Anonymous

“ Personal reminiscences of the Corliss engine in Carillon Park, covering nearly fifty years of continuous service.
For quite awhile now, I have been sitting over here in Carillon Park and I expect to go on doing that for some years to come. When you weigh a couple of hundred tons you don’t move around any more than you have to and once you find a good spot you are likely to “stay put.” Through the windows of my comfortable little power house I look out at my neighbors across the way. One of them is a Grasshopper locomotive which I can just see through the windows of his “station.” ”

“ From that parent engine sprang a fleet of Grasshoppers that operated for nearly a century and made railroad history.
Phineas Davis and his partner, Gartner, now began to develop the Grasshopper type. The next venture was the Atlantic which went into service on the B & O in the summer of 1832. Once the Grasshoppers demonstrated their utility, the steam locomotive idea spread rapidly.
The saga of the American Railroad is a stirring narrative of triumph over obstacles. The road of the iron horse is part of the larger highway over which progress has marched. ”

“ The Corliss steam engine improvements, at the time of their invention and for many years thereafter, represented the most effective device ever designed for economizing in the use of steam and regulating the steadiness of a steam engine’s power and speed. These were essential steps if man was to harness the power of steam and turn it to practical use. ”

“ The Grasshopper locomotive and the Corliss engine, each in its own way, made a vital contribution to the development of America. Each is included in the Carillon Park exhibits because it represents a significant forward step in man’s constant quest for a better and fuller life.
2 Steam Comes to the Rails
The famed “Atlantic” drawing early type railroad coaches in Baltimore and Ohio railroad exhibit. The “Atlantic” is original, the coaches replicas.
The steam railroad represents an evolution unique in the story of man’s progress. ”

“ South Station which houses the Grasshopper locomotive in Carillon Park.
South Station is a modest little building, representing in its style of construction a typical railroad station in the days when the railroad first came to the Miami Valley. However, its function is not to provide a waiting place for passengers but to serve as the home of one of the oldest locomotives still in existence. The miniature power house across the way is much more modern in its construction. The Corliss engine which has been re-erected in this building was in operation at NCR for almost fifty years. ”

“ After the discovery of the power of steam, man toyed with the idea of a steam engine that could move itself. The implications of such an invention were far reaching. The first steps were taken in England in the early part of the nineteenth century and a locomotive which successfully hauled a train of vehicles was built there in 1825. The first American locomotive was the Tom Thumb built by Peter Cooper. ”

“ Before the advent of the Corliss engine, those engines which were available were very wasteful in their use of fuel to produce steam and its resultant power. They were also unable to maintain even speeds in driving factory machinery and other units. This uneven flow of power was a serious handicap to those who wanted to use steam to turn the wheels of industry. ”

“ A modern two-unit Diesel passenger locomotive, on the other hand, weighs 630,000 pounds, costs about $400,000, and has a starting tractive effort of 107,000 pounds. The Grasshopper’s top speed was 15 miles per hour, while most passenger Diesels are geared to about 90 to 100 miles per hour.
The Corliss was for many years the most efficient engine built, but the modern steam turbine gives much greater efficiency at lower cost. The Corliss engine in Carillon Park weighs 210 tons. ”

“ You know, when you have spent your life trying to do the right thing, you like to feel that you have done a good job. Do you know the last thing they said about me, just before I moved? This is part of the Company’s records so it’s official and it’s something I’ll always remember. Here it is: “This engine has given excellent service and no power interruptions were ever experienced due to failure of this unit.” ”

“ If things keep on growing around there, he’s going to need it. But I just have a little hope way down deep, that once in a while someone is going to look over that way and think back to the days when they could see my old flywheel whirling around day and night, trying to keep things going. ”

“ A locomotive with several cars, remained to take such of our visitors as remained to spend the night in Dayton. All the trains which left yesterday, safely reached the city and their arrival there was telegraphed as soon as ascertained.
Serious Accidents.
A little girl fell through the railroad bridge yesterday morning, but was not much injured by the fall.
A gentleman from Cincinnati, in endeavoring to climb upon the second train while it was under way, had his foot caught by a wheel and badly mutilated. ”

“ It seems there was some idea of putting only my fly wheel in Carillon Park, because they didn’t quite want to see me pass out altogether. Then one day, Colonel Deeds got the idea of putting all of me over here. He said there were not too many Corliss engines around and that we were getting fewer every year. He figured that future generations ought to know what we looked like, because we had done a good job. ”

“ E. A. Deeds (there’s a nice man, if ever there was one, and interested in preserving a good old locomotive!) , Chairman of the Board of The National Cash Register Company of Dayton, Ohio, was planning to establish a museum in Carillon Park in that city. ”

“ 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!
10
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. ”

“ Greer, Grand Marshal, which proceeded to the front of the Court House, where the Mayor of the city, John Howard, Esq., in a brief and appropriate speech extended a cordial welcome to our guests. S. S. L’Hommedieu, Esq., the President of the Great Miami Railway, responded in happy terms to the welcome of the Mayor. ”

“ How long the “Cincinnati” remained in service with the C. H. & D. Railroad, and its ultimate fate are not known, but the colorful locomotive and others of its kind made possible significant gains in man’s never-ending quest for better transportation.
The Railroad Reaches Dayton
On January 27, 1851 the first locomotive to enter Dayton traveled over the newly constructed road between Springfield and Dayton. ”