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'This locomotive, named J.H. Timberlake, was placed in service by the Virginia Central Railroad in 1855. It is reported that this engine handled President Davis on one of more of his visits to the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.  Train Running Under Confederacy By Carter S. Anderson, Train Conductor, Virginia Central Railroad. (Published in Locomotive Engineering, April 1893, F. 177) In handling the Confederate soldiers from Richmond, Va. to Gordonsville, Va., 18 trains of about 15 cars each were made up at Richmond to take care of this movement, which consisted of freight cars of all descriptions, with one passenger car at the rear of each train to be occupied by officers, the conductor riding there also, and acting as rear brakeman generally. Below is a list of locomotive engineers and locomotives which took part in the story of our country, and in adversity played well their part, which may be interesting to some of the older employees of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company: 'Staunton,' Engineer Martin R. Alley; 'Albemarle,' John M. Kraft; 'J.H. Timberlake,' John Harton; 'John Timberlake,' Robert Murray; 'Westward Ho,' John Davidson; 'E.H. Gill,' Geo. W. Pelter; 'Chas. Ellett,' John Dunn; 'Greenbrier,' Raymond T. Dunn; 'Millboro,' Seth McCandlish; 'Stuart,' Wm. Keaton; 'W.M. Baldwin,' Simon Ailstock; 'C.G. Coleman,' L.S. Allen; 'E. Fontaine,' R.J. Goodwin; 'C.R. Mason,' Westley P. Huntley. You will note that my father, Robert Murray, manned the Locomotive, 'J.H. Timberlake' (picture shown above), which was placed in service on the Virginia Central Railroad in 1855. It is also reported that this locomotive handled President Davis on one of his visits to the Confederate Army headquarters located in Northern Virginia.'

1. Virginia Central Locomotive, 'J.H. Timberlake'