Locomotives - Fitchburg Railroad 4-4-0 Type Engine Number 50 Emerging From Hoosac Tunnel
by J Craig Thorpe
Title
Locomotives - Fitchburg Railroad 4-4-0 Type Engine Number 50 Emerging From Hoosac Tunnel
Artist
J Craig Thorpe
Medium
Painting - Oil On Watercolor Paper
Description
During most of the 1800s, Hoosac Mountain, situated in the northwest corner of Massachusetts, had been a hindrance to Boston merchants who wished to ship their goods west. During that era, this formidable, natural barrier stood in the way of the Iron Horses that were quickly spreading throughout America. By 1842, the Western Railroad was providing east-west passage from Boston through southern Massachusetts. However, the cost of freight transportation on that line was prohibitive for most merchants. Thus, boring through the mountain -- located 136 miles west of Boston -- became a reality. In 1874, it became America's largest railroad tunnel at a length of 4-3/4 miles. Its construction was a great engineering feat for its time. Yet, the road to its completion was long and arduous. For almost a quarter of a century nearly 1,000 men toiled on this monumental undertaking, experimenting with a variety of tools and explosives. An estimated 200 workers lost their lives while boring through this seemingly impenetrable monolith, and the cost exceeded $15 million. But on February 9, 1875, the first train passed through Hoosac Tunnel, arriving at the depot in North Adams, Massachusetts. The illustration on this artwork recreates that historic event by featuring a depiction of Fitchburg Railroad's engine No. 50 -- a 4-4-0 type built by Hinkley Locomotive Works in 1869 -- emerging from the west portal of the tunnel.
Please note the "Fine Art America" watermark will not appear on the painting or any print reproduction.
Artwork Copyright © 1994 Wind River Studios Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the Copyright. WRSH Stock Number XB14946
Uploaded
April 20th, 2022
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