Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1912 — FIRST RAILROAD IN AMERICA [ARTICLE]

FIRST RAILROAD IN AMERICA

Old Quincy Lina Really Can Claim Honor of Being the Pioneer of Present System. The Quincy .raUjroatL. or. aa .it wad known in the beginning, the “Experiment Railroad,” which was constructed to carry granite blocks for the Bunker Hill monument, at Boston, was the first railway in America. The first cars on this primitive line were drawn? by horses. A line known as the Vlazie Railroad was put in operation out of Bangor, Me., In 1836, the Quincy road antedating this several years. The Bangor road began with two locomotives of Stephenson’s make in England. They had no cabs for the driver or fireman , on their arrival In this country, but rude affairs were soon attached. Wood was used for fuel. The first cars also were made in England, a carriage much like a big stagecoach being placed on a rude platform and trucks. The capacity of each car was eight passengers. In the beginning the one train on the line made about twelve miles in forty minutes, and the people of the country round about marveled at the speed It made. The rails on these pioneer railways were made of strap Iron, spiked down to. scantlings. Thp Boston & Lowell, Boston & Providence, and Boston & Worcester railroads were all opened for traffic In 1835.