so that any part of one engine would fit the same position on any other.  The passenger engines had two pairs of driving wheels, coupled, 6 feet in diameter, and a four wheeled truck similar to the modern American locomotive.  The general dimensions were:  Waist of boiler, 47 inches, 186 two inch tubes 101/2 feet long; cylinders, 16 x 22 inches.  The freight engines had the same capacity of boiler and the same number and length of tubes, three pairs of driving wheels, coupled, 41/2 feet in diameter, a truck and cylinders 18 x 22 inches, and all uniform throughout in workmanship and finish.  The passenger cars were 56 feet long and 91/2 feet wide, the first class carrying 33 passengers, the second class 54, and the third class 80.  They all had eight truck wheels under each, and elliptic steel springs.  The freight cars were all 30 feet long and 91/2 feet wide, made in a uniform manner, with eight truck wheels under each.  The imperial saloon carriages were 80 feet long and 91/2 feet wide, having double trucks, or sixteen wheels under each.  They were divided into five compartments and fitted with every convenience.

Early in 1847 the Emperor Nicholas visited the mechanical works at Alexandroffsky, where the rolling stock was being made by the Messrs. Winans, in the shops prepared by them and supplied by Russian labor.  Everything here was on the grandest scale, and the work was conducted under the most perfect system.  Upon this occasion the Emperor was so much gratified at what had already been accomplished that he conferred upon Major Whistler the decoration of the Order of St. Anne.  He had previously been pressed to wear the Russian uniform, which he promptly declined to do; but there was no escape from the decoration without giving offense.  He is said, however, to have generally contrived to hide it beneath his coat in such a manner that few ever saw it.

Technically, Major Whistler was consulting engineer, Colonel Melnikoff being constructing engineer for the northern half of the road, and Colonel Krofft for the southern half; but as a matter of fact, by far the larger part of planning the construction in detail of both railway and equipment fell upon Major Whistler.  There was also a permanent commission having general charge of the construction of the road, of which the president was General Destrem, one of the four French engineers whom Napoleon, at the request of the Emperor Alexander, sent to Russia for the service of that country.

The year 1848 was a very trying one to Major Whistler.  He had already on several occasions overtasked his strength, and had been obliged to rest.  This year the Asiatic cholera made its appearance.  He sent his family abroad, but remained himself alone in his house.  He would on no account at this time leave his post, nor omit his periodical inspections along the line of the road, where the epidemic was raging.  In November he had an attack of cholera, and while he recovered from it, he was left very weak.  Still, he remained upon the work through the winter, though suffering much from a complication of diseases.  As spring advanced he became much worse, and upon the 7th of April, 1849, he passed quietly away, the immediate cause of his death being a trouble with the heart.