seat of Harrison. At the invitation of the proprietors of the Covington 

 Locomotive Factory, we took, on Saturday, a trip to "Boyd's," 50 

 miles. The occasion of the party was the first trip of the "Covington," — 

 the first locomotive built in Covington. 



The Covington Locomotixe Works have just got into operation, 

 and are on a very large scale, calculated to do an immense business. 

 They have gone on so quietly that few we believe, know really what has 

 been done; most persons will be surprised by the result accomplished. 

 The Covington Locomotive Company consists, we believe, of A. L. Greer, 

 of Covington; D. A. Powell, of this city; Mr. Fagin [Feger],'"^ 

 machinist for the Reading R.R. Mr. Finch, and two other gentlemen, 

 making six partners with a capital of $500,000. The works are built 

 on the most extensive scale, the principal building being of stone, and 

 200 feet in length. They now employ 130 hands, and when in complete 

 operation, can employ 700, which is equivalent to the employment 

 and support of 3,500 persons. Mr. Fagin [Feger] is the superintendent, 

 and is an accomplished machinist. When under full headway, this 

 establishment will get out a locomotive each week, having ten con- 

 stantly on hand in construction. 



The "Covington" whose niaiden work was begun on Saturday, is 

 a full certificate, both in work and appearance, to the skill and success 

 of the Covington Factory. It is a fine, strong, handsome engine. 



Three more locomotives of the same pattern, the Cynthimuu the 

 Paris, and the Lexington,^'"' were built during the summer of 1854. 

 The Lexington was delivered in August 1 854 ; it is the last locomotive 

 built by Greer for which any record can be found. However, Feger 

 ordered boiler tubes from the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Septem- 

 ber 1854 and asked Baldwin's advice on setting tubes. i"*^ This 

 clearly demonstrates that Greer was still in business and apparently 

 had other locomotives under construction. 



^~^ Daniel H. Feger, draftsman and designer, later master mechanic of the Mem- 

 phis and Charleston Railroad, had previously been with the Philadelphia and 

 Reading Railroad (American Raihuad Journal, December 1853, vol. g, p. 74). 



^'5 Reporting in the Railroad Advocate (May 3, 1856. vol. 3, p. i) on the consump- 

 tion of valve oil, T. D. Davis, master mechanic of the Covington and Lexington 

 Railroad, stated that the Lexington made the poorest showing of their locomotives, 

 consuming an average of one pint of oil for every 15 iniles. Only three Covington- 

 built engines were mentioned, indicating that one had been sold or discarded after 

 less than two years of service. 



^'^ M. W. Baldwin papers (MSS., Historical Society of Penns\lvania, Phila- 

 delphia). 



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