The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-12-27
DUE WEST RAILROAD UNIQUE.
Engine Never Turns Around But is
Alwa. y Faced Toward Due West.

For uniqueness in appearance and
informality in service the Due West
railroad is perhaps without an equal
in the entire South. Although the
engines, Nos. 2 and 3 are very small
and out Of date compared with mod
ern locomotives. they have O record
that Is enviable, writes O staff corre-
spondent Of the Greenville News.
On Christmas eve. in 1907, nearly
nine years ago, the same little engine
that now does the major duty pulled
the first train owe the new railroad.
The first trip vas made without any
demonstration or show of any kind
and since that time it has continued
to perform it's duty. never missing a
day or u trip. except or the Sabbath.
When no train is run
The rolling stock Of the Due West
railroad consists of. two engines, two
combination baggage and passenger
coaches n one fiat car. Contrary
to q report that has been widely cir
culated, the engine is not put under
a shelter at night, neither is it chain
ed to the track as others have stated. |
The engine and, coach not in use are
kept in the shed. but the other engine
and coach. are not so treated. The
Engines are small. as has been stated, |
but are not narrow gauge. A COM
garrison of the amount Of coal con- |
s,,med by one of. these engines with
that used by a large modern locomo-
tive is interesting. Sixteen hundred
pounds of GOAL are used each day on
this road, while, from Is to 20 tons is
the amount ordinarily consumed by
a large locomotive in a days time.
When either, engine ,.NNos. 2 and 81
are practically the same in every waylI
couples UP to a box car it suggests an
ant tackling a mole hill-but like the
n the engine. gets off, with the
load.
Three or four things stand out as
worthy Of notice. First, the train has |
never been operated on Sundays;
Zone trip was made about two years
ago to the town of Donalds in order
70 catch. a. train that q patient might
be rushed to. the hospital.) Second.
In that nine years of service not one
person has been injured, either ena-
ploye. passenger or tramp, nor has
the engine ever been turned since be-
ing placed on the tracks Of the Due
West railroad. The fact that the en-
CINE is always headed towards Due
West may be due to the fact that 1T
was Just placed, that way in; the bes
sinnins or Il may denote loyalty to-
Fyafds a&hS place tha4-ia.EkanSa-sar eaa
home" ~
Anywaysth the engine has never turn
ed Its back on the town and the
chances, are that the town will never
turn a cold shoulder to the railroad.
Lastly, although perhaps this should
have been stated first, the railroad
owes nothing and yet it pays no div
ldends, 1t is 'self.sustaining and, in
the language of the president of the
road, that 10 all that is desired. II
was established not only to prove but
to accommodate the public and it is
doing that daily, despite the derisior
of q great many.
The distance from Due West 70
ponalds is 4 7-8 miles or a fraction
OF a mile longer than the dirt road.
In that distance there are several
grade road crossings and although
they may not be termed regular stops
1t Is a rule of the road that anywhere
a person desires to board the train
is q stopping place. All that is nee
essary is to make the engineer under
stand that a passenger desires to get
on n the train comes to a stand
still. This is also in accordance with
tho policy of service. and no person
is denied the privilege Of riding just
because that person failed to reach
S I'll Ia SlIilRl0 EPTOCcSS
is to cut across the fields to the track
and beckon to the engineer to stop.
After the passenger or passenger are
taken on the train proceeds without
any undue excitement.
The employees of the road. number
three. j. T. Boland is the engineer,
having made the first trip over the
road in 1907. John McDill is conduc-
tor. Mr.. McDill also runs the auto
mobile which is operated by the rail-
road company n which makes con-
nections with the interurban cars.
Jim Gilbaugh. is the colored fireman.
He also serves as swl.chman and
brakeman. when one is necessary. Mr..
X. 8. Galloway Is president and chief
owner of the railroad. MI. Galloway
nI.-