File:Wonders and curiosities of the railway; or, Stories of the locomotive in every land; with an appendix, bringing the volume down to date (1906) (14574783817).jpg

Identifier: wonderscuriositi00kenn (find matches)
Title: Wonders and curiosities of the railway; or, Stories of the locomotive in every land; with an appendix, bringing the volume down to date
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Kennedy, William Sloane, 1850-1929
Subjects: Railroads
Publisher: New York, Hurst & company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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g on the way; and inmeeting or passing, either the coach or the vehicle goes offinto some of the passing places, and then returns into themain line. On the opposite page is given a profile view of one ofStephensons steam passenger-cars — a fragile vehicle indeedwhen compared with the massive cars of our day. Thelower hinged doors opened into receptacles beneath theseats used for the stowing of luggage. The picture iscopied from a drawing sent to the Boston and Lowell rail-road by Stephenson, in 1835. The famous engineer was atthat time in the pay of the Boston and Lowell road, andsent over this drawing with a number of others. Mr. J. B.Winslow, of Boston, to whose kindness and that of Mr. E.H. Talbott the author is indebted for the use of the picture,says: This drawing evidently was copied from one thatwas used to build the cars from, some years before its date(1832). I have no doubt the original was used for buildingthe first passenger-car ever constructed. BEGINNINGS IN EUROPE. 11
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12 WOKDERS AND CURIOSITIES OF THE RAILWAY. The day of the introduction of the steam-engines uponthe Darlington road was celebrated by a procession of carsand locomotives, and by general festivities. When thetime came for firing up the first locomotive (called the Locomotion, or Puffing Billy ), it was found that notinder-box was at hand. Thereupon one of the employesdrew a burning-glass from his pocket, and obtained firefrom the sun. This act strikes the mind as highly poeticaland appropriate; the power that propelled the engineemanated from sun-made coal, and the fire that liberatedthe power was also of solar origin. Thus, as the ancientswould have thought, the fire was pure and sacred, and withthem the act of the English fireman would have taken theshape of a sacred and solemn rite. But times change, andcustoms with them. It goes without saying that everything connected withthe first railroad was of a rude description. There wereno gates across turnpike roads, no brakes on the cars,

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