Fresh out of the Brooks Locomotive Works at Dunkirk, N.Y. (C/N 187) in June, 1873 was the “C. M. Titus,” No. 2 of the Geneva and Ithaca Railroad, with 16” by 24” cylinders and 62-inch drivers. It later became Geneva, Ithaca & Sayre #8 and Lehigh Valley #531. It was painted vermilion and had he usual highly polished brass fittings including cylinder casings, bell mount, hand rails and polished iron cylinder heads. The tender was a delicate wine color with gold leaf striping and lettering.Richard Palmer collection
The locomotive pulled the first train from Geneva to Romulus where the last spike was driven on September 12, 1873, an event attended by more than 500 people. Through a series of mergers this line became a part of the Lehigh Valley system in 1890. It served as the primary passenger mainline until such service was discontinued through Ithaca in 1961. It was abandoned between Ithaca and Trumansburg in 1962 and Trumansburg and Geneva Junction in 1967.
Charles Marinus Titus (1832-1907) was a well known Ithaca real estate tycoon, he was very public spirited and served two terms in the New York State Assembly. He also was also a local industrialist in the manufacture of high quality silk threads as well as farm machinery. He also had a 500-acre dairy farm, and was first president of the Geneva & Ithaca Railroad.
