When I moved last year, I uncovered "A Treasury of Railroad Folklore" edited by Benjamin Botkin, 1953, that I bought years ago at a library auction and then set aside.

Reading through it the other night, was amused to find an article titled "Peter Cooper Builds "Tom Thumb"" of which here is a snippet describing the first run of of the locomotive:

"... I got steam up one Saturday night; the president of the road and two or three gentlemen were standing by, and we got on the track and went out two or three miles. All were much delighted, for it opened up new possibilities for the road. I put the locomotive up for the night in a shed. All were invited to a ride Monday - a ride to Ellicott's Mills.

Monday morning, what was my grief and chagrin to find that some scamp had been there and chopped off all the copper from the engine and carried it away, doubtless to sell to some junk dealer. The copper pipe that conveyed the steam to the pistons was gone. It took me a week or more to repair it..."

Credited to "Interview with Peter Cooper in Boston Herald, July 7, 1882."

Assuming this event would have taken place somewhere near Mt Clare, it would appear copper thieving in Baltimore is as old as railroading!

This book as been a treasure to read.

Bob Bunge

Yes the rat, the cockroach and the metal maggot still thrive in Baltimore