I remember reading a long time ago (maybe here) about an owner of a few little steam locomotives that had them on a stick of track in his industrial park in Wilmington Delaware. Anybody else remember this or was it a dream? The article had photos and the locos were sitting out in the open and kids used to climb in them.

Thanks!
Mr. Ed

Well, there is a Diesel critter on display in the old industrial area near the Exhibition Center in Wilmington, Del.

Ed - R U thinking of the locos in Oaks, PA? - Rob

Is this it?

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomo ... isplay=313

There were a couple of ex-Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 locomotives parked in a spur in an industrial park back in the early 70s. Today the minor-league Blue Rocks stadium occupies that spot. These were not "little steam locomotives", but full-size standard gauge engines. There were several little locomotives (7 1/2 inch gauge) at Tom Marshall's estate in Yorklyn when he had the "Magic Age of Steam" attraction open. This wasn't an industrial park but a country estate. He also had Stanley Steamers, a steam popcorn machine and a steam-powered boat in a small lake. The engines were lettered "Auburn Valley".

Do they fit the description that I gave? It doesn't sound familiar, but my memory ain't what it used to be.

Later!
Mr. Ed

No, that's not it, but thanks anyway. The ones I recall were right next to the road and people would park at the curb and their kids could climb in them.

Thanks!
Mr. Ed

Not them. When I said they were little, I should have been a little more descriptive. I recall they were like 0-4-0 tank engines and the like. They may have been a narrow gauge as well. It's been a while and I haven't gotten any younger.

Thanks!
Mr. Ed

Here are some photos.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1665077
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1665073
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1665084

That's them! Cannot figure out why I thought they were in Delaware. Thanks to you and Robert John Davis for jogging my memory. I looked it up and found that they are parked on the old Reading Perkiomen branch, so they are all standard gauge, right? One or two look narrower. Funny how your mind works. But I guess advanced age has something to do with it.

Thanks!
Mr. Ed

For anyone wanting to take a look, here's a link to them on Google Maps.

Short Link:
https://goo.gl/maps/knA4bZya1KH2

Long Link with GPS coordinates:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B007'38.9%22N+75%C2%B027'29.8%22W/@40.127476,-75.4588375,164m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x89c6916b2624f6d3:0xaea2c23a1dd82c4d!2sOaks,+PA!3b1!8m2!3d40.133503!4d-75.4636031!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d40.127475!4d-75.458289

You use the past tense, seeming to indicate this attraction is gone, but the website seems to indicate it's alive and well and planning open days in 2018?

http://auburnheights.org/visit/steamin-days/

The attraction known as the "Magic Age of Steam" is rightfully mentioned in the past tense since it no longer exists under that name and with all the original attractions. During the summer months, it was open weekly (I don't remember if it was weekends-only or not). It had a steam-powered boat that circled a pond on the property plus other things that no longer exist. It was closed to the public for many years. Tom Marshall donated the property and steam vehicles to the state of Delaware in 2008. The collection is operated by the Friends of the Auburn Heights Preserve under the name "Auburn Heights Preserve". It is now open to the public on certain selected Sundays.