Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-03-27
AN oLD.TIME LOCOMOTIVE.

(FOm the Chicago Heruld.)
Back ia the '40s and sos people about
Galena used to see a curious little loco
motive scOOting over the Chicago and
Galena tracks, pouring out volumes Of
black smoke and screaming at the cross
roads. Everybody used TO come out
when John Ebbcrt pulled the whistle,
for the locomotive that he guided over
dat primitive liue was the FIRST one
that ever ran out OF Chicago, Farmers
along the Chicago and Gnlena road stop
ped their horses when the Pioneer
sent shriil blast over the prairie, and
waved salute as the engine pulled
past. About the time of the biz fire
the Pioneer was hauled I'm, unfit for
service She was too light TO pull the
lahtG-day trains, and, besides, she
couldn't make AZ good time as way
freight. The old locomotive was run into
the roundhouse at Turner Junction, her
fires put out and her boilers emptied
She stood there nearly eighteen years,
u relic of the days of pioneer railrOading
IN the West. From the day she was re-
tired from service with a proud record,
nearly twenty years ago, until yesterday
the Pioneer felt the currents of life In
her veins but once. That was when
some bad boys broke into the round
house at Turner Junction and filed her
boilers just as John Gilbert had filed
them many times when the century was
new and kindled fire Ia the furnace that
had grown cold long before these BOYS
were born. The Pioneer felt her pulse
beat violently again and paved i'm
patiently 10 start over the familiar course
A switchman OF two and some brake
men ran into the roundhouse, scared the
mischieyOus youngsters away and Inlled
the bhzing fires from the Pioneers fur.
mace Then she was hauled TO Chicago
for safe keeping.
Managers Of the Northwestern rail
way which years ago absorbed the
Chicago aud GaleDa road decided TO set
the Pioneer up as an exhibit at the
fair. Yesterday morning at o O'clock
William Smith, a veteran engineer, now
superintendent OF motive power on the
Northwestern road, climbed into the lit
tie cab pulled back the throttle, jerked
the bell cord and pulled away toward
Jackson park. Five hours later the
Pioneer hauled up in front of the trans
pOrtation building aud backed under a
shed to take her place by the side OF
locomotives that cover 800 miles In less
time than she covered ten.
The Pioneer had a hattering reception
all along the route. IL was almost equal
10 the days when she first went scream
ing over the prairie toward Galcna.
| Greasy engineers ON mogul locomotives
that pull freight trains half a mile long
| yards. Fircmen leaned out of Their
coops aud waved salute TO Engineer
| Smith. Mike Kennedy and John Dayen-
| port, two Outline engineers, were In the
/ cab with Mr., Smith. They sloveled IN
coal rs though the Pioneer were making
| the race Of her life. When the old timer
| reached the Illinois Central shops 0l
| rwcnty-hfth street she stopped to catch
her breath. A lot OF mechanics, pound
ing away on some moguls sept in for
repairs, came out Of the shops 10 cheer
the Pioneer on her way.
When the old locomotive came putting
into jackson park long line Of freight
cars blocked her way TO the transporta
ton building Engineer Smith climbes
OUT of the cab and stamped around ii
the SNOW while waiting for modern
switch engine 70 come along and cleai
the truck Then Willard A. Smith
chief OF transportation exhibits, tTampes
through the freight yard and eiimbe,
into the cab He mounted the sea
vacated BY Engineer Smith. ana will
Mr. Dickinson shoveliag ia coal th
Pioneer steamed into tranapogtatlol
building.
Ahe earliest lNgfarn.ancas OF 's'r ~