Best Friend of Charleston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Best Friend of Charleston |
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| line drawing of the Best Friend of Charleston | |
| Power type | Steam |
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| Builder | West Point Foundry |
| Configuration | 0-4-0 |
| Gauge | 5 ft (1,524 mm) |
| Locale | Charleston, South Carolina |
| Delivered | October 1830 |
| First run | December 25, 1830 |
| Disposition | Boiler exploded June 17, 1831; some parts reused to build Phoenix |
The Best Friend of Charleston was an important steam train. Many people believe it was the very first train built completely in the United States to carry passengers and goods for money. Sadly, it was also the first train in the U.S. to have its boiler explode.
Contents
The Story of the Best Friend Train
Building a New Kind of Train
The Best Friend of Charleston was built in 1830. It was made for the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company. The West Point Foundry in New York built this special train.
The train was taken apart to be shipped by boat. It arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, in October 1830. People unofficially called it The Best Friend of Charleston.
First Rides and Fast Speeds
The train had its first official trip on Christmas Day, 1830. After that, it regularly carried passengers. It ran on a 6-mile (about 9.7 km) test track in Charleston.
Back then, this train was super fast! It carried people "on the wings of wind" at 15 to 25 miles per hour (24 to 40 km/h). Only a very skilled rider on a fast horse could travel quicker.
A Sad Accident: The Boiler Explosion
On June 17, 1831, something terrible happened. The Best Friend became the first train in the U.S. to have its boiler explode. A boiler is like a giant kettle that heats water to make steam. This steam powers the train.
It's believed the train's fireman caused the blast. He got tired of hearing the steam pressure release valve whistle. So, he tied it down to stop the noise. This meant the steam couldn't escape when the pressure got too high.
The pressure inside the boiler grew too much for it to handle. It exploded, sending metal pieces flying everywhere. Sadly, the fireman died in the accident. The train's engineer, Nicholas Darrell, was not hurt.
After the Explosion
After this accident, the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company made a new rule. Train engineers had to stay at their controls at all times. New conductors were hired to help manage the cars, passengers, and track switches.
Parts from the damaged Best Friend were used to build a new train called the Phoenix. This new train ran until the American Civil War. To help passengers feel safe again, a flatcar piled high with cotton bales was placed between the engine and the passenger cars. The cotton was meant to protect people from another explosion.
Replicas of the Best Friend
There are special copies, called replicas, of the Best Friend of Charleston today.
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The 1928 Replica
One working replica was built in 1928. It celebrated 100 years since the original train was made. This replica has been shown in many places.
In 2005, the city of Charleston loaned it to the Norfolk Southern Railway. This company now runs the same train line as the original. After being fixed up, the replica was shown in New York City. This celebrated 175 years of American railroads. It was later displayed in Atlanta, Georgia, and then returned to Charleston in 2013.
Other Replicas
Another full-size replica is on display at the South Carolina State Museum. You can find it in Columbia, South Carolina.
Best Friend of Charleston Museum
In May 2014, the Best Friend of Charleston Museum opened. It is located on 23 Ann Street in the Charleston Historic District. This museum is close to the Charleston Visitor Center and the Charleston Museum.
Important Dates
- October 1830: The Best Friend train arrives in Charleston.
- December 25, 1830: The Best Friend makes its first trip in Charleston.
- June 17, 1831: The boiler on the Best Friend explodes.
- After 1831: Parts of the Best Friend are used to build the Phoenix train. The Phoenix runs until the American Civil War.
See also
