Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-01-10
OLD 1875 RECORD RUN.
Race Against Time For a Railroad
Contract and n Surprise.

contract and N Surprise.
when | first started In on this pike
back in the eighties" said the gray
haired chairman OF the engineers
stove committee. "it was only a pin
feather and didn't have hardly any
freight traffic 10 speak OF. 1t was only
little branch connection between the
Il. and III. and r. and l.. roads. I was
put on firing for Bill Kennedy on old
No. 10. | hadn't been firing here very
long when the Il. and II. and r. and l.
people hit upon a scheCae 70 try and
use our line for short cut for per
ishable stuff from one line TO the other
instead Of taking II down 10 Buriing-
ton. few miles farther south where
these roads had a junction. and send
imS - 5&c,. again. Accordingly they
decided TO give rs one train for trial
trip We We're to see how fast time We
could make with this freight. and if IL
very materially leSscned the time Of
the old route our people were TO get a
permanent contract which would mean
considerable money in their pockets
There was quite a little excitement
among the engineers as TO who would
be- the lucky man to make the trial
trip. as II would be- quite a feather In
the successful ones cap. II fell 10 Bill
Kennedy. with No. 10 10 make the
trip. and he and were considerably
elated and determined to Do our best.
The night for the dy run was very
dark. but there was a good rail. and
conditions were all favorable FOR quick
time. Bill wasn't used TO night run
ming In fact. no one was. as II was
very seldom necessary for night crew
10 be out on our road. For that reason
there We're no night telegraph offices
open TO keep tab on the train But the
train dispatcher at this end had been
ordered TO stay on duty till we arrived
at Rutland Junction. which was The
other end OF our line then. When Bul
and / got around. we found that we
were 10 have company on the engine.
as Ar. West. the super. wanted 10 20
along 10 see how we Jared Tlis put
Us more on our mettle. and I tell you
we were the real thing when we back
cd over 10 the Il. and /. siding To wait
for the special
About = O'Clock she rumblcd in and
You bet IL didn't take Bill l0uS 20 get
No. 70 around and hooked on To her
Everything was ready. and we were
soon hummiug along toward the T.
and II. junction point at record break
In speed Bin was just aching to
make star run. and going up Chce-
chunk hill. about l. miles out. he gave
her couple OF more notches on the
throttle and we fairly seemed 10 jump
forward
You're doing excenently. Ken
nedy,' said West. looking NJ his watch:
/ we've made the first II miles in about
/ - minutes. which is excellent with 80
cars
"Bnl never eased of on her at all.
/ and at 10.45 we were whiStling for the
/ junction. having made the run OF 10
miles in an hour and - minutes.
which was about the top notch with q
train OF 80 ears for those days. and
Blrs head was nearly busted with
| pride when West said TO him:
Mr. Kennedy. you made an excel
lent run
As we stopped at the tank. the r.
and II operator came running up
OreathlcSsly and said TO Bill. Here's a
message from Smith. your conductor.
You left him behind at Cheechunk.'
"Bil looked dazed and read the mes
/ sage slowly while Mr. West held a
lantern. Il ran:
"Btl Kennedy and Superintendent West.
"A good soldier never looks behind You Ic.t
the c1ooose, seven cars. myself ami the crew be
hand az foot 81 Chcechunk hill I hai 10 walk
four niles &c sex the agent 20 send this mesa e
! Please come back after
The message was dated from Chee-
/ chunk In pulling her out going up the
hill Bill had broken n coupling pin and
left the tail end there. You never saw
any one fall fiatter than Kennedy and
/ the super did Bill never said a darn
word, but give the 23 cars we had to a
yard crew of the r. and II. and lii out
! backward for Cheechunk. 50 miles "a
| the rear. II was O'Clock when we GOT
I the tail end TO the junction and our
road din't get the contract that year.
IF You want 10 cause n small riot
! You just ask Bill Kennedy the next
/ time You meet him about the record
| run he made with the special perish