Fireless Engine Slighted in Rail Lore
The steam storage locomotive does not figure prominently in the colorful literature of railroading. Confined to the modest task of shunting miscellaneous cars about remote factory yards, there was no Casey Jones to give it romance. Nor was there a lusty fireman or a wandering hobo to immortalize it in song. It is known that an obscure “Toonerville” type of road near New Orleans employed a fireless engine as early as 1835—recharging at each end of the track. Also, a number of fireless engines were used around paper mills and munitions factories, where sparks from conventional engines could have led to fire and cataclysm.
The South Park, sister engine of the Rubicon, edges up to the NCR powerhouse. The photograph is undated, but the gleam of the engine indicates that it hadn’t seen too many years of service.
The Rubicon is one of the last of its breed—perhaps even the last of its particular design. But sporting new black paint and fresh gold lettering, it has found a measure of immortality—albeit without balladry—at Carillon Park, among other relics of America’s industrial past.
After the Rubicon’s retirement, workmen began refurbishing it for the Carillon Park historical collection. Here they are seen removing half a century’s accumulation of paint.
The Rubicon is shown as it traveled the last few feet of its long career. It was moved into its permanent Carillon Park home on July 16, 1962.
On August 20, 1962, the Engine House at Carillon Park was opened with informal ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Shown above are several of the guests inspecting the refurbished locomotive.
CARILLON PARK
DAYTON, OHIO
One of a series of Carillon Park booklets.
Price ten cents.