In the 1820s, the bustling seaport of Charleston experienced an alarming economic recession as settlements expanded inland and westward. Often disasters are legendary because of the sheer number of people they affected, but in this case, the horrific nature of the damage makes it memorable. When the Best Friend began to move again, a terrible explosion threw the boiler twenty feet into the air, killing the fireman, scalding the engineer, and injuring several workers. By the mid-1820s the concept of railroads was gaining serious headway in 1 was ordered by the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company in September 1824; its design benefitted from George Stephenson's experience building his series of Killingworth locomotives. Within five months of the Best Friends debut, a second locomotive, the West Point, arrived in Charleston. He went through the usual routine, then took a hard look at me and asked, Didnt you have that little train over in Springfield a few weeks ago? I said yes and he continued, Well, be sure to drive carefully. A replica of the "Best Friend of Charleston" stretches its legs in September, 1983. Many people throughout the railway were convinced I had a glamorous job, John said. On the returndarted forth like a live rocket, scattering sparks and flames on either sideand landed us all safe at the Lines before any of us had time to determine whether or not it was prudent to be scared.". [10], On 27 September 1825, Locomotion No.1 hauled the first train on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, driven by George Stephenson. Designed by Elegant WordPress Themes | Powered by WordPress, on The Best Friend of Charleston: Short-Lived, Long Legacy, Apollo April at the South Carolina State Museum. Fairfax Harrison caused the Best Friend replica to be built in 1928; in 1970 it has been making appearances throughout South Carolina in connection with the state's tricentennial. THE EVENT. The locomotive's engineer Nicholas Darrell was uninjured in the explosion. Instead, they opted for a rail line connecting Charleston and the upland town of Hamburg, South Carolina, just across the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia. A letter to the now York Herald dated bachelors Creek near Newborn n. 0., 27th uu., gives an account of an explosion of four torpedoes by which Over forty new York soldiers and contraband wore killed and Between Twenty and thirty terribly wounded Tho writer says the train which left Newborn at three of clock in the afternoon brought to the out . On 1 July 1828, it was heavily damaged when its boiler exploded at Aycliffe Lane station, resulting in the death of its driver, John Cree. Handicapped children from three area schools came to ride, he said One teacher told me later she was convinced, by their facial expressions, that two deaf children hear a sound when I blew the Whistle. In the early 1800s, transportation looked completely different from what it does today. Home U.K. I enjoyed that job because it offered such variety, he said. With this, the Best Friend of Charlestonbecame the first American-built steam locomotive to haul a train of passenger cars on a public railroad. John even designed the Best Friends carrier cars a boxcar to house the two coaches and tender and a flat car with a dog house that protects the engine. Today, an operable replica of the locomotive is in the hands of the Charleston, SC Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. Thats the job he has now, but he has spent little time at it. At some point, worried that the cotton bales were still not enough protection for paying customers, they added a flat car with a group of black musicians. [4] A pair of cross-heads above the cylinders transmitted the power through a pair of coupling rods, making use of a loose eccentric valve gear. 4493. Best Friend of Charleston, first steam locomotive built in the United States for regular railway service. The railroad's chief engineer, Horatio Allen, had been to England to test steam locomotives, as well as operate theStourbridge Liondesign being tested on the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company in 1829 (officially, the first such locomotive ever operated in the U.S. but was built in England). Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. About six months after its first journey, disaster struck. Between 1857 and the 1880s, it was usually on the pedestal display at Alfred Kitching's workshop near the Hopetown Carriage Works. On Ann Street, old train towers now house the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry and the Best Friend of Charleston Museum. Moore's son, named Samuel, had been born in December 1845 and was therefore less than a year older than George. Later regulations specified that no train was to exceed 20 mph unless greatly behind time. Ah, what would we do without loopholes? Other east coast cities took notice and the port of Charleston, South Carolina followed suit on December 19, 1827 establishing the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company. 301 Gervais Street Among the many artifacts chronicling the company's 153-year history are a locomotive bell, railroad maps, stock books and the mail contract with the Confederate government. An operator shovels wood or coal into a firebox to be burned. [7], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}335955N 810253W / 33.9986N 81.0481W / 33.9986; -81.0481. In 1830 the engine arrived by packet ship from the West Point Foundry in New York. A power unit in the tender provides the Southern replica with emergency chain-drive propulsion, while the replica at Santee has one to generate electricity and drive a blower. It took ten months to shape up the little train, including the installation of a new boiler. After its inaugural run on Christmas Day, it was used in regular passenger service along a six-mile (9.7km) demonstration route in Charleston. 657. From 1892 to 1975, Locomotion was on static display along with Derwent, another early locomotive, on one of the platforms overlooking the S&DR line to Saltburn-by-the-Sea at Darlington's main station Bank Top. It became the first steam locomotive to haul a passenger-carrying train on a public railway, the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR). At the time, it was considered one of the fastest modes of transport, taking its passengers "on the wings of wind at the speed of fifteen to twenty-five miles per hour (24 to 40km/h). It produced the first locomotive boiler explosion in the United States. It was built in 1928 to commemorate the centenary of the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road, and widely exhibited. This fire heats the water held in a boiler to the point that it creates steam, which pushes pistons that move rods connected to the wheels, moving the train forward. Mon: Thursday, September 15, 1870, THE SOUTHERN HOME (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC) -Died: In this city, on the 8th instant, Samuel A. HARRIS, Esq., aged 65 years. Speed, it turned out, was not a danger, but the boiler assuredly was. The Best Friend of Charleston was a steam-powered railroad locomotive which is widely acclaimed as the first locomotive to be built entirely within the United States for revenue service and produced the first locomotive boiler explosion in the United States. Sadly, the Best Friend of Charleston suffered a boiler explosion in . [20][21], "Locomotion No. I love people and these last 14 years gave me the opportunity to work closely with a wonderful variety of people.. It is widely acclaimed as the first locomotive to be built entirely within the United States for revenue service. Address: The Best Friend of Charleston Museum was built 2013. The original Best Friend made its six mile run Christmas Day, 1830, from Charleston to Hamburg, S.C., so named by local merchants who saw the train providing low-cost, dependable transportation, the Best Friend was build for the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company, Southern Railways earliest predecessor line. The city's newspaper, the Charleston Courier noted: "The one hundred and forty-one persons flew on the wings of wind at the speed of fifteen to twenty-five miles per hour, annihilating time and spaceleaving all the world behind. A vertical boiler mounted on a four-wheel carriage, the Best Friend was built by the West Point Foundry of New York and put into service on a broad-gauge line from Charleston to Hamburg, S.C., by the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company on Dec. 25, 1830. Dozens of flights have been delayed at Charleston International airport due to a FAA computer malfunction.We haven't seen any flights leave Charleston in the past 40-45 minutes.Tune into @ABCNews4 for the latest updates # . The Best Friend of Charleston was a steam-powered railroad locomotive that is widely acclaimed as the first locomotive to be built entirely within the United States for revenue service. The locomotive, as its ownership changed, remained in Darlington from 1857, in later years on display at the Head of Steam museum in Darlington, in the same building as Darlington's North Road station. The purpose of the company was to haul agricultural products from inland farms, notably the important cotton crop, to the port city for shipment. In June 1831 an accident brought an end to the Best Friend. When he retires early in 1984, what will John miss the most? Locomotives like the Best Friend work by using the pressure produced by steam. The hope was to connect Hamburg, Columbia, Augusta, and Camden to the west along a route more than 140 miles in length with a canal spanning the gap between the Savannah and Ashley rivers (hence the "canal" in the name). It was rebuilt but, as a consequence of the rapid advances in locomotive design, Locomotion No. John has repeated the tale of the tragic demise of the original Best Friend thousands of times: The train was short-lived. play a vital role in the faster movement of people and goods. Until this time, travel had been limited to road conditions and river navigability. The Best Friend performed flawlessly and was credited as the first American-built steam locomotive to haul a trainload of paying customers on a common-carrier railroad. Its ironic that Johns 43 year railroad career ended with steam because thats how it started.. The blocked valve caused the pressure within the boiler to exceed its capacity, and it exploded. That gave it the distinction of operating the first regularly scheduled passenger train service in the United States. 1 (originally named Active) is an early steam locomotive that was built in 1825 by the pioneering railway engineers George and Robert Stephenson at their manufacturing firm, Robert Stephenson and Company. 1 continued to haul trains on the S&DR for three years. The only mode of travel that was any faster was by an experienced horse and rider. Despite this disaster, it was clear how much potential there was for rail travel. Norfolk Southern will miss this special man whos been an invaluable link between its railroad and the communities we serve. When the Best Friend of Charleston, a replica of the first regularly operating steam train in this country, made its last trip this season in Louisville, passengers were unaware of this special run. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his, If you are researching anything EMD related please visit, If you are researching active or abandoned corridors you might want to check out the, C&O's George Washington (Train): Timetable, Route, Consist. [9], The completed Locomotion No.1 was transported by road from Newcastle to Darlington in September 1825. South Carolinians are excessively proud of having had the first American railroad of any length and the first locomotive to be used in revenue service. The Best Friend is usually scheduled along with the Norfolk Southerns Exhibit Car, every weekend from late march until Late October, for an array of community actives in NSs 21-state system. The railroad's chief engineer, Horatio Allen, had it built in West Point Foundry based in Cold Spring, NY; and it could reach 30mph empty and 12mph loaded, which was . Charleston, S.C.: boiler exploded on America's first passenger locomotive, The Best Friend of Charleston, injuring the fireman and the engineer. In the 1820s, the bustling seaport of Charleston experienced an alarming economic recession as settlements expanded inland and westward. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his UtahRails.net site (another fine resource). ever operated in the United States that August, Peter Cooper's "Tom Live by the train, die by the train. What started out for John as an occasional weekend rendezvous as an engineer turned into a full-fledged continuing love affair. The year 1830 was an exciting time in the new, fledgling railroad industry which saw the first U.S.-built steam locomotive And the company wanted the public to be assured that in addition to its regular schedule, the railroad was also available at times more convenient to any interested party. I like trains. 1, George Stephenson and the world's first public railway", "Locomotion No.1, Stockton & Darlington Railway", "Rival railway museums in row over steam locomotive ownership", "Let's Keep our Railway Heritage on Track! The Best Friend of Charleston began the first regular passenger service in the country following a six-mile route in Charleston. This first trip was described by the Charleston Courier on December 29: The one hundred and forty-one persons flew on the wings of wind at the speed of fifteen to twenty-five miles per hour, annihilating time and spaceleaving all the world behind. Alas, in 2013 the site closed. In 1831 the Best Friend was used to carry mail, freight, and passengers. Just A Car Guy: Southern's Best Friend of Charleston replica is unloaded from its two specialized transport cars for an event at Abingdon, VA. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The railroad's chief engineer, Horatio Allen, had been to England to test steam locomotives, as well as operate the. Currently, the locomotive is on display at Norfolk Southern's headquarters in Atlanta, Ga, while the trailing cars are held at the South Carolina Railroad Museum. The engine was forgotten. ", "WATCH: Locomotion No 1 arrives in Shildon", "Science Museum Group and Darlington Borough Council agree future plans for Locomotion No. In Charleston, the weapons were delivered to a storehouse which the Americans had used as an improvised arsenal. This car measures approximately 3 1/2 inches in length.Condition: Factory New (C-9)Operational Status: Functional A replica of the Best Friend of Charleston was in the 1948-49 Chicago Railroad Fair because in 1830 it was the first commercially operated steamer constructed in America on the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company (SCC&RR). The Best Friend of Charleston Made its first trip on Dec. 25, 1830. The train was small, but the statement was loud, proclaiming the dawn of the age of rail in the Carolinas. [11] Cree had tied down the arm of a safety valve, which caused the boiler pressure to rise to the point of explosion. The locomotive weighed 6.6 tonnes, with many elements, including the boiler, cylinders and wheels, composed of cast iron, although the frame was timber. [10] Locomotion always returned to its static display in Darlington,[15] the headquarters of the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company. Then John left Southern for five years, did building contract work and a very short stint with the Pennsylvania Railroad as industrial engineer. 1, saving it from the scrapyard when its working life had ended;[15] it was one of the first locomotives to be restored for preservation. The locomotive was built for the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company by the West Point Foundry of New York in 1830. Johns most touching Best Friend experience occurred several years ago in Charleston. After the incident the railroad salvaged parts from theBest Friendto construct thePhoenix, which remained in use until the start of the Civil War in 1861. Locomotion No.1 was steamed for the Stockton and Darlington Railway's Golden Jubilee in September 1875, as well as to participate in a procession of locomotives at the George Stephenson Centenary, in June 1881. from The Birmingham News newspaper - Nov 1961 / collection, from Railroading 36 - Nov 1970 / collection. the relatively new United States of America. Sat:: It survived until Amtrak in 1971. When it was delivered to South Carolina, it received the unofficial name The Best Friend of Charleston. Theres no doubt much of the Best Friends success is due to John. Fun fact: we deliver faster than Amazon. She had just returned from Egypt where Anwar Sadat had given her a huge gold pendant necklace she was wearing, he said She accepted our charm with such courtesy and graciousness.. Moving goods like cotton from South Carolinas upstate to Charleston (SCs main market) had to be done along the few existing roads or by navigating dangerous rivers. The Best Friend Train Museum is located at 23 Ann Street behind the Charleston Area Visitor Center on Meeting Street in . But most importantly, his role as Best Friend engineer has triggered the squeal of children and adults as hes started the Best Friend down the track, generating nostalgia and excitement of that first run 153 years ago. It produced the first locomotive boiler explosion in the United States. Save up to 70% off with image packs. [citation needed], On 16 September 1824, the S&DR ordered a pair of steam locomotives, at a price of 550 (about 46,810 today) each. Of note, there is also another, non-operable, replica on display at the South Carolina State Museum, in Columbia. sent by boat to Charleston, arriving in October 1830. In 1830, the company built a stretch of rail extending six miles up Charleston Neck for demonstration purposes, on which the engine known as the "Best Friend of Charleston" made its debut that December. In his 2006 book "Railroads of San . Hes led parades, received keys to cities and been made an honorary or a lifetime citizen of many communities. Columbia, SC 29201, CLICK HERE to report State Agency Fraud (Office of the Inspector General). Unfortunately, locomotives of this era were not exactly constructed to any type of standards or overseen by regulations and after less than one year of service it suffered a boiler explosion. The new company considered, but rejected, the prospect of digging canals. It ran along six miles of wood and metal rails terminating near the junction of State and Dorchester Roads. The boiler blew up, killing the operator and destroying the train. Disassembled for shipment by boat to Charleston, South Carolina, it arrived in October of that year and was unofficially named The Best Friend of Charleston. After this initial run the locomotive continued operating daily. She made her first six-mile trip on December 25, 1830. It has a new display building for the 1928 replica of the Best Friend of Charleston was built at 32 Ann St. in downtown Charleston. The line later became part of the Southern Railway System, which became part of Norfolk Southern Corp. in 1982. Though its speed might not impress us today, by 19th century standards it was nothing short of incredible. In 1998 a gentleman by the name ofAndre Kristopans put together a web page highlighting virtually every unit out-shopped by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. John Steven's was granted the first charter for a steam powered railroad in America in March 21, 1823. In 1856, Joseph Pease and his family spent 50 to restore the S&DR Company's Locomotion No. [19] Originally only at Darlington on loan from Beamish, ownership of the replica was transferred to Darlington Borough Council, which will see the replica returned to service in time for the S&D's 200th anniversary. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Best-Friend-of-Charleston, South Carolina Encyclopedia - Best Friend of Charleston, Teaching American History in South Carolina - The Best Friend of Charleston, The Charleston Railroad. Did you just fucking question the train fact man? Even though that theory was immediately debunked on the 1830 Christmas excursion, the operational Charleston & Hamburg Railroad set strict but flexible speed limits. Satisfied the railroad and its star locomotive were ready for service, Allen treated Charlestonians to a Christmas Day spectacle by initiating service on December 25, 1830. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. I liked what I was doing, but the time away from home got tedious. Luckily for both John and Lillian, his wife of 43 years, she has traveled with hem the past few years. Built at West Point Foundry Works in New York State, it claimed the distinction of being the first steam engine built in the United States for use on a domestic railroad. At this time, Europeans were just beginning to experiment with the concept of a Rail Road; a new means of transportation that employed a locomotive propelled along rails by steam power. The year 1830 was an exciting time in the new, fledgling railroad industry which saw the first U.S.-built steam locomotive ever operated in the United States that August, Peter Cooper's "Tom Thumb" along the Baltimore & Ohio. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Corrections? With the decrease in commerce, Charleston merchants began aggressively investigating avenues to revitalize the floundering economy. Construction went quickly, having the advantages that the railway was a single set of slightly elevated tracks, was built almost entirely of wood, and was laid over relatively flat terrain. John has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles, met thousands of people, counting many no as friends and acquired enough memorable experiences to fill a book. Under Johns tutelage, the multiple tie and bolt machine and automatic spike driver were build and used extensively for jointed rail installation. Within three years, the rail road boasted of six locomotives, including the "Phoenix," an engine constructed from the "Best Friend's" remains. There were four 4 feet (1.2m) diameter driving wheels. In 1830, only six (6) miles were finished; in 1831, nearly the entire road was put under contract; and, in October of 1833, the road was connected from Charleston to Hamburgh, a total of 136 miles. South Carolina State Museum businessman who wanted to make sure that their city remained a vital BEST FRIEND OF CHARLESTON First Steam Locomotive Southern Railway Replica Train C $10.54 or Best Offer +C $1.52 shipping from United States Sponsored Railroad Train The Best Friend of Charleston Replica now Southern Railway Pre-Owned C $6.58 Top Rated Seller or Best Offer +C $2.31 shipping from United States Sponsored In 1833 the world's longest railroad was completed linking Charleston to Hamburg, South Carolina, just across the Savannah River from Augusta. Thats where railroads come in. The Best Friend of Charleston was the first American steam locomotive built for revenue service. Posted by SCSM on May 18, 2020 in Deep Dive, History | Comments Off on The Best Friend of Charleston: Short-Lived, Long Legacy, By Meredith Nichter, Curator of Science and Technology. GreatFatsby 20 jan 2020. This is The Best Friend of Charleston, Americas first passenger steam locomotive. It was the nations first regularly operated steam passenger train. When a subsequent explosion on the Charleston & Hamburg injured passengers in the first car behind the engine, the company took action. With an extra tap on his top hat, a longer pull on the shrill whistle and fond memories flooding his mind, John ended his love affair with his Best Friend. Explosions struck the capital, Kyiv, and an apparent rocket strike destroyed an administration building in Kharkiv, the second largest city, killing civilians. Yesterday, a train derailed in West Virginia and exploded. Dubbed Best Friend of Charleston by eager merchants, the train made its premier trip on Christmas Day 1830, becoming the first steam locomotive in the US to establish regularly scheduled passenger service. 1 is most notable for being the first locomotive to haul a passenger train on a public railway than for the innovations in its design. After bringing the reproduction back to life, Lionel approached Lehr to help create 600 limited-edition models of the Best Friend. Reputable medical authorities of the time were warning that speeds in excess of 10 mph could kill passengers on the newfangled railroad by depriving them of oxygen. Between 1892 and 1975, it was on static display at one of the platforms at Darlington Bank Top railway station, and was then on display at the Head of Steam museum based at Darlington North Road railway station between 1975 and 2021. JohnWilliams 18 jan 2020. This nameless Negro fireman was killed by his injuries, and was the first fatality on an America railroad. A replica of the Best Friend of Charleston was built in 1928 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company by the Southern Railway. History. In 1941, he entered the four-year machinist apprentice program, but actually became qualified in two years because of the ware. The locomotive's name came from its home base of operations, Charleston, South Carolina as during those early years it was actually common practice to name them. Waterway navigation was severely limited to the course, water flow, depth and tides of the river systems. Even farmers as far away as North Carolina looked south for access to markets. On August 6, 2005, the City of Charleston lent it to the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), the original SCRR line's current operator, for five years. Contents. 1 hauled the first train on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and became the first locomotive to run on a public railway. Best Friend of Charleston, first steam locomotive built in the United States for regular railway service. At this time, Europeans were just beginning to experiment with the concept of a Rail Road; a new means of transportation that employed a locomotive propelled along rails by steam power. This explosion ended all train service on the C&HRR for a month. Legally George was considered Samuel's "bodyservant," but among children the relationship was more likely that of playmate and best friend.
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