Evening journal., 1913-09-10
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Commodore Vanderbilt
BaniShed Gorgeous Engines
BY Holland.


II suppose the present generation
has never heard of an impulsive ac-
ton by Commodore Vanderbilt, five
or six years after he perfected the
New York Central system, running
from Buffalo to New York city, but
1t was an incident which attacted a
great deal Of attention both in rail-
road circles and with the public,
when 1t occurred. The true facts in
regard to that incident, however.
were never published" said c.. c.
Clarke. who for many years was vice
president of the New York Central
system and who was the confidential
friend and business associate OF three
generations OF Vanderbilts beginning
with the commodore afterward with
his son william H. Vanderbilt and in
the later years Of his life with the
grandsons of the commodore, Corne-
Illus and William r. Vanderbilt
"The incident to which I refer was
the order given by Commodore Van
derbilt TO strip off every bit Of brass
ornamentation from the locomotive
engines and to paint them all black
OF some dark color.
up to the time Commodore Van
derhilt gave that order many of the
railroad managers of the United
States took especial pains to have
tieir locomotive attractive 10 the
eye. Sometimes these adornments
We're excessive. A locomotive looked
very handsome when starting out
upon its trip with highly-polished
brass adornments, brilliantly-painted
smokestack and with other attrac-
tions due to polish and embellish-
ments
But in order TO keep the locomo-
tives i'm good appearance. great deal
of time was entailed upon the en-
gineers. In only a few cases did they
object. for the engineer of those
early days was proud of the appear
ance of his engine, especially IL he
had run one for a long time. He
would polish the brass until II glis-
tened so that you could see your face
reflected in II. He would see to II
that the paint was kept bright, anC
there was a sort of emulation amoni
these engineers TO have the reputa
tion Of running the handsomest loco
/ motive engine TO be found anywhere
"One day the commodore was ridin,
/ from New York TO Hartford The
changed engines at that time at New
Haven. The commodore left tn
train for a few moments to chat will
friend upon the platform and HI
saw an engine back down to take tn
New York train from New Haven &
Springfield. The smokestack wa
painted scarlet the brass adornment
rra fOIt feh
ornaments I'm fashionable shol
would be. The commodore observed
that the engineer. while waiting TO
the conductors command, took
piece of cloth and scrubbed a bit o
brass near the cab window so that IN
might get a still higher polish.
THAT incident set the commodor
20 thinking When he returned 4
New York he made inquiries AM
found that the engineers on his lin
were constantly occupied when no
running their locomotives wit
polishing up the brass and cleanin
the paint
HE said 10 me that he thought
was all a waste of time as well a
an unnecessary expense. He though
a locomotive engine should be bull
for work and not to make a prett
spectacle. lie told me that he ha
decided to give the order which woul
strip The engines of their bras
adornmente and which would cove
them with dark serviceahle paint
"He did give that order, and al
though the engineers did not at frs
like u yet they afterward confesse
that IL was a very sensible order an
that they realized that It was
waste of time to polish up bras
sdornments Othcr railroads follow
ed the commodore's example. and
was only two or three years late
that ne was informed that the Me-
Haven railroad had painted its scar
let smokestacks over with hlac
paint and had taken of the name
which they attached to locomotive
Menus. Comet Jupiter. Mars, Mel
curry. etc. and put I'm place of thes
names plain numbers. have alway
thought continued Mr.. Clark, tina
II was Commodore Nanderbilt's orde
which gave the first suggestion TO tn
railroad unions which resulted
establishing rules which provide th
cleaners take care Of locomotives, S
that an engineer has nothing 10 d
with his engine till he jumps aboar
the car for his run or after the ru
Is finished"
Copyright. 1913. by r. J. Edwardl
All right reseryedl
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell q
IAN Old-timp Rank Check Which I