The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

LANDING IN AMERICA. 37
for a locomotive-road, the rails being of hemlock-timber, six
inches thick by twelve inches deep, keyed (or wedged) into gains
cut in cross-ties of hemlock-timber, placed ten feet apart, with
a flat bar of iron fastened by screws upon the top of the rail—the
gauge (or width) of track heing four feet three inches. They also
demonstrated that the plan of construction of the locomotive was
not such as to afford a probability of its being successfully used
for the purpose designed, with any such changes in the road as
were then deemed reasonable.
" The failure of success was a great disappointment, not only
to th6 directors and stockholders of the company, but also to the
community, who were interested in the prosperity of the county.
" While thus standing by tbe side of the railroad, it was an
object of great dread to timid children who were obliged to pass
by it ; and many, now residing in Honesdale, remember the care
they were accustomed to take, when children, to avoid passing
near the fierce-looking 'lion.' In November, 1829, it was housed
in with rough boards, as it thus stood beside the railroad,
though some of the boards on the sides were soon displaced, to
give opportunity /or the curious to examine it more readily. It
remained where thus housed some fourteen or fifteen years , until
so many of its parts were detached or broken, that it was entirely
disabled and considered worthless as a locomotive ; when the
boiler was removed to Carbondale, and used with a stationaryengine
in one of the company's shops, and the wheels, axles, and
loose parts, were sold for old iron. Some of the loose parts are still
kept as mementos of the first locomotive run upon a railroad in
America. The boiler is now in use in Carbondale. '^?^/
" In the original ' Labor Account ' kept by Mr. Stephen Torry,
for his father's Honesdale business, in 1829, is the following entry:
" ' Satubdat, August 8, 1829.
" ' The locomotive-engine " Stourbridge Lion " was started by
steam this morning.
—
Alva Adams had his arm blown off while
firing the cannon .
" ' No work was done until after the middle of forenoon.'
"In the accounts kept by Stephen Torry for his father, in
1829, is a charge to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company,
under date of 'November 7, 1829,' for 'boards to cover the
steam-engine.'
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