The "West Point", 1830-1831.

The West Point was the second engine to draw a train of cars in this country and was built at the West Point Foundry Shops, New York City and put on the Charleston and Hamburgh Railroad in the winter of 1830-31 at Charleston, S. C. The rails were of wood topped with iron. This engine was similar to the Best Friend except that it had a horizontal tubular boiler.

From John White:

Another product of the pioneer West Point Foundry was the locomotive West Point. It was completed in 1831 for the South Carolina Railroad and saw less than seven years' service. This engraving, like the illustration of the Best Friend, was based on an original drawing.

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November 2009