Connecticut western news., 1911-12-14
THE OLD CONN. WESTERN.
Present c. N. E. Railroad Completed Just 40 Years Ago.

driven at Canton, Dec. ', 1871, by the late Egbert T. Butler, of Norfolk, who was known as "the father of the Con- necticut Western" Following detailed account of the organization of the road the Times gives list of the first officials
 The late United States Senator William H. Barnum of Lime Rock, was the first president of the company. The vice president was George M. Bartholomew, of Hartford; the secretary was William G. Coe, of Winsted; and the treasurer was William L. Gilbert of Winsted. The chief engineer was William F. Shunk of Winsted. The directors were: Hon. William H. Barnum and Alexander H. Holley of Salisbury, Frederick Watson of North Canaan, Egbert T. Butler of Norfolk, George Dudley and William L. Gilbert of Winsted, George M. Bartholo- new, James L. Howard, George w. Moore, Nathaniel B. Stevens, Jonathan B. Bunce and Charles R. Chapman of Hartford, Byron Loomis of Suffield.
 The story of the first passenger train over the road, Is told as follows:
 One baggage car and one "handsome passenger car" drawn by the locomotive Salisbury" composed the first passenger train run over the road. This was sent out for the benefit of the railroad com missioners, Simeon Gallup, John I. Hutchinson and James Pike, and left Hartford at 8:Io a. m. on the morning of December B, 1871. The locomotive was in charge of Engineer John Barton and Fireman Charles H. Van Cott.
 On this first train, beside the railroad commissioners, the officials and all the directors. were Porter Burrall of Sails bury, paymaster; C. C. Mott, Superin- tendent McManus, Conductor Yeomans and E. w. Rowley of the Hartford, Fish kill and Providence road; and representa- tive of the Pre,s. MT. Rowley was the conductor of the train. Commissioner Pike rode on the locomotive and Com missioners Gallup and Hutchinson on the rear Of the train. At Sirnsburv the Hon. Jeffrey 0 Phelps joined the party {; at Winsted John T. Rockwell, C. I. Camp, Dr. James Welch, Henry Gay and T. H. Beardsley got aboard; at Norfolk Fl. P Lawrence, John K. Shepard and others, and Canaan the Hon. Miles T. Granger, at Lakevile, pr. H. NJ. Knight, superin- tendent of the school for imbeciles. and Lot Norton. Chief Engineer w. F. Shunk and Assistant Engineers William A. Hiester and J. C. Rawn, and Road master Samuel Greer were with the party.
 When the first passenger train reached Millerton the party were regaled with "a fine collation." served in the baggage car and at 2:3o p. m. the train started on the return for Htrtfo:d. During a stop at Canaan meeting of the directors was held and George M. B,ty hoiomew was appointed general manager of the road with power to employ such assi<tance as he might requice in managing the office of superintendent.
 Construction trains had run on sections
 
 completed and some local freight was carried by them. Passengers were also, transported short distances in some in stances, but not in passenger trains or on any schedule time. Some of the first To- comotives that the road had were the "City of Hartford" "FalIs Village" "State Line," Salisbury" "Norfolk," "Winsted" and "Bloomfeld"
 The first regular train for passengers and business left Hartford at $40 on the morning of December 2I, 1871, carrying besides freight number of passengers not on the payroll and thirteen paying passengers. The first train from New York state got ia on time. It left Mil lerton at 6 o'clock on the morning of December 2L, 1871, and arrived in Hart ford that forenoon promptly at Io;3o. The two passenger cars and the baggage car was crowded. Among the arrivals on that train from Salisbury were the Hon. George Coffing, Donald I. Warner and George C. Dodge.
 Three incidents stand out forcibly in the history of the road-the Tariffville disaster in 1878, the opening of traffic across the Poughkecpsie bridge in 1892 and the famous legislative fights over "Granby Notchno on the extension of the road from Tariffville,to Springfield.
 The Tariffvile disaster occurred at 10 p. m. on January IS, 1878 An excursion train drawn by two locomotives was re- turning westward with carloads of peo- pie who had been to Hartford to attend a Moody and Sankey revival and when crossing the old wooden bridge over the Pennington river, west of Tariffville station, the bridge gave way and the To- comotives and several cars were precipi tated into the river. Thirteen people were killed and seventy injured.
 The legislative struggle over the Springfield extensive crossing Montague farm was at its height in the sessions of 1897 and 1899. The matter got into the courts and after building a loop around the farm which had been purchased by "Consolidated" interests a decision favor able to the Hartford and Connecticut Western was handed down in 1900 The