The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-09-07
SOME LOCOMOTIVES
FAMOUS IN HISTORY
One Now in Service in Cuba
Built in 1S47
STORY OF "JUDAH"
1t Was the First Engine to Cross the
Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Engineers in the
Civil War
STORY OF "JUDAH"
From the Railroad Mems Magazine.

From the Railroad Mems Magazine
On a Cuban railroad at Santiago is an
interesting relic of early railway develop
ments in this country 1t goes back to
q period when hundreds of curious and
impracticable contrivances were being
put forward In the effort to solve the new
problems in railroadng.
Many of the old engines which played
their part in the evolution of the modern
immense and powerful locomotives are
itill In existence. A few of them are
even in actual use.
The one now used on the Cuban rail-
load has nothing of the freakish about
IT. That is, it was not a freak, when II
was built, though, naturally. it looks
rather curious now. But it is especially
interesting because it is the Oldest Bald
win locomotive still in running order.
Constructed in 1917 by NJ. w. Baldwin
and placed at once on the rails for serv-
Ice it is still being used. Few, IL any,
Of the original parts have been replaced.
1t has no airbrakes and no trucks. The
santing cylinders are 16 by 26 inches and
the left engine Is the leading engine
There are two scales for safety valves.
The smokestack is Z feet 4 inches high
and feet inches in diameter at the
larger end.
When the st. Louis exposition was held
In 1904 the Baldwin company, anxious to
include the old engine in its exhibit, Of
fei ed the Cuban road a locomotive of
the type then most modern, but the Gu
bans refused the offer
1t was only an accident that caused the
construction of the JUDAH the first en-
cine to cross the summit of the Sierra
Nevada mountains. A lumber company
III Nevada purchased from the Southern
Pacific company an engine which had
TO, merly been used on the run between
Sacramento and Folsom. The Judah
proved to be inefficient as switcher in
tho lumber yard and was abandoned.
While on the Southern Pacific 1t was
used to pull Senator Leland Stamford S
lay car over the division. The locomo-
tive was built by the Vulcan Iron
Works In 1865. The plate on the head end
reads Vulcan Iron Works, o. 6, 1866"
The forward wheels are stamped &C. p
r. R., 1884, and were evidently cast in
Sacramento, Cal.
The Judah will probably be sold back
to the railroad and placed on exhibition
at the Panama-Pacifc exposition in 1916.
1t is now the property of the Sierra Ne
:, ada Wood and Lumber company of Ho-
bart Mills, Cal
the civil war was that in which the old
engine, the Texas, played SO important
a part William J. knight, an enginee.
who served as a private in e company
of the Twenty-first Ohio infantry, was
selected by his captain, l.. f. Brewster
10 attempt to steal Confederate train
which was being hauled by the famous
locomotive. the General James ]. An
drews, the famous Kentucky scout and
raider was chosen as fireman. Their
company was encamped at Shelbyville,
Tenn - nsi3stiaaaa rs fEN
After accommodating they clambered on
the engine while the crew was absen.
at breakfast. uncoupled few of the cars
in order that they might make the best
time possible, opened up the throttle and
steamed away. The Confederates soon
learned of the disappearance of the train
and, suspecting a union plot, started in
pursuit. At Adairrille, where Knight
was obliged to sidetrack to permit a
freight train to pass, the pursuers came
irto sight. Captain Fuller was In charge
of the Confederate party.
At Adairsville he abandoned his loco
motive and the Texas was used In its
place With sparks flying from its driv-
ers the Texas gradually drew up. and
Knight and Andrews, having used all the
fuel In the tender, were obliged to aban-
don the General They were captured
and later escaped from the Atlanta
prison. The Texas Is now resting peace
fully in San Antonio Tex.