Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-23
RELICS OF RAILWAYS
Fate of Famous Locomotives
of Older Type.
MANY STILL TRAVELLING
Old American Engine Built in 1847
Working on a Railroad
in Cuba.

From the Railroad Mems Magazine.
On a Cuban railroad at Santiago is an
interesting relic of early railway devel-
opment in this country. 1t goes back to
period when hundreds of curious and
impracticable contrivances were being put
forward in the effort to solve the new
problems of railroading.
Many of the old engines which played
their part in the evolution of the modern
immense and powerful locomotives are
still in existence. A few of them are
even in actua! use And the Railroad
Mems Magazine is performing a service
to the history of science and industry by
collecting records and pictures of these
interesting and significant factors in the
development of the country.
The one now used on the Cuban rail-
road has nothing of the freakish about
it-that is, it was not a freak when 1t
was built, though naturally 1t 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 w. NJ. Baldwin
and placed at once on the rams for serv-
ice, it is still being used. Few If any of
the original parts have been replaced.
1t has no air brake and no trucks The
slanting cylinders are sixteen by twenty
six inches. and the left engine is the
leading engine. There are two scales for
safety valves The smokestack is seven
feet four inches high and four feet six
inches in diameter at the larger end.
Liked the Veteran Engine.
When the st. Louis exposition was held
in 1904 the Baldwin company, anxious 10
include the old engine in it's exhibit, Of
fered the Cuban road a locomotive OF
the type then most modern. but the
Cubans refused the offer.
1t was only an accident that caused
the construction of the Judah, the first
engine to cross the summit of the Sierra
Nevada mountains A lumber company
in Nevada purchased from the southern
Pacific Company an engine which had
formerly been used on the run from
Sacramento and Folsom The Judah
proved to be inefficient as swiIcner III
the lumber yards and was abandoned
While on the Southern Pacific it was
used to pull Senator Leland Stanford's
pay car over the division. The locomo-
tive was built by the Vulcan iron works
in 1863. The plate on the head end
reads. Vulcan Iron Works. No. q, 1860.
The forward wheels are stamped C. r.
r. r., 1854" and were evidently cast In
Sacramento, Cal.
The Judah will probably be sold back
to the railroad and placed on exhibition
1t is now the property of the Sierra
Nevada Wood and Lumber Company Of
Hobart Mills, Cal.
Civil War Locomotives.
One of the most thrilling incidents of
the civil war was that in which the old
engine, the Texas, played SO important a
part. William ]. Knight, an engineer
who served as private in Company T. of
the 21st Ohio Infantry, was selected by
his captain. l.. E. Brewster. to attempt
to steal Confederate train which was
being hauled by the famous locomotive,
the General. James j. Andrews. the ia
nous Kentucky scout and raider, was
chosen as fireman. Their company was
encamped at Shelbyville, Tenn.
After accommodating they clambered on
the engine while the crew were absent 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 Adairsville, where Knight
was obliged to sidetrack to permit a
freight train to pass. the pursuers came
into sight. Capt. 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 drivers
the Texas gradually drew up. and Knight
and Andrews, having used all the fuel in
the tender. were obliged to abandon the
General. They were captured, and later
escaped from the Atlanta prison. The
Texas is now resting peacefully in San
Antonio, Tex.