Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: SC State Museum
Taken: April 16, 2008
Caption: The Best Friend of Charleston
Additional Description: On June 17, 1831, only 6 months after its launch, the Best Friend of Charleston made history again. Word has it an inexperienced fireman became annoyed with the loud hissing stem escaping from the safety valve. He pressed down the valve and few moments later an explosion rocked the locomotive killing him, scalding the engineer and scattering the boiler all over the country side. The “Best Friend of Charleston” was destroyed but not finished…remains from the locomotive were used to built the “Phoenix” that rode the South Carolina tracks for many years to come.
Submitted: February 4, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
Database Locator Identification Number: p143785
File Size: 0.207 Megabytes

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