The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-06-01
A FAMOUS RELIC
The First Train Run in the State OF
New York--lts Initial Trip.

~" " iiitAidi - IPs
The first train run in the state of
New York has just been paced on ex-
h bition In the east gallery of the main
Iconcourse Of the Grand Central Term
final, New York, by The New York Cen
Etral Railroad company. 1t consists Of
the Dewitt Clinton, the third loco
motive built in America, its tender and
three OF the stage coach cars that ac-
commodated passengers eighty-nine
Years ago.
The train rests on iron straps or
bands, which, nailed to beams, served
as rails in is early day. In its en-.
tirety the train is not so long as the
larger modern locomotives. 1t has
been in storage for many years at the
West Albany shops Of the New York
Central was shipped aboard two flat
cars and halled through the city
streets from the West Side freight
yards to the Grand Central Terminal
on motortrucks.
The origin and early trips of this lit
tile train, which was one of the won
Iders of its day have been the subject
OF many interesting stories. The en-
Igine, named after the New York Gov
Iernor. who was one OF its first passen
gers, was built at the West Point
foundry for the Mohawk and Hudson
Railroad. It's first trip from Albany
Ito Schenectady was made on August
10, 1881, when it covered the seventeen
miles in one hour and forty.five min
lutes. The first trip with passengers
was made August ., 1881, On this oc-
castor coal was used for fuel, but en-
lgine defects developed and the jour
Iney had to be finished with horses
drawing the cars. After changes had
been made In the engine, the burning
of coke was tried, but its use was not
lsucce3sful.
On September "a 1881, after still
more changes had been made in the
engine, It was decided to substitute
the Robert Fulton. later called tno
John Bull, as the locomotive that was
10 draw the first excursion train, OPP
Grated on this day, between Albany
and Schenectady The Robert Fulton,
'ta heavier eIgfie imported from Eng
Hand. failed ID do les work and the De.
witt Clinton was reinstated and func-
dtfoned' berfectlylo . ilt6 9Na
lfitiThe OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the train
3 into Scheuectadpao t)Ie music Of bands
Iand,the r0agIpt fanlpn 70 big public
! celebrat-o on being held TO mark the
event. On this trip ye'low-pine wood
was burned as engine fuel Sparks
from the smokestaGk Delayed the PASS
lengers, burning their clothes and max
ling short work OF umbrellas and par
. asols with which those on the sout
side al The stage coaches Fried TO pro
tect themselves The retuFn trip was
made with five cars in thirty-eight
minutes, the last six miles being made
in fourteen minutes. At times on the
initial trip a speed Of thirty miles an
hour was attained,
The Dewitt Clinton without its ten
der weighs 9,42O pounds; the tender
weighs 5,S40 and each of the three
coaches we gh 1890 pounds. The De
Witt Clinton is twelve feet ten inches
long and its height to the top Of the
steam dome is eight feet eleven inches
The tender is ten feet eleYen inches
long. The coaches are fourteen feet
long. The modern New York Central
standard Pacific type OF locomotive
weighs 276,000 pounds, and its tender
when loaded, $4,000 pounds.