February 18, 1861; The New York Herald
THE PRESIDENTIAL JOURNEY FROM ALBANY TO NEW YORK.
One of our reporters, by special invitation, on Saturday last made a visit of inspection to the magnificent car which has been fitted up by the Hudson River Railroad Company for the conveyance of Mr. Lincoln, the President elect, and his suite, tomorrow, from Albany to this city. The car has just been built, and fitted up expressly for the occasion, at the car shop of the company, Thirty first street, under the supervision of Mr. Town, superintendent of that establishment, who has displayed great taste in the internal arrangements, which combine comfort, elegance and appropriateness in the design of the decorations. The car itself is built in the most substantial manner, and provided with Creamer’s patent brakes, for stopping the train instantly in case of apparent danger. The exterior of the car is finished with narrow perpendicular panels, extending from the windows to the bottom, and painted a deep orange color, relieved by ornamental flourishes in black or dark brown on the bands. The body of the car is very highly varnished, giving it a fine effect. Nearly the entire length of the car is surmounted by a elevated roof – a sort of nave – which is amply provided on the sides with Cook’s patent ventilators. The height of the car, beneath the nave of raised roof, is about ten feet. The car is warmed by two of Spear’s patent railroad heaters and ventilators. For night travel, in case of necessity, it is furnished with four new and elegant wax candle burners, with cut glass globes. The floor of the car is covered with very handsome tapestry carpet, with a light ground, forming a striking and pleasing contrast with the dark furniture.
The sides of the car below the base of the windows are covered with dark crimson plush. The panels between the windows are covered with heavy blue silk, each studded with thirty four silver stars, representing the States of the Union, including the new State of Kansas, the question of secession being entirely ignored. Some narrow panels at the ends of the car are finished in the same style, except that they are studded with only thirteen silver stars, emblematical of the original thirteen States. The sides of the car over the windows are divided off into small panels of curled maple, highly polished, with bands of zebra wood and gilt mouldings. Along the sides of the car, just below the cornice moulding, a piece of rich tri-colored silk is hung in festoons, with tri-colored cord and tassels to match. At each end of the car there are two small national flags of rich silk, crossed, displaying the full complement of stars and stripes, apparently as firmly united and bright as ever. The car is furnished with four splendid lounges of extra softness and elasticity, covered with a mazarine of dark blue cloth of fine texture, trimmed with tri-colored gimp braid and tassels; four cozy reading chairs, all covered with soft blue cloth, and trimmed to correspond with the lounges, and a beautiful oblong table of black walnut and ebony, also covered with blue cloth. The cars, engine, and tender will be gaily decorated with national flags and streamers, and present a lively appearance. The President, Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of the road have been indefatigable in their efforts during the past week to perfect their arrangements for the approaching journey of the Presidential party from Albany, and guard it against any unpleasant consequences as far as it is possible for human sagacity to do so. With this view the entire force of persons employed on the road, numbering between five and six hundred between the two points of departure and arrival, have been detailed for special duty tomorrow as flagmen and guards of the track, who will keep up a line of signals the entire length of the road, inasmuch as these flag signal men (at least three to a mile) will be stationed in such positions that each can see and signal the next one and give notice of impending danger. Each division of flagmen will be under the direction and charge of the foreman of such division, and each man will be required to walk along the track of his own section, and carefully examine the same just before the approach of the Presidential party. The engineers will be accompanied by the master mechanic of each division of the road over which they pass.
Two new and powerful locomotives, recently purchased by the Hudson River Railroad Company (never yet used, except for the purpose of testing the strength and perfection of the machinery), christened respectively the ‘Union’ and the ‘Constitution’ have been reserved for this occasion. The Union will be run from Albany to Poughkeepsie, and the Constitution will be run from Poughkeepsie to New York. A special table has been prepared for the trip, from which it appears that the train will leave
East Albany, at 10 o’clock A.M.;
Hudson, at 10:56 A.M.;
Rhinebeck, at 12 M.;
Poughkeepsie, at 12:29 P.M.;
Fishkill at 1:08 P.M.;
And arrive at the new depot in Thirtieth street, between Ninth and Tenth avenues, at three P.M.
The Hon. S. Sloan, President of the Hudson River Railroad, will go to Albany today to accompany the President elect to this city. Mr. Smith, the Superintendent, and Mr. Cohen, Assistant Superintendent of the road, will repair to different points on the route, to act in case any emergency should arise. They will join the train at Poughkeepsie on its way down.
The train will consist of two cars only, it being the wish of the President elect that no additional cars shall be run, or any club, committee, or private individual be admitted to the train except those connected with the Presidential party.
The Hudson River Railroad Company are entitled to great credit for the liberality they have shown in providing for the comfort and safety of Old Abe.