Monday Evening, January 27, 1851.
Safely Through.
The first Locomotive from Springfield to Dayton, passed over the
railroad connecting the two cities this morning. Mr. Osborne, the
Superintendent, and a small party of gentlemen from Springfield came
through. The connection at the “deep cut” was completed on Saturday, and
the trip this morning was made by way of trial. The entire line was
found to be in good running order, and the locomotive came through in
fine style. On Wednesday next, we learn, the first train will be run
from Springfield down, with the care intended far this section of the
road. It is also expected that a large party of our Springfield
neighbors will make us a call.—Have the arrangements been made to give
than a proper reception? It is time this matter was attended to. The
Dayton folks should likewise hold themselves in readiness to return the
visit. Let there be a “demonstration” on both sides worthy of the
occasion.
However, in September the same year when regular service began to
Cincinnati, the arrival of the first train was the occasion of quite a
memorable celebration. These illustrations show one of the first trains,
newspaper comment, program for the opening, and Dayton’s Union Station
of early days.
[Illustration: This illustration shows one of the first trains to
Cincinnati.]
[Illustration: A newspaper account of the grand opening of the old
Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad. The “Cincinnati” was the
first of the trains to arrive in Dayton that day. Although “buried”
deep in the article about the railroad’s opening, the bizarre
accident that almost cost the life of the road’s president, S. S.
L’Hommedieu, is probably one of the strangest in railroading
history. According to later newspaper accounts, Mr. L’Hommedieu
recovered from his injuries.]