Locomotive No. 62 and Crew on Virginia Central Line
Description:
'R.P. Murray, Engineer, (father of E.A. Murray, Shop Superintendent) standing with oil can in hand; employed in 1852 by Virginia Central Railroad. On Mr. Murray's right is C.I. Smith, Fireman, employed by Virginia Central Railroad in 1886". The Virginia Central connected the Virginia Tidewater to the Ohio River at Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
'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.'
'C. & O. R.R. Locomotive #32; Builder Name--Danforth Loco, Co. placed in service 1870. Cylinders 16" x 24"; weight of engines with three gauges of water 61650 pounds; Diam drivers 60:; dimensions of fire box 58 1/2 feet by 35 feet by 60 1/2 feet; No. of Flues 149; Diam of flues 2 inches; length of flues 11 feet, 1 inch; Diam of Boiler 46 7/8 feet; Service Passenger.'
Laurel Fork & Sand Hill Railroad Owned by William C. Stiles, Jr., William R. Sterling, J. N. Camden, Samuel D. Karns, and Austin Gunnison
Date:
1870/December
Description:
Established in 1866. The route of the line ran from the Baltimore & Ohio's Parkersburg Branch, the Northwestern Virginia Railroad, north, east and west. In practice it went to the oilfield at Volcano and no farther. In the photograph, the name "Maj. W. R. Sterling" is written across the engine.
Unidentified engineer sits at the controls of a locomotive of probably a Chesapeake and Ohio train, looking out the window, down the track. Information on the back includes, "Stephen D. Trail Su. Co. W. V. 2000 From Roy Long Collection".
