For many years a Case 18 hp Horse Drawn Steamer was used by Burt
I. Brown, Cassville, Oneida County, New York. During its early life
it furnished the power for threshing wheat and oats in the Mohawk
Valley.
At Williamstown, N. Y., on May 31st, 1949, when the State
Highway Historic Marker was dedicated, commemorating the fact that
It was used for the power to operate an early model thresher on
that occasion.
Now the old time steamer has been converted into a narrow gauge
Locomotive by Ed Nolan, Pulaski, New York. It is serving its second
tour of duty operating on the New York Northern Railroad, which the
Syracuse Herald-Journal of September 2, 1960 referred to as
‘The smallest gauge railroad in the world.’
At the New York State Fair this year in Syracuse the Railroad
Community Committee of Central New York had on display several
large Steam Locomotives and some of the latest passenger and
freight cars. A popular attraction was Ed Nolan’s ‘New York
Northern Railroad’, operating over narrow gauge rails. Over
40,000 youngsters and older folks were given free rides.
Mr. Nolan advises that the old Steamer was purchased from the
late Mr. Brown about ten years ago. Over 5 years was spent by
Nolan, as a hobby, converting the half-century old Agricultural
Engine into a Locomotive which now operates over several miles of
track on Ms estate. It is giving a lot of enjoyment to folks who
love the old ‘Steamers’.
WILLARD DURKEE – September 1960