Tanks under the locomotive running boards furnished compressed air for ringing the bell and sanding the rails in icy weather. They were replenished at the roundhouse, for the engine carried no air compressor. Neither was there a generator; the storage battery which operated the headlights had to be recharged regularly.
The engine’s brakes were strictly mechanical—operated by tightening the large wheel in the cab.
The Carillon Park museum piece was photographed at the NCR South Main Street factory crossing in the early years of the century. Seen at left is the NCR office building, prior to construction of the NCR auditorium.
These pictures record an event which was perhaps inevitable with the increase of auto-age traffic; in 1915, a touring car slid into the Rubicon’s side at the Main Street crossing.
The engine clearly won the contest!
It suffered only a slightly bent driving rod, visible in the photograph.