J. Craig Thorpe (American, B. 1948) "Iowa Locomotive" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Paper.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood Legendary Locomotives of the 50 States Iowa Commemorative Cover postmarked March 11, 1995.

In early 1884, the U.S. Post Office Department approached the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (the CB&Q or the Burlington) seeking a Fast Mail train to make the Chicago to Council Bluffs, Iowa, run of its transcontinental postal route. Although the postmaster general had unsuccessfully proposed this run to two other railroads, CB&Q wisely grasped the opportunity. The very next morning, on March 11, 1884, Burlington's first Fast Mail headed for Council Bluffs carrying a mail car from New York, a baggage car filled with Chicago newspapers and a special car bearing the postmaster general, his party and an official of the railroad. That evening the mail train made a timely arrival at its Iowa destination. For more than 75 years, Burlington trains continued to make this run, improving service as equipment became more advanced. When the Fast Mail celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1959, diesel-powered fliers pulling 15 cars had long replaced the steam locomotives of bygone days. Displayed on this artwork is the CB&Q's No. 590 -- a Class N-1, 2-4-2 passenger type engine built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1895. Modeled after an engine exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, this locomotive's unique design led to the development of the Atlantic-type high-speed passenger engines ultimately used on the Burlington Railroad.

Image Size: 14 x 12 in.
Overall Size: 18 x 15 in.
Unframed.
(B14990)

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