Evening journal., 1898-01-01
FIRST CAR IS OVER.
The Wilmington and Brandy
wine Springs Line Opened.
ITs INITIAL TRIP IS EVENTFUL
FIVE HOURS CONSUMED IN Gov
ERING THE DISTANCE BE
TWEEN BRANDYwINE SPRINGS
AND THIS -SEvERALTIMEs
DERA1LED.


DERAILED.
The Wilmington and Brandywine
Springs Railway Company has sur
mounted all difficulties and yesterday
operated the line for the first time The
first car was run over yesterday after
noon and reached the city line after an
eventful trip.
An old horse car No. AIS, which had
been purchased from the Philadelphia
Traction Company, made the Initial
trip. IL was placed on the track at
Greenbank at / o'clock, and was run To
Brandywine Springs. In going around
the curve at this place In charge OF sub
Contractor William IL. Quigg, the
brakes failed to hold and the car was
derailed Finally it was put ON the
track and then the initial trip was be-
gun in Min Creek hundred, from the
west side of Red Clay creek, at 3
O'Clock
The car was gaily bedecked with ma
tional flags and placards bearing "Why
he's 21. Now honestly" "Only over
my body" The latest form Of rapid
transit" and "rhe Peoples Line, Anti
Monopoly. Here's to you Dam were
hung in the windows. The officials on
/
board the car wore bouquets.
Charles Atmore, a representative OF
the contractors who built the line. and
who was chief engineer In charge Of the
construction. was conductor and S1.55
in fares was collected on the trip.
The car went along slowly until II
reached the first crossing OF the Els
mere and Wilmington line, where a
large crowd of residents of ElsmerC
and the employees Of beth railway
companies were in waiting. AT tnii
. point and over the Wilmington anC
Northern bridge the temporary tracl
was Of wood. After crossing the Els
mere line the car jumped the track OF
the curve. 1t was soon I-ghted ang
proceeded to a point between the VIII
mington and Northern bridge and TN
second crossing Of the Elsmere lin
when the heavy weight Of the car an'
it's passengers broke the wooden rail
/ and the car was derailed inthemud. 70
l an hour the large force Of men whic
: had come from Brandywine Springs
= was busy getting the car over the cross
ing. The remainder Of the distance wa
passed over without incident, except q
the curve at Cleveland avenue an
!, Sixth street, where the wheels jumpe
the rails again. They were replaced
short order and the car was run TO
point just inside the city limits at Sixt
= street and Greenhill avenue at $40.
y The derailings were caused by N
. hurried CONSTRUCTION of the line, while
was necessary in order to get il in ope
y alton before 70 o'clock last night
All along the line handlzerchiefs we
waved as the car passed and tl
= houses Of Elsmere were lighted up an
= decorated
- The company is building q car shs
at Elsmere which wifi be sufficient
vi large 10 accommodate nine cars. Su
Contractor Quigg will continl
Dl the work of completing the line. Nh
at will consist Of ballasting. erecting pol
he and wiring, and putting in iron bridge
81 The work of construction was Il
quickest Of It's kind performed in th
ID state. Six miles of railway have be'
Id graded. bridges built, tracks laid al
be the line put in operation since Mover
I'd Der 90