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- The Purdue Boilermakers
- On October 26, 1891, a newspaper in Crawfordsville, Indiana, called
- Purdue's football team the "Boiler Makers" when writing about their
- trouncing of Wabash College. Lafayette newspapers soon picked up the
- name, and in October 1892, The Purdue Exponent, Purdue's student
- newspaper, gave it the stamp of approval. In the early days of Purdue
- football, the team was called other names as well, including
- "haymakers," "railsplitters," "sluggers," and "cornfield sailors."
- Purdue's Mascot The Boilermaker Special is the official mascot train
- of Purdue. The idea for the Special began with an article in The
- Purdue Exponent by Isreal Silkowitz. The first train was presented on
- September 11, 1940. Since then, the Special has chugged its way to
- football games and around campus to help rally the Purdue spirit.
- Including the first Boilermaker Special, Purdue has had five versions
- of the mascot train through the years. The fifth version was dedicated
- September 25, 1993.
- A smaller version of the mascot, the Boilermaker Special IV, or X-tra
- Special as it is nicknamed, also makes appearances at special events.
- The Reamer Club serves as official caretaker of the Specials, taking
- responsibility for appearance and maintenance.
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