August 28th: The Iron Horse is Born

August 28th: The Iron Horse is Born

In 1830, Peter Cooper designed Tom Thumb to convince the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to use steam engines. In an impromptu publicity stunt held August 28, 1830, the engine was winning a race against a horse-drawn carriage when it slipped and lost power. Regardless, the locomotive was considered to have been the superior performer, in this unsubstantiated legend.

2009 – A 7″ Working Model of Tom Thumb from around 1900 sold for $770.

2011 – A Cushing & White Steam Locomotive Weather Vane was sold at auction for a whopping $43,125!!!

Just last month, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum was auctioning off a chance to be the engineer of a steam locomotive.

Currently up for bid: 3″ Silver Tom Thumb Locomotive, estimated at $1,200 to $1,400.