Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-11
OLD ENGINE AND NEW
THE TORN tDO AND THE RICHMOND
on ExurBITuoN ar ATLANTA.
One Represents the Ola >ty'e "'
Iron Horse aud the Other the Pow
erfuI Modern Jocom"tiNe-N'""''
Jobu.ou. The Veteran Engineer.

Carey TAYLOR. in an interesting letter
from Atlanta. published In Sundays Nor
folk pilot. says:
Mr.. Albert Johnson Is one Of the oldes,
locomotive engineers in the world. HIS
"reminiscences of modern progress IN the
matter OF railroad travel are pregnant
with interest. lie IS in charge Of the To-
connective exhibit Of the Seaboard AT
Line at the Cotton States and lnterna-
tional Exposition, and his experience as
a driver OF the iron horse" constitutes
a link between the first days OF our IN
land steam locomotion and the present
time. AIr Johnson. although ~ years
OF age. Is hale and hearty, and Drimtul
OF life and good humor. The innumefaDie
dangers and hair-breadth escapes with
which his ffty-fve annual cycles OF
life as a trusty custodian Of the lives ana
limbs of his fellow-lnen have been crowd
ed have not had the effect Of dmming his
eve or OF unduly abating his natural
strength. As he stands by the model
of the old Tornado" the first loco
motive ever run by the corporation that
has now developed into the world re-
nowned Scaboard AIRLINE and with pride
I'm his twinkling orbs describes her
simple construction. he presents speci-
men of ancient manhood and rugged
honesty and courage that inspires his
auditors with profound respect for the
brave engineer Of olden times.
THE ANCIENT TORNADO.
This production Of the object Of the
old mans affections is labelled thus. "A
correct representation OF the first loco
motive engine that ever went to RAJ
leigh, ~ G.. over the Raleigh and Gas
ton railroad March 1910. which is now
part of the Seaboard AIRLINE. The RAJ
leigh and CASTOR railroad purchased from
ID. J. Burr Co. Richmond. Va.
about September 1899 four engines
Tornado, Volcano 'Whirlwnd.' and
'Spitfire The Tornado survived them
all and ran from 1893 TO 1869.
The Tornado" which made its first run
over half a century ago under the guild
ance OF Mr.. johnson. and which on that
suspicious expedition doubtless filled the
wondering rustics Of Carolina with a feel
ing OF awe as IL dashed through their
fields and villages at the unprecedented
speed OF twenty miles an hour. nowadays
cuts a very innocent. crude, and unpre-
tentious figure. Standing within half
dozen feet OF II a man of average height
could see clear over its tops. and the
modern college athlete could have rested
one hand upon 70 and vaulted from one
side TO the other with comparative ease.
The tall. slender-looking smokestack looks
absurdly long. exactly resembling some
three feet Of ordinary stove-pipe. The
wheels and queer-looking little boiler
strike the beholder as being OF almost
absurdly primitive simplicity. There is
no cab. nor Is this antique putting Billy
provided with any species of shelter for
the engineer. who In those early days OF
railroads was exposed on every side to the
cutting blast Of the pitiless storm. Still
the Tornado was probably an improve
ment upon the original locomotives OF
Stephenson-in some respects at least
for at a pinch she could travel twenty
five miles an hour. hauling Twenty-Five
cars, each loaded with h0gshedds OF to-
bacco Instead of the nod s:n injector
she was supplied with che simple old
style pump. her brakes were OF the
crudest and cipmsies. Orler, rsmin ling
one of the brakes IN use On nOrse-cars.
AMI she was entirely devoid Of steam
gauge. headlight, bell. or cOw-catcher
THE MODERN LOCOMOTIVE.
Mr.. johnson obtained leave Of absence
from the exposition a few days ago in or
der 10 spend with his aged spouse the
hfty-ninth anniversary of their wedding
day. Next TO his ancient and faithful
partner, however. he loves the old TOR
nado," whose living freight he safely pi-
loted many a time and oft in days OF
yore, Drawing summers scorching heat
and the binding sleet Of winter. and land
ing his charge with whole limbs and
grateful hearts at a thousand destinations.
To such as him science and humanity
owe deep and unpayable debt.
Hard by the little Tornado" and tow
ering above it as the mighty Rocky noun
tains tower above the foothills adjacent
to them, stands the latest purchased en-
CINE of the Seaboard Airline. No. $40
the levia than Richmond" built at the