next run. The train started
II minutes late and although the coal had
been wet Perryville was reached on time
Since then engineers have not hesitated to
wet their coal and have suffered less from
dust.
Mr., Gookin was the first engineer to
successfully run coal burning locomo-
tive attached to a passenger train and was
the first TO run one attached to an express.
Iii 1862 he gave up engineering and ac-
cepted the position of train dispatcher,
which previous to that time was unknown
on theP., w. & b. railroad. During the
late war there was much responsibility
attached to the position, the road being
single-tracked and there being numerous
trains for the transportation of troops and
stores. He exercised much care, and not
single accident for which he was account
able occurred on the road while the war
continued. In 1872 the office of train dis
patchcr was removed to Philadelphia and
he was given the option of continuing in
the position or becoming station master in
this city. His home was here and he was
aging and therefore he preferred to re-
main in Wilmington and accepted the
position Of station master, which he held
at the time of his death.
He had numerous railroad friends in
many parts Of the United States, and for
week or more nearly dozen Geographic
inquiries concerning his health have been
received daily. He was member of Hope
Lodge |. o. o. F., of this city. and Column
bia Lodge, A. f. A. NJ, of Philadelphia.
He also was member of the Unitarian
Church. His wife died six years ago.
Three children survive him-Nlrs. J. II.
Hammond of New York, and Daniel p.
Gookin and Miss G. L. Gookin of this city.
The funeral of N. W. Gookin, which was
held ON Tuesday, was largely attended.
Many railroad men were present. Services
were conducted at his late residence, No.
1904 French street, by the Rev. William H.
Johnson. The floral offerings consisted of
a pillow from Division No. 342, b. L. F.,
and cut flowers from the trustees of the
Unitarian Church. David Chambers, ward
master in Philadelphia; Charles Sher-
burne, a Delaware railroad conductor; L.