Little Blacknose was the first steam engine built for the New York Central Railroad and was a pioneer in transportation. His real name was DeWitt Clinton, and he huffed and puffed his way from Albany to Schenectady for many years, scaring horses and people and enjoying every minute of it. You may have seen the little engine at one of the big fairs or in Grand Central, not at all like the diesel monsters of today.

From the E.M. Hale edition