Byrdie, You are correct on the B&O, I assumed (and you know what that makes -***-U-ME, not you of course) that was why they were hauling this thing over the mountain. But this roughly 1840 map of the B&O shows it coming down the valley through Staunton. Apparently the Blue Ridge Railroad had the charter to go west from Richmond as the Crozet gazette article describes. That was that and no connection with the B&O was yet authorized. Hence, haul the loco over the mountain. Thanks for the you tube links too. Remarkable as Pferrdy says.
