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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 1 (May 1, 1929)

Little King Mihai of Roumania — Drives His First Big Engine

page 48

Little King Mihai of Roumania
Drives His First Big Engine.

Little King Mihai, the Sovereign of Roumania, is now seven years old, and has just driven his first real locomotive, which is also named King Mihai, and is the first rail-road engine ever made in Roumania (says the “Christian Science Monitor”). It was constructed out of Roumanian materials, by Roumanian workmen, under the direction of an expert mechanical engineer, Mr. Malaxa.

At the same time that this powerful locomotive (one of the largest on the Roumanian railroads) was finished, four excellent new railroad ears also left the factory, ready for use. After they had been carefully inspected by the proper commission and approved, a group of very distinguished people, including little King Mihai and his mother and Uncle Nicolae, went down to accept officially the new train and to christen it, as it were.

After important speeches had been made by the engineer who had planned the engine, and by the Director General of the railroads, the little boy asked to be allowed to see the machinery of the big engine, and since he is the Sovereign, who could say him nay! So up he went into the cab, followed by his mother and uncle, and after looking over all the shiny knobs, and levers, and handles, he came to the throttle. Slowly he opened it. There was a solemn “Pff-pff-pff,” and gently big “King Mihai,” driven by little King Mihai, pulled Roumania's first native train out of the station amid the cheers of the onlookers.

The Roumanian people are pleased that they have begun to make their own cars and engines, and since King Mihai is like most other boys, he would undoubtedly be glad to inaugurate all the new engines.