A safer means
for creating steamwas
found with the invention of
the coal-burning
hearth
stove
. At first, this invention was
used to heat homes. Later, it was
adapted to a locomotive engine. The
source of fuel for homes and steamwas
anthracite
(hard coal). Pennsylvania had plenty
of this natural resource, which resulted in the
formation of many coal-mining companies.
With the arrival of the railroad industry, a strong
demand was created for iron rails. Pennsylvania had
many iron
forges,
and anthracite was found to be
superior to wood for producing iron. Railroad companies
were formed; they continually improved their services.
In 1839, passengers could ride on America’s first
sleeping car between
Harrisburg
and
Chambersburg
. In
the same year, the Reading Railroad opened between
Reading
and Philadelphia. One of its trains could carry
many passengers and tons of freight at the same time.
This showed business investors the railroad’s potential
for profit.
JohnWooten pioneered
the development of the
Camelback locomotive
in the 1870s at
Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad.
Wooten, who originally
apprenticed at the
Baldwin Locomotive
Works, designed the
“Wooten Firebox.” This
innovation benefited
passenger trains by
keeping smoke out of
the passenger cars, and
lowering costs through
the use of cheaper
anthracite coal.
Matthias Baldwin built “Old Ironsides” to carry passengers on
the newPhiladelphia, Germantown, andNorristownRailroad.
His Baldwin LocomotiveWorks would go on tomanufacture
more locomotives than any other firm in the world.
70
Understanding Pennsylvania
