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

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

This painting is the original which appeared on the Fleetwood Legendary Locomotives of the 50 States Kansas Commemorative Cover postmarked April 1, 1995.

Shortly after the turn of the century, railroad promoter Arthur Stilwell began building the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railroad (KCM&O). Claiming that he had "designed a railroad 1,600 miles long which will bring the Pacific Ocean 400 miles nearer to Kansas City than any other present route," Stilwell set out to construct a rail system that would link the Midwest to the port city of Topolobampo, Mexico, which was intended as an entrepot for shipping American goods to the Orient. The line was built in five disconnected sections throughout the United States and Mexico. On April 1, 1903, 74 miles of track -- linking Milton, Kansas, to Carmen, Oklahoma -- became the first completed American segment of the line. Although construction of the KCM&O was fairly rapid at first, in 1910 the Mexican Revolution halted operations on the southern leg of the route. In fact, Francisco "Pancho" Villa -- one of the principal leaders of the revolution -- was one of Stilwell's contractors. By spring of 1912, the troubled KCM&O entered receivership and Stilwell's dream went unfulfilled. In 1928, the Santa Fe Railway acquired the American portion of the KCM&O, and the Mexican segment eventually came under government control. The line wasn't finally completed until 1961. Pictured here is the No. 208 -- one of 15 engines built by the Pittsburgh Locomotive works for the KCM&O between 1909 and 1911. This 2-8-0 engine became Santa Fe's No. 2542, and today is on display in Arkansas City, Kansas.

Image Size: 14 x 12 in.
Overall Size: 18 x 15 in.
Unframed.
(B15001)

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