William Mason (locomotive)
Encyclopedia
"William Mason" is a 4-4-0
steam locomotive
currently in operation at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was built for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
, carrying that railroad's number 25. The locomotive is named in honor of its builder, William Mason, who built around 754 steam locomotives at his Mason Machine Works
firm in Taunton, Massachusetts from 1853 until his death in 1883. The engine is one of the oldest operable example of the American Standard design, and the second oldest Baltimore and Ohio locomotive in existence, after the railroad's number 57, "Memnon" 0-8-0
of 1848 (the preserved Tom Thumb, Atlantic, and Lafayette locomotives are replicas of the Baltimore and Ohio's earlier motive power, reproduced by the road for exhibition purposes).
in 1839. Among the engine's notable features is the "three-point suspension," where unlike most earlier locomotives(i.e. the road's Lafayette), which the front bogie
has its wheels closely spaced, the number 25's bogie had its wheels spread apart, with the cylinder mounted horizontally between them. While the engine was not the first to have this design, it represented a major improvement in locomotive design which would come to define the "American Standard" locomotive. Another, similarly revolutionary design was the engine's smokebox. Unlike earlier designs, such as that of the General
, built a year earlier, the number 25 had its smokebox sitting on a "saddle" which carried the cylinders. This design further lowered the engine's center of gravity and made re-boilering easier. The number 25 was the road's first engine to have this smokebox design.
The number 25 served on the Baltimore and Ohio for nearly forty years.
It pulled the train which carried Abraham Lincoln from Springfield, Illinois to Washington, D.C. for his inauguration in 1861 . . . and it also pulled the train that carried his coffin back to Springfield after his assassination in 1865. (A picture of the engine with this information is on display at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.)
It was renumbered to 55 in 1882 and was retired in 1892 when it was placed in storage. Fortunately, the Baltimore and Ohio had greatly favored its locomotives, and preserved its best examples, including number 25. The engine was given the name "William Mason" to honor its builder, and was displayed at the Chicago's World Fair of 1893
. After that, the engine had been exhibited on many occasions, including the St. Louis Exposition of 1904
, the 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair
, as well as the railroad's own Fair of the Iron Horse in 1927. When not being exhibited, it remained in storage until 1953, when it was placed on display in the newly opened Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, where it currently remains.
a year later. After these performances it returned to the museum, seemingly never to operate again. However, in 1998, the locomotive was restored once more to operating condition for use in the movie, Wild Wild West
. After that, it continued to appear in films such as 2002's Tuck Everlasting
and 2003's Gods and Generals
. In February 2003, the roof of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum's roundhouse, where the Mason was usually displayed, had collapsed from a major snowstorm. While many engines and rolling stock sustained considerable damage from the collapse, the Mason was not in the roundhouse at the time, having been removed for inspection by the Federal Railroad Administration
, and thus evaded damage.
4-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
currently in operation at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was built for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
, carrying that railroad's number 25. The locomotive is named in honor of its builder, William Mason, who built around 754 steam locomotives at his Mason Machine Works
Mason Machine Works
The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles...
firm in Taunton, Massachusetts from 1853 until his death in 1883. The engine is one of the oldest operable example of the American Standard design, and the second oldest Baltimore and Ohio locomotive in existence, after the railroad's number 57, "Memnon" 0-8-0
0-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
of 1848 (the preserved Tom Thumb, Atlantic, and Lafayette locomotives are replicas of the Baltimore and Ohio's earlier motive power, reproduced by the road for exhibition purposes).
History and career
The engine was built by William Mason for the Baltimore and Ohio in 1856, most likely for passenger service. The engine, while not given a name (the "William Mason" name was most likely added after retirement), was the road's second engine to be numbered 25, replacing an earlier 4-4-0 of that number built by William NorrisNorris Locomotive Works
The Norris Locomotive Works was a steam locomotive manufacturing company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that produced about a thousand railroad engines between 1832 and 1866. It was the dominant American locomotive producer during most of that period, and even sold its popular 4-2-0 engines...
in 1839. Among the engine's notable features is the "three-point suspension," where unlike most earlier locomotives(i.e. the road's Lafayette), which the front bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
has its wheels closely spaced, the number 25's bogie had its wheels spread apart, with the cylinder mounted horizontally between them. While the engine was not the first to have this design, it represented a major improvement in locomotive design which would come to define the "American Standard" locomotive. Another, similarly revolutionary design was the engine's smokebox. Unlike earlier designs, such as that of the General
The General (locomotive)
The General is a type 4-4-0 steam locomotive that was the subject of the Great Locomotive Chase of the American Civil War. The locomotive is preserved at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-...
, built a year earlier, the number 25 had its smokebox sitting on a "saddle" which carried the cylinders. This design further lowered the engine's center of gravity and made re-boilering easier. The number 25 was the road's first engine to have this smokebox design.
Retirement and exhibition
It pulled the train which carried Abraham Lincoln from Springfield, Illinois to Washington, D.C. for his inauguration in 1861 . . . and it also pulled the train that carried his coffin back to Springfield after his assassination in 1865. (A picture of the engine with this information is on display at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.)
It was renumbered to 55 in 1882 and was retired in 1892 when it was placed in storage. Fortunately, the Baltimore and Ohio had greatly favored its locomotives, and preserved its best examples, including number 25. The engine was given the name "William Mason" to honor its builder, and was displayed at the Chicago's World Fair of 1893
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
. After that, the engine had been exhibited on many occasions, including the St. Louis Exposition of 1904
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
, the 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair
Chicago Railroad Fair
The Chicago Railroad Fair was an event organized to celebrate and commemorate 100 years of railroad history west of Chicago, Illinois. It was held in Chicago in 1948 and 1949 along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is often referred to as "the last great railroad fair" with 39 railroad companies...
, as well as the railroad's own Fair of the Iron Horse in 1927. When not being exhibited, it remained in storage until 1953, when it was placed on display in the newly opened Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, where it currently remains.
William Mason in film
Typically, when a locomotive is placed in a museum, it becomes a static exhibit there, often never to operate again. Such was not the case with the William Mason. It had remained operable during the 1950s, when it was used in movies, most notably The Great Locomotive Chase in 1956, and Raintree CountyRaintree County (film)
Raintree County is a 1957 Technicolor film drama about the American Civil War. It was directed by Edward Dmytryk. The film stars Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Eva Marie Saint, and Lee Marvin....
a year later. After these performances it returned to the museum, seemingly never to operate again. However, in 1998, the locomotive was restored once more to operating condition for use in the movie, Wild Wild West
Wild Wild West
Wild Wild West is a 1999 American steampunk action-comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and starring Will Smith, Kevin Kline , Kenneth Branagh and Salma Hayek.Similar to the original TV series it was based on, The Wild Wild West, the film features a large amount of gadgetry...
. After that, it continued to appear in films such as 2002's Tuck Everlasting
Tuck Everlasting (2002 film)
Tuck Everlasting is a 2002 film based on the children's book of the same title by Natalie Babbitt published in 1975. This Disney version was directed by Jay Russell.- Plot summary :...
and 2003's Gods and Generals
Gods and Generals (film)
Gods and Generals is a 2003 American film based on the novel Gods and Generals by Jeffrey Shaara. It depicts events that take place prior to those shown in the 1993 film Gettysburg, which was based on The Killer Angels, a novel by Shaara's father, Michael...
. In February 2003, the roof of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum's roundhouse, where the Mason was usually displayed, had collapsed from a major snowstorm. While many engines and rolling stock sustained considerable damage from the collapse, the Mason was not in the roundhouse at the time, having been removed for inspection by the Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
, and thus evaded damage.