Erie Railroad Biography - J. A. Hammond

J.A. HAMMOND, Hornellsville, New York.
J. A. Hammond's father, Alonzo Hammond, was a great wing shot in his day and a hunter of such renown that sportsmen came from New York City to hunt with him in the wilds of Allegheny County. The subject of this sketch was born in Belmont, Allegheny County, New York, on January 4, 1875, and began his railroad career in 1873, as a brakeman on the Allegheny Division. He remained in this capacity but a short time, being advanced to fireman, and in 1882 was made an emergency engineer, receiving a regular promotion in 1886. He ran on different trains until 1893, when he was given a regular run on 83 and 88, which is his duty at the present time.

Mr. Hammond belongs to Lodge 331, F. & A. M., and is married to Miss Grace Pease, whose family were old settlers of Tompkins County, New York. This worthy couple have one child, Hazel, and enjoy the highest respect of their many friends and neighbors.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

ENGINEER JOSEPH A. HAMMOND, of the Susquehanna Division, has had his name printed in gold letters on the sides of the cab of Engine 2565, one of the big K-l "red spotters" that pulls train 1.

Joe, of course, is very proud of the distinction he has won, but he received it strictly on merit, 2565 being one of the very tidy engines of the Erie system. There are not many K-ls going over the line with engineers' names annexed to their cabs, but the outlook keeps getting brighter all the time.

Engineer Hammond, although with the company since 1875, is still a young man, and it goes without discussion that his record is of the first class. The cut shows Engineer Hammond standing at the front of 2565 with oil can in hand and his fireman nearby.
From the June, 1911 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine

Click here for more information on named engines and the Order of the Red Spot.

From the July, 1914 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
J.A. Hammond, Engineer, Susquehanna Division, gets special recognition of having made 39,278 miles in passenger service, without an engine failure.

From the August, 1915 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
The record made on engine failures, in both freight and passenger service, on the Susquehanna Division, speaks volumes for the painstaking and efficient efforts of the engineers and firemen of the Roundhouse Shop Supervision, Inspectors and Workmen.

Another feature, it may be mentioned, is the mileage made by engines in freight and passenger service on the Susquehanna Division, notably engine No. 2565, running trains Nos. 1 and 6, in charge of engineers J.A. Hammond and James Richardson. This engine, out of shop last T.B.M.F. repairs, August, 1913, and up to June 30, 1915, has made over 167,000 miles and is still in good condition and running trains Nos. 1 and 6 in it's old-time form. This is the greatest showing ever occurring on the Erie Railroad, in regard to mileage made between shoppings where engine was not given T.B.M. repairs, in the meantime

From the November, 1925 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
An engineer who probably is as well known as any on the Erie Railroad, is Joseph A. Hammond who is assigned to passenger runs on the Susquehanna Division.

Engineer Hammond is a native of Phillipsburg (now Belmont) on the Allegany Division, where he was born on January 4, 1858. He began railroading on the old Western (now Allegany) Division as brakeman in June, 1874, but owing to the opposition of his parents (he being but 16 years old), he quit. The following year he again enlisted in the Erie army as fireman on the Susquehanna Division, in which position he served until his promotion to engineer in the fall of 1886.

On May 6, 1901, he ran the engine that carried President Underwood's special train over the line on his first trip. He handled the same engine many times when it carried special trains over the Susquehanna Division. Among them were the George Gould, Theodore Roosevelt and Tammany specials.

Engineer Hammond has never had an accident, and long ago adopted "safety First" as his slogan. His family consists of Mrs. Hammond and one daughter, Hazel, who is married to the vice president of a large manufacturing company, with plants in Baltimore and Canada.

"Joe," as he is affectionately called, handles the engine that hauls trains 5 and 1000 over the Susquehanna Division.

Following is his record on the Erie: July 1875, commenced as fireman; September, 1886 commenced as engineer; June 4, 1914, merit record for making 39,278 miles in passenger service without an engine failure; January 26, 1915, merit record for making 34,478 miles in passenger service from May 17, 1914 to January 15, 1915, without an engine failure; June 23, 1915, merit record for making 17,900 miles in passenger service from January 24, 1915 to June 8, 1915, also excess mileage of 9,278 miles from July 10, 1913 to May 15, 1914, and 4,478 excess miles from May 17, 1914 to January 15, 1915, making a total of 31,546 miles without an engine failure; June 13, 1916, merit record for making 43,394 miles in passenger service from July 3, 1915 to May 31, 1916 without an engine failure.

From the March, 1930 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Joseph A. Hammond, 72, veteran Erie engineer, died last month in a Hornell hospital. He had been retired two years ago after 53 years service. Mr. Hammond was the first engineer on the Susquehanna Division to have his name on the cab of an engine, a mark of efficiency. He was a member of the Masons and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

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