Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-06-18

just so years ago Friday James I.
Morgan became an employe of tho
Philadelphia, Wilmington a. Baltimore
Railroad Co, and to-day, although he
is nearly ~ years Of age, he is one of
the old reliable enginemen on the
Delaware division.
His regular 200. nile run is to Delmar
and return, which distance no covers
three times week in first-class style
and with the agility of man of 30.
For 4S years and four months Mr.
Morgan has been in charge of loco
motive and passenger trains have
always been his lot. He was assigned
to passenger service mainly oil account
of his capability and reliability.
Nearly u years ago MIR. Morgan was
born on farm in New Castle county.
When years Of age he moved with
his parents TO tho Townsend property,
which is now portion of South Will
mington. Until he was l6 years of age
: he lived on the farm an assisted with
the general work. At the age of 16 he
became an apprentice 10 local black
smith, and by the time h0 reached his
majority, being master of the trade he
obtained employment in the blacksmith
shop of tho Philadelphia, Wilmington
Il Baltimore Railroad Co. in this city
After he had beon in the employ OF the
company about week the foreman
realizl d hia worth and requested him
10 go to Philadelphia and look over
the cars in the car shed at Eleventh
and Market streets, with a view to
suggesting repairs and experimenting
the work of putting them in good
shape. This would have been con
sideTed a great honor by most young
men, but not SO with Mr. Morgan. He
refused to go and gave as his reason
that the temptations in Philadelphia
might be too great for him. lie pre-
ferrel to remain in Wilmington. He
had worked at blacksmithing about
seek. when the foreman sent for him
With view to giving him better
position. The conference resulted in
he young man going out on tho road
Ho was assigned ~ the ireman on the
engine which was run by Altabridge
Moore, and for III months he kept up
steam In Mr. Moore's locomotive At
the end OF hat time, how yer, he was
promoted to engineer and was put ON
the "Night Lime, 2" which ho ran for
four yoars. The might Line" train
left Philadelphia at o'clock one aftor-
noon and Perryvile q. 30 the next night.
In 1856. after Mr.. Morgan had done
excellent service on the main line of
the Philadelphia, Wilmington IL Balti-
more railroad, he was transferred to
the Delaware division, where he has
remained ever since.
When a reporter OF The Gazette
called on Engineer Morgan at his resi-
dence, No. $40 Franklin street, the
veteran railruader took pleasure in re.
calling incidents which had happened
during his long time of service.
when ! first went on the road, +" he
said, "the company had about dozen
little l6-ton locomotives, each of which
had two five foot drivers and four small
truck wheels. They were without cow
catchers, whistles, cabs and headlightH;
in fact, there was little besides the
engines and frames. The engineer was
entirely unprotected, and it was neces-
sary TO have special coats made for
stormy weather, rubber coats then
being unknown. Many time my coat
has been frozen stiff and | have taken
1t oil and st cd ii up alongside of me.
"Mhile | say the engines had no
coweatchers, there was one cowc9tcher
for all of the engines. 1t was four
wheel concern and was only used on
special occasions. For instance, il
i thought | should need it on d run to
perryville ii would be coupled up to
my locomotive. and after | had made
the run to Perryville | would leave it
there, where it would remain until
somebody else needed it.
"The passenger coaches then were
about the same size as our largo street
cars and they were pretty we'll fitted
up. As time wore on improvement
were made until they were brought up
to the present standard Of complete
nese.
''In 1Sis several new locomotives
we're purchased by the company They
were larger, heavier and more powerful
than the old ones, but still were with
out cabs Tho first cab was put on
Josiah Anderson's engine Lafayette
in 1S49. The frame was of iron, but
Engineer A nderson refused to allow the
frame to be covered. He bra ded the
closed cab as man trap, ana would
not listen to having the cover put on.
The next cab was put on Altabridge
Moore's engine, sort of canvass cover
ing being placed about the frame. He
liked the cab first-rate and soon his
engine, Rough and Ready, was the
envy of his brother engineers. Even
Mr.. Anderson took fancy to it, and
soon he allowed his cab frame 10 he
enclo ed. Then one was put on the
Orion, and next the Hercules was
equipped in the same manner. Finally
all OF the engineers decided that they
would prefer riding inside and each
one was soon given an opportunity to
do so. In 1850 a new lot of engines
arrived. These were fitted with cabs
by the builders, and the engines
throughout were very much improved,
and more powerful than tho old ones.
About 1852 still heavier engines were
received. These had 15-inch boro.
A year later others more powerful still
were running IN the road. SO year
by year new locomotives were received
and each new lot showed an improve
ment
Numerous changes have becn made
IN every feature of railruaciing since
first started, and the business has in
creased many fold.
In 1902 the company had an ice
bridge across tho Snsauehanna river,
and for six weeks railroad track was
laid ovor tho ice from shore tn shure,
and many heavy trains passed over il.
The Maryland Legislature refused to
grant charter for bridge and aa
the occasion offered itself the leo was
used as a support for tho ties and rails.
After the tracks had been down for