The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-29

The Old John Bull and Two Primitiv
Coaches (xS Ehtr~~>

The Old John Bull and Two Primitive
Coaches Go to Chicago.
strange train has lately arrived in
Chicago over tho Pennsylvania road for
exhibition in the transportation building
at the Worlds fair. 1t consisted Of tho
old John Bull" locomotive, built by
George Stephenson for Robert L. Stevens,
the founder of the Camden & Amboy rail-
road, and t wo passenger coaches Of the
same period. The engine arrived in this
country in 1881. and after some modifica-
tons had been made, was put in service in
1886. The engine weighs ., 900 pounds, or
1000 pounds including the tender. Her
cylinders are inches in diameter, with .
2O-inch stroke. Her driving wheels are Of
wood. except the wrought iron tires and
cast iron hubs and are feet inches in
diameter.
Hardly less unique than the locomotive
itself are the passenger coaches. Some
twenty-five years ago farmer near South
Amboy bought one of the discarded
coaches Of the old Camden & Amboy rail-
road. He removed IL from its trucks. and
planting it on posts in the ground con-
verted it into chicken coop. Il served
In this capacity until . few months ago,
when a representative Of the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad. looking for relics, happened
upon it and entered into negotiations for
its purchase. The thrifty farmer, realizing
that the lapse of time had endowed his
hennery with increased value, demanded
price which represented compound in
terest on the original purchase money, but
the matter was adjusted and the passen
ger coach of fifty years ago. transformed
into chicken coop, is once more fixed
upon its trucks, and will go to Chicago as
part of the John Bull train.
After its recovery the coach was refitted
and re-upholstered, so it appears now in
All the glory of its palmy days. The his
tory of the other coach Is not quite 30
romantic. 1t was found some years ago
In lumber yard in a New Jersey town
among mass of rubbish and quietly
tucked away in the Meadows shops by .
far-sighted official of the company, who
foresaw that just such an occasion as this
would bring it into requisition some day.
1t is hardly necessary to say that Mr.. II.
8. Hayward, superintendent Of the motive
power Of the United railroads of New Jer-
sey. who prepared the train for exhibition,
was compelled to do a considerable amount
Of hustling in order to collect all the parts
necessary for an exact reproduction OF the
train as it was in 1886. Not a single one
Of the relics was complete In all respects,
but scrap piles were turned over, repair
shops ransacked, and even old blacksmith
shops were invaded in the hope of finding
some bit of iron which had once been used
on the old road.
Diligent and persistent search met with
reward. When everything else had been
secured it was found that one truck was
missing. Search was immediately insti-
tuted and some one reported that he had
seen an old-fashioned truck in an aban-
doned marl-pit in New Jersey. 1t was ex-
cavated at once and proved to be the truck
of an old Camden & Amboy passenger
coach. The wood was worthless. but the
iron, though covered with the rust OF
years. was scraped and cleaned, and with
renewed woodwork the truck was placed
in position beneath one Of the coaches OF
the present train.
1t is peculiarly fitting that the crew
which is to handle the train over the Now
Yord division should be selected from the
veterans of the service. w. I. Bailey, the
conductor, has been passenger conductor
since 1859. Jonas Hager. ''gig-top" brake
man, was appointed to like position in
1919. and is now yardmaster at New Bruins
WiCA. lhOiHdS ISaE
first served in the same capacity in lS49,
and is now a passenger conductor. A s.
Herbert, the engineman, was engineer Of
the John Bull" in the early Sos, and he
has been running an engine ever since.
]. W. Sanford, the fireman. commenced
his career in the same capacity in 1855, and
is now a master mechanic at the Meadows
shops.
D. II. Baker, car inspector, entered the
service as foreman of the jersey City
shops in 1919. and still holds this position.
James X. Smith, acting assistant super.
intendent pro tem., who will direct the
running of the train, is veteran forty
Miner" and has filled nearly every posi-
ton on the division at some time during
his ffty-four years of service.
This remarkable train took five days and
five hours to make the trip from Jersey
City to Chicago. running at the rate Of
about fifteen miles an hour, though off,
Gals of the company say it could safely
run thirty miles an hour