The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-11
olD.TlME RAILROADlNG
motives Of Forty YeaFa Ago a.
r,L -, rTto.a ofTo.nov

cLD. lMS HAlLHSS%IttNSEs
locomotives Of Forty YeaFa Ago "a
Fast as Those of To-Day.
"To the younger generation Of rail
road travellers the idea that as great
speed was obtained forty years ego
from locomotive as at the present
time seems ridiculous. Yet this is a
fact substantiated by documentary evil
1ence."
This assertion was made to a re-
porter recently by NJ. Z. Stevenson,
formerly q train dispatcher on the
Pennsylvania system. Mr.. Stevenson
entered railroad life as very young
man in the early sixties, and for twen-
ty years thereafter learned about all
there was to know in connection with
the practical side Of moving locomc-
tiyes and cars and the speed Of the
nme.
"Of course, I don't mean that long
distance runs were made in rs short
time then as now," continued Mr.. Ste
yenson, "but that for short stretches
md with light loads the old-time loco
motive could cut the air fully as fast
as that almost perfect machine blow
ing off steam outside there now.
"In the early days Of the steam en-
CINE we We're much like you are to-day
in regard to electricity. Steam was an
unknown quantity. We believed that
If the driving wheels were large
enough; if the engine could be made to
keep the track; and if we could find
the man to drive 1t, a speed Of 100 miles
m hour could easily be obtained. Con-
sequently all the locomotives Of that
time ran to tall wheels On many Of the
railroads the engines were 1amed af-
ter prominent public men instead OF
being numbered, and the greatest IN
!, terest and enthusiasm prevailed over
the speed attained. would like to see
Dne of tIloss 1igh-wheelers given a
trial these days with the perfect road
BED in use. In those days the roadbed
was secondary consideration, and it
was more than even chances that un-
less speed was slackened considerably
at the first curve the train would jump
the track.
"Now for facts and figures, the truth
,f which can be vouched for through
documents held by the Baldwin Loco
motive Works over in Philadelphia.
During the early months Of 1S4S the
Central Vermont Road was approach.
Ing completion, and Governor Paine,
the President Of the company, con-
ceiyed the idea that the passenger
service of the road would require loco
motives capable Of running at a very
high rate Of speed. a man by the
name Of Campbell was the contractor
in building the line, and he was author
lied by Governor Paine to go to Phil
aGelphia and offer Baldwin a cool S10,-
900 for an engine which could run with
passenger train at speed Of sixty
miles an hour.
''The great locomotive builder accept
ed the proposition and Immediately I'M
dertook to meet the conditions stipu-
lated. The work was begun early in
1S4S, and in March Of that year Bald
win fled a caveat for his design. The
engine was completed in lS49, and was
named the Governor Paine. Ny father,
who was railroad man before me,
frequently told me Of the excitement
created by this locomotive upon its
appearance in the Eastern States.
~"The first trial Of the Governor Paine
was a great success. the speed a attained
being a fraction over sixty miles an
hour, but the passengers on the train
could be counted on ones hand, even
the officials being chary Of trusting
their lives in the engineers keeping.
That locomotive was used for several
years on the Central Vermont Road
and then rebuilt into forr-coupled
machine, that is, making straight
connection to four driving wheels, as
at the present time, instead Of to two.
During the career OF this eDgine 1t
was stated by officers Of the road it
could be started from state Of rest
and run mile in 1ortythree seconds.
This was equivalent to speed Of near
" eigbty-three miles an hour, and If
due allowance be made for the start
from q state Of rest 1t will be found
that that locomotive was capable Of
going at the rate Of fully 100 miles an
1our.
"This speed If attained by the Con
cressional limited or the Royal Blue
Line wculd make the distance from
Washington to New York In a little
over two hours, taking In the stops at
Baltimore and Philadelphia, thereby
gaining in time nearly three hours.
sIn that year three engines on the
same plan were turned out by Bald
win, but with cylinders IA by 20 inches,
and with 6-foot driving wheels, and
were used on the Pennsylvania Road.
They weighed about 1900 pounds and
we're considered wonders.
"a speed Of four miles In three min
ates, or eighty miles an hour, was re-
corded for them, and upon one occa-
sion President Zach Taylor was taken
In a special train over the road by one
of these machines at a speed Of sixty
miles an hour. It is said that Presi-
dent Taylor at the conclusion Of the
trip fathered a joke that has come
down to US In various forms. He was
asked how he enjoyed the trip, and ex.
claimed with apparent enthusiasm:
every much, very much
"'When will you be ready to returnt
INQUIRED the conductor.