MAIDEN RUN ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1830
Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) 183 years ago today, Christmas Day 1830, "The Best Friend of Charleston," the 1st regularly scheduled steam locomotive passenger train in the United States, made her maiden run on 6 miles of track belonging to the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company.
According to the Charleston Mercury, the steam locomotive "moved...at a speed of 30 miles per hour" alone, but slowed down to an average of 16 miles per hour with 2 cars attached and 41 passengers on board.
The BFOC made four runs on that Christmas Day. The first at 8 a.m., another at 10 a.m. and then two more at 1 and 3:30 p.m. The three ton, six horsepower engine was manufactured and shipped from West Point, New York.
BFOC Replica
Photo by John White
August 2, 2014
The Charleston Courier of December 29, 1830 described the maiden run this way...
"...141 passengers flew on the wings of the wind at...15 to 25 mph, annihilating time and space...leaving all the world behind."
The BFOC, which was intended to be competitive with Savannah, Georgia in the Cotton trade, brought economic prosperity back to the Holy City and the line was soon extended to a point between Charleston and Summerville.
Tragedy, however, struck on June 17, 1831 when the 1st ever locomotive boiler explosion virtually destroyed the BFOC. A fireman was killed in the explosion.
A new engine, named the Phoenix, was built from remnants of the BFOC.
In 1928, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the SC Canal and Railroad Company, a full size replica of the BFOC was built. The 85 year old replica was restored in 2007.
BFOC Replica
Photo by John White
August 2, 2014
Bruce Smith writes in the Huffington Post...
"the engine, tender and two passenger cars, based on the original plans, will be installed in a new free city museum in one of five old railroad sheds dating to the 1800s."
The new home of the BFOC is located at 32 Ann Street next to the Charleston Visitors Center.
*JFK+50 UPDATE
We have updated our photos on this post with our first visit to the BFOC Train Museum, August 2, 2014.
SOURCES
"Best Friend of Charleston Train Replica To Now Live in Free City Museum," by Bruce Smith, October 29, 1913, www.huffingtonpost.com
"Today in History: December 25," The Library of Congress American Memory, www.memory.loc.gov/
www.bestfriendofcharleston.org
www.charlestonrail.org
www.facebook.com/BestFriendofCharleston
Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) 183 years ago today, Christmas Day 1830, "The Best Friend of Charleston," the 1st regularly scheduled steam locomotive passenger train in the United States, made her maiden run on 6 miles of track belonging to the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company.
BFOC Replica
Photo by John White
August 2, 2014
August 2, 2014
The BFOC made four runs on that Christmas Day. The first at 8 a.m., another at 10 a.m. and then two more at 1 and 3:30 p.m. The three ton, six horsepower engine was manufactured and shipped from West Point, New York.
BFOC Replica
Photo by John White
August 2, 2014
The Charleston Courier of December 29, 1830 described the maiden run this way...
"...141 passengers flew on the wings of the wind at...15 to 25 mph, annihilating time and space...leaving all the world behind."
The BFOC, which was intended to be competitive with Savannah, Georgia in the Cotton trade, brought economic prosperity back to the Holy City and the line was soon extended to a point between Charleston and Summerville.
Illustration of the BFOC
January 1878
Tragedy, however, struck on June 17, 1831 when the 1st ever locomotive boiler explosion virtually destroyed the BFOC. A fireman was killed in the explosion.
A new engine, named the Phoenix, was built from remnants of the BFOC.
In 1928, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the SC Canal and Railroad Company, a full size replica of the BFOC was built. The 85 year old replica was restored in 2007.
BFOC Replica
Photo by John White
August 2, 2014
Bruce Smith writes in the Huffington Post...
"the engine, tender and two passenger cars, based on the original plans, will be installed in a new free city museum in one of five old railroad sheds dating to the 1800s."
The new home of the BFOC is located at 32 Ann Street next to the Charleston Visitors Center.
BFOC Train Museum
Photo by John White
August 2, 2014
*JFK+50 UPDATE
We have updated our photos on this post with our first visit to the BFOC Train Museum, August 2, 2014.
SOURCES
"Best Friend of Charleston Train Replica To Now Live in Free City Museum," by Bruce Smith, October 29, 1913, www.huffingtonpost.com
"Today in History: December 25," The Library of Congress American Memory, www.memory.loc.gov/
www.bestfriendofcharleston.org
www.charlestonrail.org
www.facebook.com/BestFriendofCharleston
