Natchez & Hamburg "Mississippi" is an 0-4-0 Steam locomotive built in 1836 for the H.R. Dunham & Co. in New York, NY, the "Mississippi" operated for only a few years from April 1837 until May 1840 when a violent storm destroyed much of the railroad's property and contributed to its failure.
The locomotive went into storage until it was sold to the Grand Gulf & Port Gibson Railroad in 1844.
Then, after an accident a few years later, it was salvaged by James Hoskins of Brookhaven, MS, in 1880. Hoskins reconditioned the locomotive and put it to work on his railroad, the Meridian, Brookhaven & Natchez.
In 1891, Hoskins donated the engine to the Illinois Central to be used in their exhibit at Chicago's Columbian Exposition in 1893 and it actually ran under its own power the eight hundred miles to Chicago.
The IC donated it to the Museum of Science & Industry in 1938 where it used to be on Static Display.
Today the engine is now at the Three Rivers Rambler - Gulf & Ohio Railway in Knoxville, TN.
Trivia[]
- This is the only survivor of the Natchez & Hamburg Railroad, which was built to connect the river port at Natchez with the interior of the state of Mississippi.
- In 2015, it was sold and is no longer in the collection cause it was sold to the Three Rivers Rambler - Gulf & Ohio Railway.
- As of 2018 the engine is under Cosmetic Restoration.
- The engine has been on display at the Museum from 1938-2015.
- The "Mississippi" transferred to the Mississippi Valley & Ship Island Railroad in 1873.