It all began back in 1971, when The Valley Railroad ran its first steam excursion on the old Connecticut Valley Line with a little Baldwin 2-6-2 numbered 103. The tradition has now continued for over 40 years using a variety of other steamers. Alco 2-8-0 #97 took the lead when little 103 could no longer handle the loads, and later, Alco 2-8-2 #40 became the queen of the fleet.

Further, "News From The Naugy" (http://naugy.blogspot.com/2009/06/103-leaves-essex-for-new-home.html) states the following: Steam locomotive No. 103 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in November 1925, for the Sumter & Choctaw Railroad, a small logging railway in northern Alabama. It has a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement. The engine worked there for over 30 years, and was sold in 1962 to the Empire State Railway Museum of Middletown, NY. 103 operated at Middletown until late 1966, and was moved to the new Valley Railroad at Essex in early 1971. As the crews worked to get ready for the Valley’s opening day in the summer of 1971, 103 was readied for her role as the first steam locomotive of the new railroad. After a midnight test run (the first operation of 103 at VRR), 103 triumphantly pulled the first 3-car VRR train into the Essex depot on the morning of July 29, 1971-- 100 years to the day of the first run on that very line.

The engine has since been moved to it's new home for display at the Naugatuck Railroad in Waterville, Connecticut in 2009.