Sandusky (locomotive)

Infobox Locomotive
name="Sandusky"
powertype=Steam
whytetype=4-2-0
builder=Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor
builddate=1837
railroad=Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad
gauge=4 ft 10 in (1,473 mm)
cylindersize=11 in (279 mm) dia. x 16 in (406 mm) stroke
driversize=4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm) dia.
leadingsize=2 ft 6 in (762 mm) dia.
firstrundate=December 2 1837 in Ohio

"Sandusky" was the name of a steam railroad locomotive, a 4-2-0, built in the United States. This locomotive included engineering features that hadn't been used before in locomotive construction and it played an integral role in the railroad history of Ohio.

History

"Sandusky" was the first locomotive built by Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor; it was completed in 1837. Thomas Rogers, the manufacturing company's founder, designed the locomotive. While some references cite "Sandusky" as the first locomotive built in the United States, the "Best Friend of Charleston" is more widely accepted as the first; the "Best Friend of Charleston" was built in 1831.

The "Sandusky", however, was the first locomotive to feature counterweights in its driving wheels to offset the force of the piston stroke and the combined weight of the axle, wheels and piston rod against the railroad track. Rogers filed a patent for the engine's counterbalance on July 12 1837. "Sandusky" also featured the first use of hollow oval-shaped spokes in its driving wheels. [White - History of the American locomotive p 177]

While "Sandusky" was built for the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company, that railroad never actually purchased the engine. It was eventually sold to the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad (MR&LE), the first railroad built in Ohio. Through this purchase, "Sandusky" earned a couple more firsts — it became the first locomotive to cross the Allegheny Mountains (although this crossing was made by river ferry and not by rail) and it was the first locomotive to operate in Ohio. Its transportation to Ohio was supervised by Thomas Hogg. The "Sandusky" pulled the first train on the MR&LE from Sandusky to Bellevue.

Timeline

* October 3 or October 6 1837: The "Sandusky" makes its first trial run between Paterson, Jersey City, and New Brunswick New Jersey. Some references cite October 3 while others cite October 6 as the locomotive's first trial operations.
* October 14 1837: The Mad River & Lake Erie railroad purchases "Sandusky".
* December 2 1837: "Sandusky" makes its first run on the MR&LE in Ohio.

References

* Moshein, Peter and Rothfus, Robert R., (1992) Rogers locomotives: A brief history and construction list, "Railroad History" (167) 13-147.
* [http://www.steamlocomotive.com/builders/ "Steam Locomotive Builders"]
* [http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/absa3.Html "The Evolution of the American Locomotive"]
* [http://www.onebellevue.com/madriver/MR&LERRH.htm Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad History]
* [http://www.onebellevue.com/madriver/MadRiverHogg.html Obituary of Thomas Hogg]