The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-11-12
sTEURENVlLL. W rIlrsRuRGM.


STEURENvlLhE 90 rIgr5BURGH.
a "Reminiscences OF thr Enrly Railroad
nays Across the West Virginia paa-IIRa.
din,
Piglbwsh Poa,
Tho Post Ia indebted to an old resident
OF Cadis, O., for tue following Interest,"
ing accom-! Of the first trip made over
the Pittsburgh end OF the Panhandle
on a regular passenger train. at was
Just aIIor the road wa, completed"
says the writer, "and We wore all unx,
ious TO take trip to Pittsburgh by rail.
For a number OF year, before that time
we had to take the SteubonYllle X lndi'
AnA railroad to Sieubunville, aud from
that place We had our choice OF taking
the Cleveland & Pittsburgh railroad or
the steamboat on the river. When first
opened, tho Panhandle was in crude
condition. The ties were laid on mud
Gmbankments overlooking deep raViues,
aud tho engines and cars were lilliputian
affairs compared with the equipment OF
the present day. left CadlZ JuuciiOn
on ono OF the Steubenvllle & Indiana
trains, which was run through. We
made tho usual time down to Steubeu'
vile, which was, rs near a. can recnl'
lect, abou. twenty miles an hour, and
we thought that was dangerously high
rate oil speed. AT the Stenbenyille sta
ton We had to change cara for some
caule, and were soon crossing the high
bridge over the Ohio river, We had
been told that the bridge was perfectly
safe, but when we looked down ninety
feet aud thnnght OF what tho conse-
quences might DO in case the structure
gave way or the train left the track
there wac not few Of us that involuh
tarily shivered. Among the hills o.
West Virginia We cropI along alowly,
and tho little engine was laborlnG hard
to keep the three light coaches IN
motion. These coaches were not much
heavier than the electric cars in use on
the Pittsburgh street railways at the
present day. They were painted yell
low, and had board seats lined with u
kind Of green cloth. Tho couplings
Woro Of the link and pin order, ana
there was so much sla that
when the train started up the little cars
were almost ierksd of their trucks in
rotation. aud the passengers were
jostled about in very uncomfortable
manner. 40 made but low complaints,
however, AS we never thought that rail-
reading would DO success, aud were
willing to endure q little annoyance
Just to obtain como experience. After
We left Holidays Cove the conductor
camo along and collected the tickets.
Tho card boards we're not punched in
those days, and even the money which
many OF the passengers rendered ten
dsred for the rido was showed down in
the conductors capacious pockets and
no receipts wore given. II was abont
all tho diminuuve engine could
accomplish to tako tho three cars ny
tho Burgettstown aud Bulger hills, and
tho way thaEparks lleE from tho big wid0.
toppad attack was eight worth looking
A. Once when va stopped to take on
some passengers tho engine could not
stop the train without backiu. down to
the foot Of tho hill. Every time tho en-
gineOr called for brakes a muscular fol.
low would leave his seat at tho end OF
tho car, aud rush 10 tho platform, whore
no swung tue whole weight OF his body
on brake wheel. Occasionally we
wonld run several hundred feet past the
station, aud instead OF backing up
again the conductor WOULD 80 to the
roar end OF tho train, and in words shat
would not DO appropriate to a revival
meeting, Ordat tho people to hurry mp,
and IL was amusing to SEQ thOm rush up
tho track, bag and baggage,
and pilo on to tho rear coach.
All tho wAy down from the sum.
init tho train driiloi rapidly with tho
brakes set, and occasionally when the
eneino gavo a sudden Jerk tho eilscl
WA, somewhat similar TO what ono iculs
while riding IN acab!O car when tho
grip gets stuck, aul tho car stops ne
quickly az II il had run into Hlono wall.
WHOM wc rounded the curve near tao
place whore the shcradan Yards arc
now located tho first Wow Of Allegheny
and Pittsburgh brought Us all to our
foot, and va looked out through the
litIlo 10 by l2 windows to 500 tho twin
citios. / think wO Boru three hours
making tho run from Stcubcnvillc, but
We thought tho train was Il hummer i
understand that iroigl! trains now
mako tho run in QUO hour and ilty
inuutna, and heavy passengers cover
tho iorty.thrcr m.loS Ia au hour whom
making up limo"
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