There are times in life when we can’t recollect where we have placed something. Things
disappear and in time they once again show up. It is simply a part of life. Sometimes we
misplace items that might hold more value, such as a family heirloom, or perhaps a purse, wallet or keys to your car. I know I sometimes misplace my glasses and visit the usual places I might have left them — a nightstand, my desk or my car. I find it particularly more frustrating when I lose my glasses, because I need my glasses to find my glasses. Losing or misplacing things is a part of our routines, regardless of how organized we would like to think we might be.
Sometimes when things are not found, we fear they might have been lost or, even worse, stolen. I always try to approach these situations with a positive frame of mind and try to believe that most people are basically honest. But there are times when items simply disappear and they are never seen again. In time, you forget about them and the years become a wonderful equalizer by erasing the initial frustration with the item you no longer possess. But sometimes, missing things simply cannot be overlooked. Big things … like train locomotives!
It was back in 1915 in Concord when a locomotive actually went missing. It happened in the south end of Concord at the very large railroad yard and it actually created quite a concern 110 years ago.
A gentleman from Boston named George Brown was visiting Concord and indulging in food and spirits in one of the Main Street taverns. He meandered and weaved his way down to the Train Depot in Railroad Square. He entered and attempted to purchase a ticket to Boston only to find that the last train for Boston had already departed. He was informed he must wait until morning for the next train to Boston. Brown was not a patient man and became quite upset when he learned he would not be able to return to his home. He started walking south in the direction of Boston upon the series of railroad tracks eventually arriving in the railroad yard.
Brown decided to wait for a time, observing the trains arriving and leaving the area just north of the roundhouse. As he sat alongside tracks, he noticed a locomotive that was just arriving and uncoupling, with the train being moved to a sidetrack. The locomotive was left running as the engineer departed for the terminal, a tempting proposition for the young man.
After a brief wait for the coast to be clear, Brown walked down the tracks approaching the locomotive, climbed aboard and engaged the lever. He decided he would travel alone, assuming the role as train engineer. The train moved forward as it started to pass the roundhouse and enter the southbound track toward Boston.
While the train departed, an alert yard hand noticed the unscheduled train leaving the railroad with an unknown gentleman commandeering the locomotive. A very confident but slightly inebriated Brown gave the train whistle a few toots and smiled as he moved slowly south. As the whistle was sounded the yard hand ran alongside and jumped upon the locomotive and managed to make his way to the engineer’s compartment. He asked Brown who he was and why he was taking this locomotive south. Receiving an inappropriate answer, the yard hand grabbed Brown, shut down the locomotive and dragged him back to the roundhouse.
The police were summoned and Brown was arrested for stealing the locomotive and placed in the Concord Police Department jail cell until the next morning when he faced the judge at the Concord Court House.
The would-be train engineer sobered overnight and appeared before the judge apologetically. He was charged with public intoxication and fined. Leaving the Concord Court House, he sheepishly walked back to the Concord Train Depot, purchasing his return train ticket to Boston, seated as far away from the locomotive as possible.