1987 22c Steam Locomotives: Best Friend of Charleston
# 2363 - 1987 22c Steam Locomotives: Best Friend of Charleston
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2363 - 1987 22c Steam Locomotives: Best Friend of Charleston
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U.S. #2363
1987 22¢ Best Friend of Charleston
Steam Locomotives Booklet Pane
- Honors the first locomotive to pull a train in America
- Issued at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum
- Issued for the 7th annual National Stamp Collecting Month
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Steam Locomotives
Value: 22¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue: October 1, 1987
First Day City: Baltimore, Maryland
Quantity Issued: 78,995,200
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Lithographed and engraved
Format: Four booklet panes of five stamps per booklet
Perforations: 10 horizontal on 1 or 2 sides
Why the stamp was issued: To pay tribute to the contributions of the different engines that sparked the railroad revolution in America
About the stamp design: Richard Leech based his stamp art on original illustrations of the locomotive.
First Day City: The First Day ceremony for this booklet was held at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.
About the Locomotives Booklet: Richard Leech was originally hired to design Locomotive stamps in 1979. His initial design was a block of four picturing the Stourbridge Lion, the Best Friend of Charleston, the Gowan & Marx, and the Jupiter. The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee decided they wanted a booklet of five stamps and the Jupiter was removed and the John Bull and Brother Jonathan were added.
The 1987 Locomotives stamps were selected as that year’s annual National Stamp Collecting Month issue. Along with those stamps came the theme, “Steaming Along with Stamp Collecting. All Aboard!”
History the stamp represents: On December 25, 1830, the Best Friend of Charleston completed its first run.
During the 1820s, the once busy and prosperous harbor town of Charleston, South Carolina began to suffer from an economic recession. It was the result of increased settlement to the west that drew people away from the town.
In 1827, a group of Charleston merchants encouraged the state government to form the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company (SCC&RR). One of the goals was to explore the possibility of a railroad system to connect the town to inland markets. The railroad was deemed possible and work began on the steam-powered Best Friend of Charleston, which was the first locomotive to be built entirely within the United States. New York’s West Point Foundry constructed it in 1830.
After construction was complete, the locomotive was disassembled and sent by boat to Charleston, arriving in October 1830. The Best Friend of Charleston made its inaugural run on Christmas Day, December 25, 1830. On that day, it pulled a passenger train along a six-mile route. With this, the Best Friend of Charleston became the first American-built steam locomotive to haul a train of passenger cars on a public railroad.
A newspaper article a few days later recounted the event: “The one hundred and forty-one persons flew on the wings of wind at the speed of fifteen to twenty-five miles per hour, annihilating time and space… leaving all the world behind. On the return we reached Sans-Souci in quick and double-quick time, stopped to take up a recruiting party – darted forth like a live rocket, scattering sparks and flames on either side – passed over three salt creeks hop, step and jump, and landed us all safe at the Lines before any of us had time to determine whether or not it was prudent to be scared.”
At the time, the Best Friend of Charleston was one of the fastest ways to travel. The only thing faster was a well-trained horse and rider. The Best Friend of Charleston began the first regular passenger service in the country following a six-mile route in Charleston. The Best Friend of Charleston has another, rather unfortunate distinction. On June 17, 1831, it was the first American train to suffer a boiler explosion, which seriously injured its crew. Reportedly, a fireman accidentally caused the explosion when he closed the steam pressure release valve.
Another account claims the fireman set a piece of lumber on the valve and then sat on it. The incident led to the creation of a new rule in the company’s operating manual. It stated that engineers must remain on station at all times. The Charleston was badly damaged, but some parts were salvaged to build the Phoenix.
Despite its short life, the Best Friend of Charleston was a success – it helped Charleston thrive once again and inaugurated regular steam passenger service. A replica of the Charleston was built in 1928 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the SCC&RR. Today, it and another replica are on display in Atlanta, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina. There’s also a Best Friend of Charleston Museum that opened in Charleston in 2014.
U.S. #2363
1987 22¢ Best Friend of Charleston
Steam Locomotives Booklet Pane
- Honors the first locomotive to pull a train in America
- Issued at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum
- Issued for the 7th annual National Stamp Collecting Month
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Steam Locomotives
Value: 22¢, first-class rate
First Day of Issue: October 1, 1987
First Day City: Baltimore, Maryland
Quantity Issued: 78,995,200
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Lithographed and engraved
Format: Four booklet panes of five stamps per booklet
Perforations: 10 horizontal on 1 or 2 sides
Why the stamp was issued: To pay tribute to the contributions of the different engines that sparked the railroad revolution in America
About the stamp design: Richard Leech based his stamp art on original illustrations of the locomotive.
First Day City: The First Day ceremony for this booklet was held at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.
About the Locomotives Booklet: Richard Leech was originally hired to design Locomotive stamps in 1979. His initial design was a block of four picturing the Stourbridge Lion, the Best Friend of Charleston, the Gowan & Marx, and the Jupiter. The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee decided they wanted a booklet of five stamps and the Jupiter was removed and the John Bull and Brother Jonathan were added.
The 1987 Locomotives stamps were selected as that year’s annual National Stamp Collecting Month issue. Along with those stamps came the theme, “Steaming Along with Stamp Collecting. All Aboard!”
History the stamp represents: On December 25, 1830, the Best Friend of Charleston completed its first run.
During the 1820s, the once busy and prosperous harbor town of Charleston, South Carolina began to suffer from an economic recession. It was the result of increased settlement to the west that drew people away from the town.
In 1827, a group of Charleston merchants encouraged the state government to form the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company (SCC&RR). One of the goals was to explore the possibility of a railroad system to connect the town to inland markets. The railroad was deemed possible and work began on the steam-powered Best Friend of Charleston, which was the first locomotive to be built entirely within the United States. New York’s West Point Foundry constructed it in 1830.
After construction was complete, the locomotive was disassembled and sent by boat to Charleston, arriving in October 1830. The Best Friend of Charleston made its inaugural run on Christmas Day, December 25, 1830. On that day, it pulled a passenger train along a six-mile route. With this, the Best Friend of Charleston became the first American-built steam locomotive to haul a train of passenger cars on a public railroad.
A newspaper article a few days later recounted the event: “The one hundred and forty-one persons flew on the wings of wind at the speed of fifteen to twenty-five miles per hour, annihilating time and space… leaving all the world behind. On the return we reached Sans-Souci in quick and double-quick time, stopped to take up a recruiting party – darted forth like a live rocket, scattering sparks and flames on either side – passed over three salt creeks hop, step and jump, and landed us all safe at the Lines before any of us had time to determine whether or not it was prudent to be scared.”
At the time, the Best Friend of Charleston was one of the fastest ways to travel. The only thing faster was a well-trained horse and rider. The Best Friend of Charleston began the first regular passenger service in the country following a six-mile route in Charleston. The Best Friend of Charleston has another, rather unfortunate distinction. On June 17, 1831, it was the first American train to suffer a boiler explosion, which seriously injured its crew. Reportedly, a fireman accidentally caused the explosion when he closed the steam pressure release valve.
Another account claims the fireman set a piece of lumber on the valve and then sat on it. The incident led to the creation of a new rule in the company’s operating manual. It stated that engineers must remain on station at all times. The Charleston was badly damaged, but some parts were salvaged to build the Phoenix.
Despite its short life, the Best Friend of Charleston was a success – it helped Charleston thrive once again and inaugurated regular steam passenger service. A replica of the Charleston was built in 1928 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the SCC&RR. Today, it and another replica are on display in Atlanta, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina. There’s also a Best Friend of Charleston Museum that opened in Charleston in 2014.