The Steam Locomotive Young America

Periodca. 1853 - 1857

MediumChromolithograph on paper

Dimensions22 × 33 in. (55.9 × 83.8 cm)

InscribedInscribed boldly above the locomotive, "BREESE, KNEELAND & CO. / JERSEY CITY N. J." The names of the company's partners appear in the lower left, "J. S. BREESE / C. KNEELAND Jr." and in the lower right, "W. G. HAMILTON / E. P. GOULD."

SignedSigned bottom left, "Drawn by A. L. Holley," and in the bottom center, "Lithographed and printed in Colors by Endicott & Co. N. Y."

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineGift of Mrs. William Barclay Parsons, 1934

Object number1984.520

DescriptionSide view of an elaborately painted, wood burning steam locomotive of the American 4-4-0 type. The locomotive is posed on a low stone arch bridge with driving rods in a down position. The boiler and stack are painted dark green. The wheels on the engine and tender are painted red with green accents. The fire box, steam dome and cylinders are shown in gold perhaps representing brass. The cab is elaborately decorated with red windows, a dark green base coat, and yellow detailing. The tender has red, yellow and and blue designs painted over a dark green base. All of the running gear has been painted red, yellow and green. A plate mounted to the side of the boiler reads "YOUNG AMERICA," the name of the locomotive. A red and yellow shield-shaped plate mounted between the driving wheels says "NY LOC WORKS." A third plate mounted on the cylinder bears the name "BREESE, KNEELAND & CO. / JERSEY CITY." A richly painted headlight is mounted in front of the smoke stack, above a red and green painted cow catcher. Every inch of the locomotive has been treated with elaborate striping and decoration.
Curatorial RemarksThis promotional lithograph depicts what must have been one of the most elaborately decorated locomotives produced by Breese, Kneeland & Co. during their four years of operation under that corporate name. Every inch of the locomotive and tender has been enriched with ornamentation primarily in dark green, red, and yellow.NotesBreese Kneeland and Company was a nineteenth century builder of steam locomotives located at Jersey City, Hudson County, NJ. Initially styled the New York Locomotive Works, the company was active under various ownerships in building steam locomotives from 1853 until 1873. The original proprietors were Charles Kneeland Jr., William G. Hamilton and J. S. Breese. Encrease Personette Gould (1822-1876), usually known as E. P. Gould, was a well known mechanic and formerly the mechanical superintendent of the Hudson River Railroad who became the first shop foreman and designer. The initial products were noted for their up to the minute designs and were well received. Although the company seemingly got off to a good start, the "iniquitous conduct of certain western railroad managers... buying engines on credit while they knew their companies were hopelessly insolvent..." doomed the enterprise. The financial collapse of 1857 put the company in the hands of its creditors. Breese, Kneeland & Co. was then reorganized as the Jersey City Locomotive Works with William Hamilton in charge, but the company again failed in 1865. The plant was then leased to build over 100 locomotives for the broad gauge Atlantic and Great Western Railroad which apparently was unable to supply its needs through commercial builders. When that work concluded, the site was leased to Nathaniel McKay, formerly associated with locomotive builder McKay and Aldus. McKay Iron Works produced general machinery, including a few locomotives, until the works closed for good in 1873. Total locomotive production at Jersey City is estimated at about 300 under all managements. One locomotive, El Paso & Southwestern Railroad No. 1 (formerly Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad number 40), built by Breese Kneeland, is preserved at the Centennial Museum, University of Texas, El Paso.

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