The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-09-08
ONE TRAIN EACH DAY
THE FUNNY METHODS OF A FUNNY
LITTLE RAILROAD.

With an mbrel1a, and the Engi-
ncer Will Back Up Couple of
Miles to Get Forgotten Pipe.
"Just hold up your umbrella, sir, and
she'll stop at once" was the CHEEKY
response given an inquiry as to the
possibility of boarding an approaching
train on it's way from Wadebridge 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
sight it was!
The engine was constructed in
George Stephenson's time and, l be-
lieve, 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 as one
sees daily in New York carting cotton
bales or other merchandise, but pro
vided with some benches. Rude and
uncomfortable as it seemed, however,
it was luxurious compared to the third
class carriage, which was neither more
nor less than q common closed van,
such as cattle or furniture are con-
veyed in, and boosted neither seats,
buffers nor springs. Third class fare
was but II cents, but the first class
passengers were mulcted in the sum
Of % cents for a journey of barely
seven miles.
The engine driver, who officiated in
cidentally as 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this absurd out Of date line.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
it had been the custom to sell tickets at
the termin, little triangular blue and
white bits of pasteboard, with a hole
in the middle, SO that the ticket col
lector (also engine driver stol1er, etc.
could file them away on string. But,
alas, the ravages Of time spare not
even railway tickets, and eventually
they were all worn out. So now the
fares are collected on board. The rate
Of speed was strictly limited to ten
miles an hour, but incidental delays,
such as picking up passengers, chasing
stray hats, removing cattle or sheep
from the track, took up so much time
that not infreQuently an hour and a
half or more was consumed in cover
ing the short distance. l 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 IN
known, for the train ran but one way
. each day, and arranged the time Of de-
parture to suit intending travellers. It
is related with much gustO in those
parts that two commercial travellers
once arrived at Bodwin just in time to
see the train round q curve some quar-
ter of a mile off. Turning to the aged
station master, Mr.. Worth, one Of
them inquired at what hour the next
train would leave. "Day after tonor-
row." laconically answered that Off
cial.
The astonished drummer looked at
him pityingly and, nudging his COM
panion, whispered "Poor fellow; he's
crazy" But they were soon unde-
ceived and, learning the true state Of
the case, hired cart at some expense
to accomplish their journey. What was
their modification, after proceeding q
couple of miles, to see the train put
back to Bodwin, because, as they sub
sequently discovered, the engineer had
forgotten to bring his pipe along!
An interesting function always took
place whenever an incline was reached.
The 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
ficient, the engine would steam away
to the depot in search of more.
The country through which the little
railway passes is Of a high order of
beauty and affords many picturesque
glimpses. BodWin itself is a quaint lit
tie town that dates back to the days Of
the PhoenicianS and in later times was
of much importance. This may be
judged from the fact that it supported
a cathedral and no less than Is other
churches The remains of an old leper
house are still to be seen, cOmmemOra-
tive of the terrible scourge that in 1850
ravaged the whole country around. But,
alackaday, 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 an ordinary,
common, everyday service of expresses
and milk trains, and the inha
are deploring the loss Of their steady
going if slow and uncomfortable, old
train.-Los Angeles Times.