How was the Grand Trunk Herald born?

The American Civil War broke out early in 1861, between the northern and southern states. People were eager to get the latest news of the first battles, and this gave Edison an idea. His idea was to get the latest news through telegraph operators at various places, and print a newspaper of his own!

He took a job selling newspapers and candy on the Grand Trunk Railroad to Detroit. In the baggage car, he set up a laboratory for his chemistry experiments and a printing press, where he started the Grand Trunk Herald, the first newspaper published on a train.

It had just two sheets and the printing was on one side only. Its printing was of poor quality, and the language was often faulty. But the paper contained much information that was of interest to railway-men, and had a circulation of about 400. Its readers were mostly railway employees.

Picture Credit : Google

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