This is an early version of the story that became known as The Little Engine That Could. It was published 8 April 1906 in the New York Tribune. As you can see, it has changed quite a bit over the years.

Story of the Engine that Thought It Could
by Rev. Charles S. Wing

In a certain railroad yard there stood an extremely heavy train that had to be drawn up an unusually heavy grade before it could reach its destination. The superintendent of the yard was not sure what it was best for him to do, so he went up to a large, strong engine and asked: “Can you pull that train over the hill?”

“It is a very heavy train,” responded the engine.

He then went to another great engine and asked: “Can you pull that train over the hill?”

“It is a very heavy grade,” it replied.

The superintendent was much puzzled, but he turned to still another engine that was spick and span new, and he asked it:”Can you pull that train over the hill?”

“I think I can,” responded the engine.

So the order was circulated, and the engine was started back so that it might be coupled with the train, and as it went along the rails it kept repeating to itself: “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.”

The coupling was made and the engine began its journey, and all along the level, as it rolled toward the ascent, it kept repeating to itself: “I —think —I can. I —think —I— can. I —think— I —can.”

Then it reached the grade, but its voice could still be heard: “I think I can. I—– think—–I—–can.  I —–think—– I—– can.” Higher and higher it climbed, and its voice grew fainter and its words came slower: “I ——-think ——–I——-can.”

It was almost to the top.

“I ———think”

It was at the top.

“I ———can.”

It passed over the top of the hill and began crawling down the opposite slope.

“I ——think——- I—— can——I—– thought——I——-could I—– thought—– I—– could. I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could.”

And singing its triumph, it rushed on down toward the valley.

Because this project is based, at least in part, on this little book, I thought it would be fun to post the 1930’s version, in its entirety right here, right now.

This is what the Amazon review had to say about the book: The unknowing progenitor of a whole generation of self-help books, Wally Piper’s The Little Engine That Could is one of the greatest tales of motivation and the power of positive thinking ever told. In this well-loved classic, a little train carrying oodles of toys to all of the good boys and girls is confronted with a towering, seemingly impassable mountain.

As nicely as they ask, the toys cannot convince the Shiny New Engine or the Big Strong Engine–far too impressed with themselves–to say anything but “I can not. I can not.”

It is left up to the Little Blue Engine to overcome insurmountable odds and pull the train to the other side. The Little Engine That Could is an entertaining and inspirational favorite, and the Little Blue Engine’s rallying mantra “I think I can–I think I can” will resonate for a lifetime in the head of every child who hears it.

Here it is, the whole entire story, every page: