J. Craig Thorpe (American, B. 1948) "Connecticut Locomotive" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Paper.
Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
This painting is the original which appeared on the Fleetwood Legendary Locomotives of the 50 States Connecticut Commemorative Cover postmarked March 16, 1995.
During the first half of the 1890s, one of the most popular modes of transportation between New York City and Boston was a six-hour ride aboard the New England Limited. Also known as the "White Train," this lavishly appointed white and gold train of the New York & New England Railroad (NY&NE) was one of the most elegant of its time. Each royal buffet smoker was outfitted with 20 upholstered chairs, two card tables and writing desks, affording passengers a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere in which to make their journey. On the White Train's inaugural run of March 16, 1891, no detail was overlooked. From the white jumper of engineer Gene Potter, to the whitewashed coal in the tender, the preparations for the first trip were meticulous. And they were well-grounded, for the train quickly became popular, not only for its elegance but also for its punctuality. However, the pristine color that made the White Train unique also led to its downfall. Though master car builder F.D. Adams had argued that white passenger cars would be less adversely affected by heat, and that the finish would be more durable if it was properly applied, it in fact soiled more easily than darker colors and required constant care. Thus, on October 20, 1895, the legendary White Train made its final journey. One of the locomotives that pulled this noted train was NY&NE's engine No. 167 - a 4-4-0 type built by the Cooke Locomotive Works in 1890.
Image Size: 14 x 12 in.
Overall Size: 18 x 15 in.
Unframed.
(B14988)
Condition
- By registering to bid for this auction either in-house or online and/or placing a bid in this auction the BIDDER/BUYER agrees to all the terms and conditions of Helmuth Stone Gallery Auctions.
- All silver, gold and/or jewelry lots or invoices containing said lots MUST be paid for via WIRE TRANSFER, no other forms of payment will be accepted.
- All items are sold as-is where-is and no guarantees are made of any kind. All sales are final; no refunds will be given under any circumstances.
- Helmuth Stone Gallery provides condition reports as a courtesy to our clients and assumes no liability for any error or omission. Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client and is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Descriptions are our opinions and should in no way be construed as a guarantee of any kind as to age, condition, mater. The bidder assumes responsibility for ensuring that the condition of the item(s) meets with their satisfaction prior to bidding. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging.
- Online images can sometimes be low quality due to the uploading process, original high-resolution images can be requested via email at HelmuthStone@gmail.com
- We recommend looking into shipping quotes prior to bidding, shipping quotes can take up to a week or more post-sale as we host our auctions through multiple online platforms and shipping can become backlogged, if you would like a list of local shippers please email us directly.
- Our auction catalogs are hosted through multiple online platforms along with phone and in-house bidding. Bids placed on other platforms are not shown through this catalog. Because of this, even if it appears you are the only absentee bid or bidder on a lot, you may already be outbid or may have placed a bid equal to another bidder. Therefore, we always recommend bidding live.
- Unless otherwise stated in the description, all items are sold without additional documentation or COAs. If any supporting documentation is available an image will be available online via the catalog listing.