The DeWitt Clinton of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad (M&H) was an American steam locomotive and the first working steam locomotive built for service in New York state.
The locomotive was built in 1831 and began operations the same year. It was named in honor of DeWitt Clinton, the governor of New York State responsible for the Erie Canal, a competitor to the railroad. Portions of the steam engine were cast at the West Point Foundry in Cold Spring, New York. The DeWitt Clintons first run was from the city of Albany, New York, to Schenectady, New York, a run of . Its passenger cars were made of stagecoach bodies in which riders would sit either inside or on outdoor rumble seats. The cars were known as Goold cars and were named after coach builder James Goold of Albany.
The locomotive was scrapped in 1833. The M&H became part of the New York Central Railroad (NYCR) system in 1853. The New York Central Railroad built a replica of the locomotive for display at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. This replica would continue to be used for promotional purposes until it was purchased by Henry Ford in 1934. The locomotive was very similar to future locomotives with a horizontal boiler and a smokestack at the front. The locomotive also had an early flatbed tender to store its fuel. Clinton entered politics in 1790 DeWitt Clinton served in the New York House of Representatives from 1797 to 1798, During the construction of the Erie Canal, Clinton was governor of New York State. He held from office from 1817 to 1823 and was re-elected in 1825. These waterways would become the basis for the Erie Canal between Albany and Buffalo in 1825.
Original DeWitt Clinton
thumb|The First Railroad Train on the Mohawk and Hudson River, by Edward Lamson Henry, 1892-1893, oil on canvas
In 1831, the M&H constructed its first locomotive, the DeWitt Clinton. The locomotive was then delivered by boat on July 25, and given its first test run on July 30. After about 2 to 3 years of continued service, the DeWitt Clinton was scrapped in 1833. This replica was accompanied by replicas of the original Goold cars.
thumb|Engines of the New York Central RR, Scientific American Engraving 1897 -- DeWitt Clinton at right
Since its first appearance at the World’s Fair of 1893, the Clinton replica continued to work as an engaging promotional device for the railroad in many subsequent locations until it was purchased by Henry Ford in 1934 with the condition that it still travel periodically to fairs and expositions on behalf of the NYCR. After being purchased by Ford, the replica would continue to make appearances at NYCR fairs, expositions and other promotional events up until the 1950s.