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By Chris Mayhew<\/strong><\/p>\n The sound of the bell from one of the last steam locomotives to operate on the New York Central Railroad still echoes through the halls of The Cincinnati Railroad Club today.<\/span><\/p>\n This bell belonged to locomotive 3129, a proud member of the NYC\u2019s distinguished Mohawk-class \u2212 engines renowned for pulling high-speed passenger trains and fast freights. One can easily imagine the 3129 thundering across Indiana’s cornfields pulling the James Whitcomb Riley on its way to Cincinnati Union Terminal or gliding across the Midwest at the front of a Detroit to Cincinnati “Mercury” train.<\/span><\/p>\n Now, this 150-pound bell is prominently displayed in the clubroom at Cincinnati Union Terminal. Visitors are welcome to ring it, honoring a tangible link to the golden age of steam. From 1989 to 2016, the bell was housed in Tower A (the club’s former headquarters) where it became a favorite of children and adults alike \u2212 its sound a part of countless memories.<\/span><\/p>\n The club is dedicated to sharing the importance and relevance of railroading, whether from the glory days of steam when 3129 roamed or today’s modern freight carriers and Amtrak trains that remain vital to our nation’s commerce. This bell harkens back to an age where the steam locomotive was still an iconic technological marvel. Remember, Superman was “more powerful than a locomotive.”<\/span><\/p>\n It was with great honor that the club accepted this bell more than 65 years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n On July 2, 1959, John Dring, NYC’s Superintendent of Cincinnati Terminals, presented the bell and number plate of 3129 to the club during a dinner meeting held in the former Gateway Restaurant at Union Terminal. Dring regaled members with stories from the final days of steam on the Central, adding voice and warmth to a chapter of history that still resonates today.<\/span><\/p>\n The Cincinnati Railroad Club retains the donation letter from the New York Central for the 3129 bell.<\/span><\/p>\n Locomotive 3129 was a 4-8-2 \u201cMohawk\u201d-class engine built by the Lima Locomotive Works in November 1943, part of a series of 25 identical units delivered to the New York Central Railroad. Classified by the NYC as L-4b, each locomotive in the group weighed an impressive 401,100 pounds and was equipped with 72-inch driver wheels\u2014designed for both power and speed.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the donation letter provided to the Cincinnati Railroad Club, No. 3129 saw service in both freight and passenger operations. Notably, the NYC described this as \u201cthe last\u201d steam locomotive bell the railroad intended to donate, making it a particularly special artifact in the club\u2019s collection.<\/span><\/p>\n Club Historian Clifford Behrmann and Field Trip Chairman Charles Frankl formally accepted the bell on behalf of the club, which was then planning the creation of a historical railroad museum. The handover was documented in the New York Central\u2019s \u201cHeadlight\u201d newsletter, appearing on page 9 of the October 1959 issue.<\/span><\/p>\n Today, when we ring the bell, its sound transports us back to that golden age of steam\u2014a time not forgotten, but honored and preserved with every chime.<\/span><\/p>\n By Chris Mayhew The sound of the bell from one of the last steam locomotives to operate on the New York Central Railroad still echoes through the halls of The Cincinnati Railroad Club today. This bell belonged to locomotive 3129,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1321,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[100,97,44,96,102,98,94,95,99],"class_list":["post-1320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-91","tag-bell","tag-cincinnati-railroad-club","tag-cincinnati-union-terminal","tag-gateway-restaurant","tag-locomotive-bell","tag-mohawk","tag-new-york-central","tag-nyc","tag-steam-locomotive"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cincinnatirrclub.org\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/NYC-3129-club-donation-letter-copy-1024x576.jpg\")
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