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- American Locomotive Company Steam Locomotive, 1902 - The American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York, built this locomotive in 1902. It is a 4-4-2 Atlantic type, with four leading wheels, four driving wheels, and two trailing wheels. The Atlantic was designed to pull light wooden passenger cars at high speeds. This locomotive operated on the Michigan Central Railroad's Detroit-Chicago line until heavier steel cars made it obsolete.
- 1902
- Collections - Artifact
American Locomotive Company Steam Locomotive, 1902
The American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York, built this locomotive in 1902. It is a 4-4-2 Atlantic type, with four leading wheels, four driving wheels, and two trailing wheels. The Atlantic was designed to pull light wooden passenger cars at high speeds. This locomotive operated on the Michigan Central Railroad's Detroit-Chicago line until heavier steel cars made it obsolete.
- American Locomotive Company Advertisement, "ALCO Motor Trucks, What do Your Horses Cost?" January 25, 1912 - Horse-drawn delivery wagons remained in use well into the 1920s -- particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. But this advertisement for ALCO trucks explains why they ultimately disappeared. Once roads were sufficiently improved, horse-drawn wagons simply could not compete with motorized trucks. While they might cost more up front, trucks were significantly less expensive to operate and maintain over time.
- January 25, 1912
- Collections - Artifact
American Locomotive Company Advertisement, "ALCO Motor Trucks, What do Your Horses Cost?" January 25, 1912
Horse-drawn delivery wagons remained in use well into the 1920s -- particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. But this advertisement for ALCO trucks explains why they ultimately disappeared. Once roads were sufficiently improved, horse-drawn wagons simply could not compete with motorized trucks. While they might cost more up front, trucks were significantly less expensive to operate and maintain over time.
- Varney Model "Erie Railroad" Diesel Locomotive, 1945-1970 - HO or 1:87 scale trains first appeared after World War I but didn't become big sellers in the United States until the 1950s. Their smaller size -- half the size of O scale models -- allowed modelers to build more elaborate layouts in the same physical space. HO is large enough for realistic detail, yet small enough to remain affordable to many customers.
- 1945-1970
- Collections - Artifact
Varney Model "Erie Railroad" Diesel Locomotive, 1945-1970
HO or 1:87 scale trains first appeared after World War I but didn't become big sellers in the United States until the 1950s. Their smaller size -- half the size of O scale models -- allowed modelers to build more elaborate layouts in the same physical space. HO is large enough for realistic detail, yet small enough to remain affordable to many customers.
- Baldwin Locomotive Works Steam Locomotive, 1897 - This locomotive pulled passenger trains on the Detroit & Lima Northern Railway, a predecessor of the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad. After Henry Ford purchased the DT&I in 1920, this engine was the first modified under his extensive plan for improvements to the line. Ford adopted the locomotive as his favorite and donated it to The Henry Ford in 1930.
- 1897
- Collections - Artifact
Baldwin Locomotive Works Steam Locomotive, 1897
This locomotive pulled passenger trains on the Detroit & Lima Northern Railway, a predecessor of the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad. After Henry Ford purchased the DT&I in 1920, this engine was the first modified under his extensive plan for improvements to the line. Ford adopted the locomotive as his favorite and donated it to The Henry Ford in 1930.
- Miniature Locomotive, Used at Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts, circa 1905 - Cagney Brothers' Miniature Railway Company built light steam locomotives of various sizes and gauges for industrial and recreational uses. Cagney miniature railways were featured attractions at expositions, amusement parks, zoos, and resorts. This Cagney-built 4-4-0 steam locomotive pulled passengers on a half-mile-long track at the resort community of Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts. Cagney Brothers operated from 1898 to 1948.
- circa 1905
- Collections - Artifact
Miniature Locomotive, Used at Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts, circa 1905
Cagney Brothers' Miniature Railway Company built light steam locomotives of various sizes and gauges for industrial and recreational uses. Cagney miniature railways were featured attractions at expositions, amusement parks, zoos, and resorts. This Cagney-built 4-4-0 steam locomotive pulled passengers on a half-mile-long track at the resort community of Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts. Cagney Brothers operated from 1898 to 1948.
- Locomotive Bell, 1927 - For 45 years, engineer Charles Vaughn operated the Plymouth gasoline-mechanical locomotive that shuttled coal cars around the Detroit Public Lighting Department's Mistersky Power Plant. Vaughn received the engine's bell and whistle as retirement gifts. The Henry Ford acquired the Plymouth in 1979. Vaughn's family gifted the bell and whistle to the museum in 2013 to reunite them with the locomotive.
- 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Locomotive Bell, 1927
For 45 years, engineer Charles Vaughn operated the Plymouth gasoline-mechanical locomotive that shuttled coal cars around the Detroit Public Lighting Department's Mistersky Power Plant. Vaughn received the engine's bell and whistle as retirement gifts. The Henry Ford acquired the Plymouth in 1979. Vaughn's family gifted the bell and whistle to the museum in 2013 to reunite them with the locomotive.
- Replica of Robert Stephenson's 1829 "Rocket" Locomotive, July 1929 - When England's Liverpool and Manchester Railway held a contest in 1829 to find the best locomotive design for its line, George Stephenson's <em>Rocket</em> took the prize. The <em>Rocket</em>'s horizontal boiler, with cylinders directly connected to its driving wheels, set the standard pattern for all subsequent locomotives. This photo shows the replica Henry Ford commissioned from the original builders in 1928.
- July 10, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Replica of Robert Stephenson's 1829 "Rocket" Locomotive, July 1929
When England's Liverpool and Manchester Railway held a contest in 1829 to find the best locomotive design for its line, George Stephenson's Rocket took the prize. The Rocket's horizontal boiler, with cylinders directly connected to its driving wheels, set the standard pattern for all subsequent locomotives. This photo shows the replica Henry Ford commissioned from the original builders in 1928.
- "Satilla" Locomotive at the Ford Rouge Plant, 1925 - Henry Ford acquired the 4-4-0 steam locomotive <em>Satilla</em>, built in 1858 by Rogers Locomotive Works for Georgia's Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, in 1924. Ford had the locomotive restored at Ford Motor Company's Rouge factory. The refurbished locomotive pulled Ford, Thomas Edison, and President Herbert Hoover from Detroit to Dearborn for The Henry Ford's dedication ceremonies in 1929.
- October 01, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
"Satilla" Locomotive at the Ford Rouge Plant, 1925
Henry Ford acquired the 4-4-0 steam locomotive Satilla, built in 1858 by Rogers Locomotive Works for Georgia's Atlantic & Gulf Railroad, in 1924. Ford had the locomotive restored at Ford Motor Company's Rouge factory. The refurbished locomotive pulled Ford, Thomas Edison, and President Herbert Hoover from Detroit to Dearborn for The Henry Ford's dedication ceremonies in 1929.
- Ingersoll-Rand Diesel-Electric Locomotive #90 Before Restoration at Henry Ford Museum, 1982 - Ingersoll-Rand, in collaboration with General Electric and American Locomotive Company, built diesel-electric locomotive #90 in 1926. Ingersoll-Rand used the locomotive in the railyard at its Phillipsburg, New Jersey, plant for some 40 years. Diesel-electric power proved more efficient and cost-effective than steam. Donated to The Henry Ford in 1970, the locomotive received a cosmetic restoration in 1983.
- 1982
- Collections - Artifact
Ingersoll-Rand Diesel-Electric Locomotive #90 Before Restoration at Henry Ford Museum, 1982
Ingersoll-Rand, in collaboration with General Electric and American Locomotive Company, built diesel-electric locomotive #90 in 1926. Ingersoll-Rand used the locomotive in the railyard at its Phillipsburg, New Jersey, plant for some 40 years. Diesel-electric power proved more efficient and cost-effective than steam. Donated to The Henry Ford in 1970, the locomotive received a cosmetic restoration in 1983.
- Ingersoll-Rand's Diesel-Electric Locomotives, Numbers 90 and 91, Phillipsburg, New Jersey, probably 1951 - Ingersoll-Rand, in collaboration with General Electric and American Locomotive Company, built diesel-electric locomotive #90 in 1926. Ingersoll-Rand used the locomotive in the railyard at its Phillipsburg, New Jersey, plant for some 40 years. Diesel-electric power proved more efficient and cost-effective than steam. Donated to The Henry Ford in 1970, the locomotive received a cosmetic restoration in 1983.
- 1951
- Collections - Artifact
Ingersoll-Rand's Diesel-Electric Locomotives, Numbers 90 and 91, Phillipsburg, New Jersey, probably 1951
Ingersoll-Rand, in collaboration with General Electric and American Locomotive Company, built diesel-electric locomotive #90 in 1926. Ingersoll-Rand used the locomotive in the railyard at its Phillipsburg, New Jersey, plant for some 40 years. Diesel-electric power proved more efficient and cost-effective than steam. Donated to The Henry Ford in 1970, the locomotive received a cosmetic restoration in 1983.