air will be compressed into the boiler in 5 revolutions, to impel the 

 engines with the adhesion wheels and bevel gear back through 4 revo- 

 lutions.'* 



By April 1848 the mechanical work on the model was nearly 

 complete, "» and on May 20 it was given a public trial in Cincinnati. 

 Plans were made to exhibit the model in this country and in Europe. 

 However, despite repeated references in the letters of the Sellers 

 brothers and in various journals to a projected display of the model 

 in Europe — Coleman and Whetstone studied French with the idea 

 of showing the model in France — this was apparently never done. *o 

 According to a typewritten note in the Peale-Sellers papers, the 

 trip to France was cancelled because of the revolution of 1848. 

 As late as February 1849 Sellers talked of going, but he became so 

 involved with the Panama Railroad that he abandoned the idea 

 of introducing his invention in Europe. 



Late in June the model was taken to New York City by George, 

 Coleman, and John Whetstone. A track was set up on a vacant 

 lot at Fourth Avenue between 22nd and 23rd Streets. Sellers 

 stated many years later that he had been invited to display the 

 model by the president of an association planning to build the 

 Panama Railroad, Thomas W. Ludlow, who offered the lot for a 

 demonstration. SI Horatio Allen, consulting engineer to the Panama 

 Railroad, suggested that Sellers' plan be considered because of 

 the great cost and difficulties anticipated in building the road across 

 the Isthmus. 



Invitations brought many of the most eminent railroad men in 

 the country, including John B. Jervis, Benjamin H. Latrobe, John 

 Brandt, and William Norris, to New York for the trials. The 

 first showing was made in early August 1848. The little locomotive 

 was put through a number of severe tests. Two passenger cars 

 were loaded with 33 persons, a total of about 5,000 pounds, and 



■s Pp. 7-9. 



''^Peale-Sellers papers (exact date not given). 



*'' Peale-Sellers papers, vol. 3, pp. 14-15; Scientific American (August 19, 1848), 

 vol. 3, p. 380; Farmer and Mechanic (August 24, 1848), vol. 2, p. 402. 



SI G. E. Sellers to C. K. Lord (vice president, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad), 

 February 16, 1893, Peale-Sellers papers. The letter contains Sellers" reflections 

 on his grade-climbuig locomotive. 



61 



