Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-13
The ORIGINAL Train,

Crank pins were placed on the outside of
each Of the wheels. in order that parallel
rods could be attached, but owing to the
sharp curves in the road these rods could
never be used. 1t Is interesting to note that
the gauge, which was five feet from center
to center of tire, established the standard OF
four feet nine inches between rails which
has since survived. The furnace was con-
structed for burning wood, which was then
plentiful in New Jersey. Those readers OF
The Star who saw this locomotive at work
must have noticed how complex the mech
anism was constructed. Many engineers
who today handle monster locomotives upon
our best railroads were puzzled at the
strange complication of levers, handles and
hook-rOds required to govern the move
ments of this strange machine. and express
ed to the writer their admiration for the old
veterans, who with the little experience
were required to master these peculiar de-
tails. After the valves are in gear and the
engine in motion two levers on the engine
man s side move back and forth continuous
ly. When the engineer desired to bring the
locomotive to a standstill he worked these
levers back and forth with his own hands.
and so much skill did he acquire that he
became able to stop the train at the exact
point desired. The reversing gear Is most
complicated, the eccentrics being secured to
sleeve which ran loosely on the crank
shaft, between the two cranks, allowing a
free turning. treadle Is used to turn this
eccentric sleeve to right or left, when neces-
sary to reverse. Two carriers were secured
firmly to either side Of the eccentrics. one
working the engine ahead, the other back.
The small handle on the right Of the boiler
was used to lift the eccentric rod of the pin,
putting the valves out of gear before the
engine can be reversed.
The First Stnge-Body Cars.
The two stage-body cars made by NJ. p.
and Nj. E. Green of Hoboken, N. j., were
the first that were drawn by John Bull.
AS their style indicates. they were of the
English pattern-the modern English coach
es of today not having yet deviated from
them in general interior arrangement. These
two coaches were made to be drawn by
horses, III necessary, for our American an
cestors of three score years ago had little
faith in the probability Of the success OF
steam.
ON the 18th of November. 1881, John
Bull having been put in condition to the
satisfaction of Mr.. Dripps. the legislature OF
New Jersey was invited to participate in
the first movement by steam In the state OF
New Jersey, and after much hesitation, II
is said. on the part of many who did not
care to risk the loss of their lives by boiler
explosion or other accident, they boarded
/ the old cars and made the first trip behind
the old engine. Madam Murat, wife OF
Prince Murat, the nephew of Napoleon
Bonaparte, was the first woman who rode
on a locomotive under steam in the state
she insisting on being included in the dele
cation. Without any accident or delay, on
that memorable day, November II, 1891
traffic was inaugurated on what has now
become the great railroad of the new world
connecting the metropolis and the Quaker
city, by John Bull and a train consisting
/ of two stage-bOdy cars. The 18th of No
! vernber. 1891, the sixtieth anniversary OF
! this great event in American railroad his
| tory, was httingly celebrated by the dedica
! ton of handsome granite monument a
/ Bordentown, n. j., where the first trip OF
! this train was made.
! AS no tender was sent with the John
| Bull, Mr.. Dripps utilized an old fiat car
which was used in the construction depart
ment of the Camden and Amboy road, anc
! upon it he placed a large whisky cask
| which fed the pumps of the engine throug!
| a piece of leather hose, made by a Jersey
| shoemaker, run into the caSk through the
bottom of the car.
The John BulI' Train of Today.
Although there have been very few
| changes in the locomotive since Mr.. Drip.
| had finished erecting" siXty-two years ago
| it has a more modern appearance now thai
! before. A pilot, or "cow-catcher" was plac
ed on the front in 1872, it being found tina
| this appendage was necessary to proven
derailment on the sharp curves laid dowI
| by the civil engineers Of those early days
AS may be seen in the second illustration
! this pilot rests on two small wheels. 4
| box placed on top Of the platform of thu
pilot contains sand, which was sprinkled OF
the rails with the hand when more fric
ton was needed. This pilot was always re
moved when the locomotive was put in tn,
| round house or on the turn table. both o
! these structures being made to hold the 10
connective alone. The present tender. bull
! few years later, contains the water-tanl
! and fuel, and affords some shelter to tn,
engineman. In the "gig-top' over the rea
| of the tender sat the brakeman, who work
| ed the brake on the locomotive with hi
| feet. Another lever under the front roof
however, could be used by the engineer IL
case Of emergency. The dome has also beer
moved from over the furnace to the for
ward part of the boiler, near the stack. A
! bell was placed behind the dome, and tn,
old faucet whistle, which was on exhibition
| at the fair, being worn out, was replaced
In later years with a more modern one.