William Crooks
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 William Crooks at the New York World's Fair, July 23, 1940 |
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| Power type | Steam |
|---|---|
| Build date | 1861 |
| Configuration | 4-4-0 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) |
| Career | St. Paul and Pacific Railroad |
| First run | 1862 |
| Disposition | static display at Lake Superior Railroad Museum |
The locomotive William Crooks was the first locomotive to operate in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Constructed in 1861, it first provided service a year later in 1862 for the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, a company that eventually became part of the Great Northern Railway. James J. Hill had the locomotive pull his personal train. It is reported that he was responsible for saving it from the scrap heap when engines of its vintage were being replaced by faster and more powerful vehicles. The classic 4-4-0 is one of the only locomotives from the age of the American Civil War to survive to the present day.
William Crooks was displayed at the 1939 New York World's Fair and again at the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1948 where it was operated as part of the "Wheels A-Rolling" pageant. It was displayed for some time at the Saint Paul Union Depot, but currently resides at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota.
[edit] References
- Chicago Railroad Fair Official Guide Book (1949).
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