Here in El Paso, this beautiful old locomotive worked the copper mines for the El Paso and South Western for a number of decades. Prior to that, she started life hauling timber in Minnesota. The engine was built in 1857 by Breese, Kneeland, and Company of Jersey City, New Jersey, and is the only locomotive built by that firm still in existence.
You may note the silver smoke box is a bit elongated for this machine. It was added on in later years to increase her steaming capacity, and extends about six feet beyond the original smoke box front end.
Only cosmetically restored, she bears a crown sheet that was made by Russian serfs pounding it out cold, using sledge hammers. What a life of toil that must have been.
Edited by - Chops124 on August 02 2023 6:49:38 PM
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