The firm was established in 1852 by former Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works superintendent (and son-in-law of William Swinburne of Swinburne, Smith and Company) John Cooke and former Montreal resident Charles Danforth as the Danforth, Cooke, and Company, as a manufacturer of steam locomotives as well as cotton machinery.

Approximately 2600 locomotives were built by Cooke from 1852 to 1901,[2] among the most notable engines produced by the firm are the C. P. Huntington, and the Western & Atlantic Railroad "Texas".

In addition to providing motive power for North American railroads, Cooke has also produced many locomotives for Central and South America as well as other parts of the world.

[3] In addition to the above locomotives, the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad WP&YR owns and maintains a steam-powered snowplow built by Cooke in 1899.

This unit is on static display in Skagway, Alaska (see Rotary snowplow for a photo).