Best Friend Of Charleston Locomotive

by John Swatsley

Title

Best Friend Of Charleston Locomotive

Artist

John Swatsley

Medium

Painting - Watercolor On Cold Press Illustration Board

Description

As railroads came to be built, American ingenuity and spirit took over, and the design and production of locomotives in this country soon became reality. While sail cars and horse drawn entities were not unknown, it was the experimental steam engine which quickly fired the imagination of the nation's mechanically-minded entrepreneurs. The Charleston & Hamburg Line had as its chief engineer Horatio Allen, who in 1829 had designed the "Stourbridge Lion" -- America's first operational locomotive. The success of the imported Lion gave Allen the encouragement he needed to attempt an American-made version. Thus, the first American-built steam locomotive was produced at the West Point Foundry and was named, "Best Friend of Charleston." In December of 1830, it became the first locomotive ever to pull a train of cars by steam power along American railroad tracks. And one month later, the six-mile railroad began formal operation hauling some two hundred guest passengers, most of whom were shareholders and their families, at a speed of twenty-one miles per hour, and marking its progress by intermittent explosions from a small Army field gun, specially requisitioned for the trip. Later, the two hundred guests were replaced by a much more realistic number -- forty to fifty -- of paying customers who traveled the Charleston & Hamburg Line.

Please note the "Fine Art America" watermark will not appear on the painting or any print reproduction.

Artwork Copyright © 1986 Wind River Studios Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the Copyright. WRSH Stock Number XB10102

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September 21st, 2022

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