The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-30
RAN THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVES.
An Iowa Man Who Was Engineer on the
Rocket


Rocket
For forty years Edward Entwistle has
had his home on a lot which he purchased
for himself upon his coming to Des
Moines
Edward Entwistle was born in 1S15.at
Tilsey's Banks, Lancashire. England.
AT the age of IL he was apprenticed to
the Duke OF Brdgewater, who had large
machine shops at Manchester, eleven
miles from the lads birthplace and home
The first railroad for general passenger
and freight business was completed in
1881, between Manchester and Liverpool,
distance of thirty one miles. 'The
Rocket" the first locomotive or passenger
engine, was built under the direction and
according to the plans of George Steven
son, in the works where young Entwistle
was serving as an apprentice. He was
To be an engineer, and he closely watch
ed the work
When the road was built and the en-
CINE completed, Stephenson looked about
for man to run the engine The fore
man OF the shops was consulted, and
after day or two reported that he had
no man to recommend but, that if Ste
venson would take the young apprentice,
Entwistle, the foreman would recon-
mend the lad. The dukes steward was
applied to, and gave written permission
for Entwistle to go with Stevenson.
When he was notified, after all these ar
rangements had been made, it was the
first intimation Entwistle had that he
was to be placed in the service He did
not finch from it, but rather enioyed the
opportunity.
The formal opening of the road was to
take place on Monday, AID on Sunday
young Entwistle and stevenson took the
Rocket out for Il private trial trip
They ran over about one.half of the track
of the road alone. All worked well and
they had no fear as to the final result.
On the day of the formal opening of
the road immense crowds gathered, not
only at Manchester and Liverpool, but
all along the thirty. one miles of track.
The Duke of Wellington, many other
distinguished noblemen, members of the
cabinet, and stockholders in the new
road were present.
The passenger coaches were built in
compartments, somewhat similar to the
stage coaches of those days, and three of
them were attached to the Rocket They
were filled with distinguished persons
stockholders and their personal friends
Stephenson and young Entwistle took
charge of the engine, and successful
start was made toward Liverpool amid
the cheers of the thousands of observers
OF the new wonder. All was we'll until
the train was approaching Grand juno
ton, from where a branch road was
building to Bolton Close to that point
terrible accident happened. Among
the distinguished passengers was Mr.
Huskisson, n member of the cabinet, a
stakeholder and n promoter of the road.
While bowling in response to the cheers of
the multitude he in some manner slip
ped and fell, and was run over and killed
by the coach following. The body was
taken up and carried to Liverpool in the
train.
The first trip had been successfully
made. After an ovation the train re-
turned to Manchester, with Edward Emf
wistle's hand upon the throttle. The
railway for the transportation of freight
and passengers by steam power had be-
come fixed and demonstrated fact
The line being opened for general
traffic, young Eptwistle was given charge
of the Rocket and for two years made
two round trips every day between Liver
pool and Manchester, one in the forenoon,
the other in the afternoon The work
so wore on the youth that he asked to be
relieved, having grown nervous and I'M
well. Stevenson at first said that Emf
wlstle was but an apprentice and would
have to stay any way, but Entwistle
promptly replied that he hadn't been an
prenticed TO a locomotive. Through the
kindness of Stevenson he was secured
place as second engineer of one of the
coasting steamers of the Duke of Bridge
water. On that vessel he completed the
last three years of his seven years APP
premiership, and remained one year
thereafter.
Then, being % years of age, he decid-
ed TO come to the United States He
landed in New York in 1887. - Chicago
Record