Samuel Cochrane
Encyclopedia
Samuel Cochrane was an American railroad engineer who, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was a locomotive engineer working the Erie
-Meadville, Pennsylvania
line later awarded the Order of the Red Spot.
Born to Cooper Samuel Cochrane, Sr. in Rochester, New York
, he attended school until the age of 13 when he left to become a clerk in a local wholesale liquor warehouse. He continue work there throughout his teenage years until 1870 when he accepted a position as fireman on the Meadville-based Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
line. He was engaged to Katherine Mitchell, the daughter of Erie engineer Joseph Mitchell, and married in November 1875.
After eight years of service, of which four years were spent on freight and another four on passenger, he passed the requirement to become an engineer receiving his official promotion in December 1878.
Cochrane continued running freight trains for another seventeen years and, although later allowed to run passenger trains, he requested to be transferred to local freight trains after two years. Throughout his career, Cochrane was praised for his clear record with no accidents and, a later member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
, Division No. 43, he held the distinction of having run the last broad-gauge engine
out of Meadville before the main road was narrowed to standard guage.
In January 1915, Cochrane was awarded the Order of the Red Spot, an award given to engine crews with minimal engine failures while in operation. Cochran continued working up until the 1920s as an engineer with the Oil City branch passenger trains between Meadville and Oil City.
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
-Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
line later awarded the Order of the Red Spot.
Born to Cooper Samuel Cochrane, Sr. in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, he attended school until the age of 13 when he left to become a clerk in a local wholesale liquor warehouse. He continue work there throughout his teenage years until 1870 when he accepted a position as fireman on the Meadville-based Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
Atlantic and Great Western Railroad
The Atlantic and Great Western Railroad began as three separate railroads: the Erie and New York City Railroad based in Jamestown, New York; the Meadville Railroad based in Meadville, Pennsylvania ; and the Franklin and Warren Railroad based in Franklin Mills, Ohio...
line. He was engaged to Katherine Mitchell, the daughter of Erie engineer Joseph Mitchell, and married in November 1875.
After eight years of service, of which four years were spent on freight and another four on passenger, he passed the requirement to become an engineer receiving his official promotion in December 1878.
Cochrane continued running freight trains for another seventeen years and, although later allowed to run passenger trains, he requested to be transferred to local freight trains after two years. Throughout his career, Cochrane was praised for his clear record with no accidents and, a later member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is a labor union founded in Marshall, Michigan, on May 8, 1863, as the Brotherhood of the Footboard. A year later, its name was changed to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, sometimes referred to as the Brotherhood of Engineers...
, Division No. 43, he held the distinction of having run the last broad-gauge engine
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
out of Meadville before the main road was narrowed to standard guage.
In January 1915, Cochrane was awarded the Order of the Red Spot, an award given to engine crews with minimal engine failures while in operation. Cochran continued working up until the 1920s as an engineer with the Oil City branch passenger trains between Meadville and Oil City.