SAMUEL M. HEADLEY, Newburg, New York.
Samuel M. Headley was born in San Francisco, California, on September 8, 1853, and returned with his parents to Wayne County, Pennsylvania, when about 6 years of age. Leaving school at an early age, he ran away to sea, going as cabin boy on the old steamer "Colon" to Aspinwall, but on the return trip to New York, being left behind, he came across to Jersey City and went to firing on engine 228, with engineer Joseph Birch, where he remained, firing extra freight, until put on engine 215 with Engineer Newt. Sarvent, on which run he stayed six years. He was promoted engineer January 21, 1879, first taking a yard engine and then going to engine 634--a Cooke "modoc"--for four years. After running freight for eleven years, Mr. Headley was given the run between Jersey City and Newburg, No. 31 West and 32 East, daily, which run he still retains, being in charge of engine 385, the only simple engine with a Winton firebox in use on the system.

Mr. Headley has been one of the lucky ones, as to accidents, notwithstanding the fact that for years while running freight he was one of the men who was sent out when it was necessary to "get a train over the road." Perhaps one good reason for his immunity from accidents is the fact that it is his habit always to stand up in his cab and keep a keen eye forward, and during all his years of arduous service he has never closed an eye while on duty. That his good fortune is not due to a spirit of timidity is well attested by letters now in his possession, conveying to him special compliment and congratulation from the master mechanic on making up time on one of the most difficult runs on the road, under adverse circumstances. No accident involving the loss of life or property is to be laid to the door of Mr. Headley. One of the miracles, however, happened him in May, 1898. Coming through West Paterson at sixty miles an hour, with eight carloads of passengers behind him, he saw just ahead of him at the crossing a heavy loaded coal wagon with three horses and a driver. A collision was inevitable, but strange to say, though the coal was thrown all over the engine and train, neither the driver nor any of the horses was hurt. He stopped his train in twice its length, the only damage being a broken pilot.

On April 26, 1880, Mr. Headley was married, at Jersey City, to Miss Agnes Jones, and the couple are now living at their own home in Newburg, New York, where they have resided for the last seven years. He has been a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers since 1881, but has always refused office; he is also a member of several fraternal societies. Mr. Headley has never been in politics, his leanings not having been in that direction. He likes to talk of the times when he was the only extra passenger engineer out of Port Jervis, and used often to put in two days' work within twelve hours, and he has also many good stories of the times when the "tell-tales" were in use. Were it not for the knowledge we have of the facts in the case it would seem that Mr. Headley had not been through any hard service, so well preserved is he, and, accidents barred, he is due for a long career of usefulness upon the Erie.

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

From the March, 1922 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
Donated to the Erie Museum: A New York and Erie Timetable, No. 1, Newburgh Branch, taking effect April 6, 1857. Contributed by Samuel Headley, veteran Erie engineer.