Front:
Brother Jonathan
1832
USA2
000
ОСТ
1987
21233
MD
BALT
Back:
BROTHER JONATHAN
First Day of Issue: October 1, 1987
First Issue Location: Baltimore, Maryland
The early 1830's were marked by improvements in the
railroad industry. A man named John Jervis was among
the innovators. Jervis was chief engineer for the Mohawk
and Hudson Railroad. In 1832, he made improvements
which would become standard in locomotives through-
out the country. His idea was to lighten the engine by
removing the rigid front axle with its single pair of wheels
and substituting a front truck with two axles and four
wheels. The “Experiment” was built at the West Point
Foundry according to Jervis' new design. It was a success
and Jervis' concept was adopted almost immediately.
The engine was renamed “Brother Jonathan" and,
achieving speeds of 60 miles per hour, became the fastest
locomotive in the world. “Brother Jonathan" was later
converted to an eight-wheel construction and served for
many years along the rails of America. Jervis had thus
paved the way for “Americanization" of the locomotive.
The result was a period of progress for the railroad
industry.
No. 87-96
©1987 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation . Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by John Swatsley
