Middletown transcript., 1893-04-22
OLD JOHN BULL READY.
The Veteran Locomotive VIII Reach
Chicago This Afte rnoon.

The Veteran Locomotive VIII Reach
Chicago This Afte rnoon.
Old John Bull, the sexagenarian locomo-
tive has renewed its youth, and started for
Chicago Monday morning. 1t left Jersey
City at 1o:16 o'clock with two fifty-seven-
year-old passenger coaches of the old Cam
den and Amboy Railroad, carrying a gay
party. The antiquated engine and cars
will constitute a conspicuous part of the
| PENNSYLVANIA Railroads exhibit at the
Worlds Fair.
For several years previous to 1880 ex
periments had been made in England with
locomotives to be propelled by steam. In
1880 the Planet, constructed by George
Stephenson, was the best example. Robert
L. Stevens, founder of the Camden and
Amboy Railroad, placed an order with
Stephenson to build an engine on the same
lines for shipment to this country This
engine, christened John Bull, was COM
pleted in May, 1881 and shipped to Phila-
delphia and thence to Bordentown. To
Isaac Dripps, young mechanic, was in
trusted the completion of the machinery.
Between 1881 and 1885 the John Bull
underwent considerable modification, as
changes suggested themselves TO the watch
full eyes of the American mechanics, and
in the latter year the engine was in active
service on the Camden and Amboy road
just as she appears to-day. During the
more than half century of life the sturdy
old machine suffered many vicissitudes of
fortune. Modern Improvements relegated
it to the side track, and it was stored away
in Bordentown for number of years.
Wood was the original fuel but the furn-
ace has been changed now for coal.
The old coaches are old and narrow. The
interior finish being severely plain.
The crew to handle the train over the |
route to Chicago is selected from the vet
Grams of the service W. T. Bailey, the |
conductor, has been passenger conductor
since 1859. Jonas Hagar, "gig-top" brake
in 1S49, and is now yardmaster at New
Brunswick. Thomas Gallagher, rear brake
man, first served in the same capacity in
1S49, and is now a passenger conductor.
A. S. Herbert, the engineman was engi-
neer of the John Bull in the early ffties,
and has been running an engine ever since.
J. w. Sanford. the fireman, commenced his
career in the same capacity in 1855, and is
now master mechanic at the Meadows
shops, near New York. D. III. Baker, car
Inspector entered the service as foreman of
the Jersey City shops in 1912, and still holds
this position James R. Smith, acting As
sistant Superintendent, pro TEN. who will
direct the running of the train, is veteran
i forty y-niner." and has filled nearly every
position on the division at some time during
his fifty four years of service. He has
been supervisor of track since 1872, and has
carried off the General Managers prize for
he best section of track in almost every
contest
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company IL
Vited the PRESIDENT of the United States and
he Governors of all the States through
which the train passed to accompany it to
chicago. The representatives of the prin-
,ipal newspapers of the prominent cities
we're also invited to ride on the train from
ooint to point
The John Bull will arrive in Chicago at
o'clock this afternoon.