From: "Jim Trimmer" ja.trimmer@gmail.com
The
Trotwood-Madison Historical Society has a painting [dated January 5, 1995] depicting a
CPRR steam engine [#124] pulling an emigrant train through Trotwood Ohio (just west of Dayton Ohio), on a line operated by B&O [Baltimore and Ohio Railroad] and then Pennsy [Pennsylvania Railroad]. We have it on display and are curious about the subject of the painting. Did CPRR run emigrant trains with their own engines in western Ohio? The explanation I considered is that when taking delivery of new engines from Philadelphia, they brought eastern emigrants west. Good way to pay for delivery. Any help you can supply would be greatly appreciated. The painting is by a local artist. ...
I am attaching photo's of the painting mentioned above. The artist, Victor Denlinger passed away 5-27-2011 at age 91. According to the obituary, he was a commercial artist who also painted for enjoyment. ...
—Jim Trimmer, President, Trotwood-Madison Historical Society
Rails West: In search of a new life, land or wealth, immigrants from the east of the Mississippi and Europe came west on the railroad. Thousands of immigrants paid up to $40 for a third class transcontinental ticket. The accommodations were miserable, dirty and slow. This locomotive number 124 of the Central Pacific Railroad pulling an immigrant train passed through Trotwood, Ohio in 1883. —Vic Denlinger
