So, once more I found myself on a gondola, riding in style over the mountains to the West. And finally I reached Dayton on November 6. Then the celebration began. A big crane lifted me, light as you please, out of the car on to a heavy trailer that was used to haul me over to the park. And who do you think was down at the siding to welcome me? None other than Colonel Deeds, himself! And with him were Messrs. E. D. Smith, NCR plant engineer; R. H. Hagerman, NCR traffic manager; Carl Beust, head of NCR Patent Department; T. J. Klauenberg, B & O division superintendent; C. P. Mabie, B & O division freight agent, and M. C. Schwab, B & O freight agent. They were so pleased at my coming to town that they had a big luncheon to celebrate, and my picture was in the papers and everything.
And you should see the beautiful house they built for me at the Park. It looks just like an old railroad station, except I am inside instead of the passengers. It is built on part of the old railroad on the south bank of the old Miami and Erie Canal. It’s a beautiful setting in which to house an old locomotive as important as I am.
So, here I am, proud as a peacock in my new home. Come out and see me sometime. I expect to be here for a long, long time. As long as America is a great, free country—forever, I hope!
The development of the locomotive has continued over the years to the giant Diesels of today. The “Memnon” was built in 1848, and called the “Old War Horse” for its Civil War service.
This was the modern locomotive of 1896, built for fast passenger service between Philadelphia and Washington. It was designed by the superintendent of motive power of the B & O.
A modern steam locomotive used to haul fast merchandise freight trains in mountainous districts and for general freight road service. Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1944.
