Hey Folks,

Just curious about this homebuilt locomotive. My daughter attended a birthday party @ Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Association near my house. I noticed a picture of this contraption on the wall and snapped a pic of my own.

I recently joined Tuckahoe as an associate member, but haven't had a moment to ask anyone there. Just curious if anyone here knew the story?

thanks!
Joe

Joe,

The Tuckahoe website shows a 3' railroad and a diesel miniature train.

Standing by for details on this one!

Wesley

The Tuckahoe group acquired this locomotive and the two open passenger cars (that are now pulled by the Plymouth locomotive) from the former Daniel Boone Village Railroad, a "Tweetsie-like" attraction once located in Hillsborough, NC. This was that operation's first train. It was later replaced by an 0-4-0T that was converted into a tender locomotive (that 0-4-0 is now on display at the Gold Coast RR Museum in FL.) As far as the locomotive in the photo, I am 99.9% sure it is one of the (two?) homemade locomotives built by the Arthur S. Young Company of Kinzers, PA during the 1950's. Mr. Young was the founder of the Rough & Tumble Engineers Museum and its annual Old Thresherman's Reunion. I believe this locomotive is the one that operated on a short stretch of track on his property--the original R&T site--which was across RT 30 from the present R&T site. Back then the locomotive had a single trailer axle under the cab that was apparently later "upgraded" to a four wheel "truck" assembly. The chassis was from a 3 foot gauge gasoline locomotive (I guessing a Plymouth) with a two cylinder steam engine mounted horizontally on top providing power under the front of the boiler. The boiler would have come from either stationary use or perhaps a small traction or portable engine. I believe by the time this engine made it to Tuckahoe it was pretty much a tired machine and saw very little use. It was quickly replaced by the smaller of two Plymouths currently at Tuckahoe. Years ago I remember seeing the homemade steam locomotive sitting in pieces at Tuckahoe, but I don't known what eventually happened to the pieces.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

Just wondering if the same company in Kinzers made the Shay style locomotive that runs out at the rough and tumble meet? It's a cool looking locomotive but as soon as you get up close to it you can see it is all homemade most likely by a farmer. Anyone know the history on that locomotive?

Rough & Tumble's homemade Shay locomotive came along much later. It was originally built around 1970 by a steam engine enthusiast (and PRR conductor) named Bruce Groninger. It wasn't built at Kinzers, but at Mr. Groninger's home. The Shay didn't come to R&T until 1974. It was originally built to 26 inch gauge and was later rebuilt and converted to its present 30 inch gauge. When the Shay first came to R&T it was definitely more "homemade looking" than in its present form. It rode on section car wheels with axles driven by chains connected to modified automotive differentials powered by the lineshafts. All of that was replaced during the early 1990's when the present "much-more-prototypical" truck assemblies were fitted to the locomotive. The Shay is still powered by the Soule two cylinder steam engine that Mr. Groninger fitted to the engine. A few years back, its original boiler was replaced by a newly-built one. There have been many other improvements over the years and today the Shay is a reliable machine that at some distance could past for an actual Lima-built baby Shay. Other improvements to the Shay Railroad include the current two passenger cars built apon a pair of industrial flat cars and a very much upgraded track layout over what was first put down in the 1970's. Although the Shay is small it often has a "big engine voice" since it is usually fitted with full size locomotive whistles including a long-bell Hancock.

Rough &Tumble is having their annual Thresherman's Reunion this week, Wed 8/14 to Sat 8/17. The Shay should be running all day each day. LOTS of other steam action including the original prototype Crown 15 inch gauge 4-4-0 park train locomotive from 1958.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

Thanks to everyone for the information! Very interesting to read about!

As I mentioned, I was just recently at Tuckahoe and didn't see any remains, but, admittedly, I wasn't looking very hard. :) I'll be back for their fall-fest and will take pics if I stumble on anything.

Thanks folks!
Joe

We just spent the day at the Thresherman's Reunion.

What a great time. The two mentioned rail steam engines were running all day along with dozens of steam tractors.

The early internal combustion tractors were amazing too.

Plus large sheds full of large and small stationary engines, both steam and internal combustion powered.

Even the more modern tractors were out in force.

Lots of hit and miss engines. A field of older construction equipment moving soil around.

Those folks missing the smell of coal smoke will get quite a fix.

I highly recommend adding a similar event at this place to your bucket list.

Brian Helfrich

For original poster Joe and anyone else who might be interested. . . While at Rough & Tumble's Thresherman's Reunion this past week I ran into a member of the Tuckahoe group who has been with that organization from the begInning. I asked him about the disposition of the homemade locomotive that started this thread. I was told that the disassembled pieces of the locomotive were sold at auction years ago. He wasn't aware of where the gas loco chassis with the added steam engine went, but mentioned the boiler went to the late DJ Shirey's railroad and steam machinery collection at Geigertown, PA. I'm guessing the boiler is still there. He mentioned that the homemade locomotive had a cracked wheel (among other issues). It was replaced by Plymouth locomotive #2, which itself was replaced (as Tuckahoe's regular motive power) by the larger Plymouth #3.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

I've been to Kinzers before, historically I've always tried to be there for the first day when the flea market is at its best. This year a mini family reunion took place and no one could make it till Friday. Thus it was my first time ever attending the nighttime traction engine show. For anyone on this site who is a steam engine enthusiast put this one on your bucket list it was awesome!

The photos I took are really not doing this any justice. The stack talk was awesome!

There is, or was, a very crude homemade narrow gauge locomotive at the Giegertown Central that may be the sister to the loco in the photo. It was setting next to a tender built on a Plymouth frame and numbered 2. You can see the loco about 30 seconds in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaH7Pxy9DzE

Yes, the strange looking "locomotive" seen at the beginning of the video tour was another creation of the Arthur S. Young Company of Kinzers, PA. I don't know it was ever completed beyond what you see here. Many years ago it wound up in the collection of antique steam and gas machinery owned the late William Willock of Maryland. When Mr. Willock passed away most of his extensive collection was willed to Rough &Tumble including this "locomotive of sorts" seen in the video. Not long after it arrived at Kinzers, the late DJ Shirey acquired it and moved it to Geigertown. I'm not sure what his plans for the "locomotive" were, but sadly, a few years later he was killed in a railroad crane accident.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

Jim,

There's also a funny tractor/steam engine combination that shows up there every year. The one with the vertical boiler and all the whistles. They said the thing was put together by someone back in the '50s. Any chance that was made by the same guys? Must have been pretty handy back then to just go to a scrap yard and get the parts to build anything steam you wanted

If you don't mind Facebook, here's a video from today of the Rough & Tumble "Shay"--no sign-in needed:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1211883076521946

As a mock-up it beats this one, which would probably suffer from a very smokey cab if real: