The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-08-16

on This Line You Mny Flag the Train
with an Umbrella, and the Engi-
nccr VIII Back tp Couple of
Miles To Get IA Forgotten Pipe.
Just hold up your umbrella, sir and
she'll stop at once" was the CHEEKY
response given an inquiry us to the
possibility of boarding an approaching
train on It's way from Wadebrdge to
Bodwin, two queer old towns In Corn
wall, England. Up went the umbrella,
and sure enough the driver shut off
steam and pulled up just in front of
the would be passenger. And what n
sight it wasi
The engine was constructed In
George Stephenson's time and, be-
llevc, under his personal supervision.
But the carriages! There were two of
them, first and third class, respective
ly. The first class accommodation
consisted of an open truck. such rs one
sees daily In New York cartng cotton
bales or other merchandise, but pro-
vldod with some benches. Rude and
uncomfortable rs IL seemed however.
1t was luxurious compared to the third
class carriage, which was neither more
nor less than Il common closed van.
such rs cattle or furniture are con-
vcyed In, and boasted neither seats,
buffers nor springs. Third class fare
was but II cents, but the first class
passengers We're mulcted In the sum
of % cents for n journey of barely
seven miles.
The engine driver. who OBLIGATED in.
cldcntally rs conductor, brakeman.
guard and porter. came around collect
Ing the tariff.
A little conversation elected some
surprising facts In connection with
this absurd out of date line, Formerly
II had been the custom to sell tickets mt
the termm, little triangular blue and
white bits OF pasteboard, with n hole
In the middle SO that the ticket col.
lcctor (nlso engine driver, stoker, ete.)
could file them away on n string. but,
alas, the ravages OF time spare not
even railway tickets, and eventually
they were NIL worn out! So now the
fares are collected on board. The rate
of speed WIS strictly limited TO ten
miles mn hour, but incidental delays,
such as picking ZIP passengers, chasing
stray hats. removing cattle or sheep
from the track, took up so much time
that not infrequently an hour and n
half or more WAS consumed In cover
Ing the short distance. may mention
that passengers picked up on the way
side paid no regular fare, but merely
tipped the engineer.
The need of time tables was I'M
known, for the train ran but one way
each day, and arranged the time of de-
parture TO suit intending travellers. 1t
Is related with much gusto In those
parts that two commercial travellers
once arrived at l}odwin Just In time to
see the train round II curve some quar-.
toe az a ,iaii.. ssrs. n.s.siut, ~ Siiu eas~a
| station master, Mr. Worth. one OF
| them inquired mt what hour the next
| train would leave. DAY after tomor.
row." laconically answered that Off
| cial.
The astonlshed drummer looked at
him pltylngly and. nudgIng his COM
Iiuloil, w iilHIiNliiit wv itfipN ii' "
crazy" But they were soon unde-
celycd and, learning the true state OF
the case. hired cart Mt some expense
To accomplish their Journey. What was
their n.ortlllcatIon. after proceeding n
couple of miles, to see the train put
back TO Bodwln, because, as they sub
sequcntly discovered, the engineer had
r.. 10. l,t al
An interesting function always took
place whenever an incline was reached.
Tho driver, having regulated the speed
of his Iron horse, would climb out on
the front OF the engine. and, sitting
between the buffers, strew sand on the
rails; occasionally It has happened
that, the supply of sand proving insult
ficlcnt, the engine would steam AWAY
to the depot In search OF more.
The country through which the little
railway passes Is OF n high order of
beauty and affords many picturesque
glmpses Bodwln Itself IL n quaint lit
tie town TINT dates back TO the days OF
the Phoenlelans and In later times was
Of much importance. This may be
Judged from the fact that It supported
n cathedral and no less than - other
churches. The remains of an old leper
house are still to be seen, commemora-
Tive OF the terrible scourge that In 1850
ravagcd the whole country around. But,
alnckaday, the solemn march of prog
ress Is already beginning TO destroy
this relic of bygone days, and the ruth
less hand of contractors and navvies
are paving the way for m ordinary,
common, everyday service Of expresses
and milk trains. and the inhabitants
are deplorlng the loss OF their steady
traln.-Los Angeles Times.