On the eve of the Civil War, the Western & Atlantic Railroad had more than 45 locomotives on its active roster.
The roster included four more engines that were “worn out and condemned.” “But, in [the] absence of any legislative action, I shall not feel authorized to sell them,” Superintendent John W. Lewis said in a September 30, 1860, report to Gov. Joseph E. Brown.
He noted, “The Road at no time of your administration, nor at any other time, has been in so perfect condition as at the present time.”
While the overwhelming majority were constructed by the major locomotive builders of the day, including Baldwin and Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor, the Western & Atlantic built one locomotive in its own shop: the R.C. Jackson.
Click here to read more.
This article was published by Tales from the Rails and is republished here with permission. Click here to view the original.
