Thanks to some of you guys, I went to Clark's Trading Post today. That place has expanded enormously and improved in many ways since I last saw it 30 years ago. The grounds are splendid with thousands of flowers, all in bloom despite the horrible drought. There is a new village street much like that at Old Sacramento, brick with beautifully designed buildings on each side which house a variety of shops and five museums. The latter contain thousands of artifacts nicely displayed and generally restored in many categories such as: railroads, automobiles, motorcycles, typewriters, sewing machines, toys, model trains, photography, radios, a great variety of electrical devices, steam engines of various purposes and sizes, a large biographical section devoted to early researchers in electrical and radio technology, even some train and trolley pictures, generally with emphasis on early days in each.

A merry-go-round pipe organ, a calliope, and several automatic orchestral instruments provided entertaining music from time to time. Twice a day they have a performance by the trained bears.

But you want to know about the railroad. There are five steam locomotives, Porter 0-4-0T, Baldwin 2-4-2, Heisler, Climax, all in operation today, and a Shay that has not been fired up for 50 years but may be restored sometime. There is also a gasolene locomotive and a restored 1930 Reo railbus. Trains were going almost continuously all day with railbus trips between trips of the 4-car passenger train. A restored caboose moved a few times and the Porter shuttled back and forth on a short track with a small open car. The main line is about a mile long with another mile to be constructed. One $10 ticket is good all day on all of these including cab rides in the steam locomotives. On top of all that, the staff is courteous, friendly, and informative.

I remember back in the 1940s, the yard at the paper mill in Lincoln was a busy place. Usually two 0-4-0s were moving log cars and sometimes the 2-4-2 and a Shay were to be seen when not out on the line of the East Branch and Lincoln. Not in use were a Climax and another Shay. When the mill closed, the Climax, one Shay, and a Porter went to Clark's. The other Shay was scrapped and the other Porter sat outside at the mill for several years, eventually going to Clark's. The Baldwin went to nearby Loon Mountain where it remained on display for about 40 years. Recently, Clark's traded a Porter for the Baldwin and put the latter into operation. They do their own locomotive rebuilding, including retubing the boilers, everything except welding fire boxes.

This is one of the best designed and operated museums I have ever seen and certainly gives an incredible value for the dollar. Go see it. Bob Reich

RJReich@aol.com

Bob,
thanks for the update about Clark's.

They've been saying they were going to extend the line for years, but never have. I'm curious if you have new information from your visit that made you believe construction of more track was actually going to happen in the near future...

GM

GM,

They own a nice piece of land on the other side of the Interstate past the current end of track. One of the plans is to build a steam park up there.

Historians tend to favor the latter section of the Clark's line as it runs on the grade of the old B&M Whtiehouse Branch for a spell. The rest of the line is on a built-for-Clark's ROW.

Rob

> Bob,
> thanks for the update about Clark's.

> They've been saying they were going to
> extend the line for years, but never have.
> I'm curious if you have new information from
> your visit that made you believe
> construction of more track was actually
> going to happen in the near future...

> GM


trains@robertjohndavis.com

Robert/Rob Davis;

On e-bay recently, there was a 1905 International Miniature Railway Co. Amusement Park steam locomotive for sale. I included the link below. (The auction is over; reserve was not met.)

Anyway, they mention that a similiar locomotive from the White City Amusement Park in Worcester, MA is part of the permenant collection at Clarks. Have either of you seen it? I have not heard of it before.

It would be a 12" guage 4-4-0; somewhat resembling a Cagney.

Also, are there any "steam lizards" (reciprocating steam pumps) in steam engine collection at Clarks? Thanks in advance for your response.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

1905 12" Gauge Amusement Park Steam Train

james1@pernet.net

Yes, they do have something like that on display in one of the buildings. I doubt they ever ran it (they have no 12" track). I can't remember if its exactly like that one, but I did note that it was a live steam engine with gauges and controls. Really don't know about the steam lizards, but they might well have one. Maybe one of the other guys knows more details.

> Bob,
> thanks for the update about Clark's.

> They've been saying they were going to
> extend the line for years, but never have.
> I'm curious if you have new information from
> your visit that made you believe
> construction of more track was actually
> going to happen in the near future...

Gary Mills: One of the engineers said they had acquired land for extension of the main line about another mile but did not say it would be soon. Likewise, restoration of the Shay is not in the immediate future. The entire establishment shows an enormous amount of high quality development so it is clear that despite huge crowds (estimate: over 2000 last Saturday) they must be cautious about major expenses.

James Hefner: Yes, the 12" gauge 4-4-0 is there mounted on a display table in the fire house museum where there are also other engines of many types. The Climax and Porter both have reciprocating steam operated water pumps providing a means of spraying water along the right-of-way for fire protection and also for wetting down their "wolfman" character as the train passes. Likely the other two steam locomotives have steam pumps also but I did not ride in the cabs of the Heisler or Baldwin. Bob Reich

> GM


RJReich@aol.com

All their engines that go into the "woods" have a little duplex pump for washing down the engine and dealing with little spot fires or a smoldering tie along the mainline from stack embers. Their Climax has a Simplex and Heisler has a Worthington I believe, both of which one man could move, and the Baldwin will be fitted with a vertical Merryweather if not already, which I have not seen yet, but only talked with them about. I imagine they have some in thier possesion otherwise such at one of their museums.

I know they have an extensive collection of water rams around the property, one of which is/was used to make up water in the bumper boat pond.

> All their engines that go into the
> "woods" have a little duplex pump
> for washing down the engine and dealing with
> little spot fires or a smoldering tie along
> the mainline from stack embers. Their Climax
> has a Simplex and Heisler has a Worthington
> I believe, both of which one man could move,
> and the Baldwin will be fitted with a
> vertical Merryweather if not already, which
> I have not seen yet, but only talked with
> them about. I imagine they have some in
> thier possesion otherwise such at one of
> their museums.

> I know they have an extensive collection of
> water rams around the property, one of which
> is/was used to make up water in the bumper
> boat pond.

For those of you interested in steam pumps, I would point you to the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. Until clean air concerns closed in, there was an active pump house behind the shops complete with two large pumps, vertical boiler and all the accessories. It was used to pump water to the summit, but hasn't been so used in years. Check it out.


wrj494@aol.com

> All their engines that go into the
> "woods" have a little duplex pump
> for washing down the engine and dealing with
> little spot fires or a smoldering tie along
> the mainline from stack embers. Their Climax
> has a Simplex and Heisler has a Worthington
> I believe, both of which one man could move,
> and the Baldwin will be fitted with a
> vertical Merryweather if not already, which
> I have not seen yet, but only talked with
> them about. I imagine they have some in
> thier possesion otherwise such at one of
> their museums.

Thanks, Ray. I'll add them to our on-line database on the "Steam Lizards" group website.

> I know they have an extensive collection of
> water rams around the property, one of which
> is/was used to make up water in the bumper
> boat pond.

While it is a different animal altogether, I have seen "water driven water pumps" or "Water Lizards". They look like a standard duplex pump, but the pump end is in fact a water motor with non-condensing valves.

They are small, and made of brass. One way they were used prior to electricity was to pump rain water from an outdoor cistern to a water tank in the attic, where it can used for cooking or for washing your hair. The water used to run the pump came from the toilet. It would be found in the basement of a home.

There are pictures of a couple of examples in the Photos Section of the Steam Lizard Group website.


Steam Lizards - Reciprocating Steam Pumps
james1@pernet.net

> For those of you interested in steam pumps,
> I would point you to the Mt. Washington Cog
> Railway. Until clean air concerns closed in,
> there was an active pump house behind the
> shops complete with two large pumps,
> vertical boiler and all the accessories. It
> was used to pump water to the summit, but
> hasn't been so used in years. Check it out.

David,

Are their pictures and information on them online? If not, could you send me more information on them?

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Steam Lizards - Reciprocating Steam Pumps
james1@pernet.net

> For those of you interested in steam pumps,
> I would point you to the Mt. Washington Cog
> Railway. Until clean air concerns closed in,
> there was an active pump house behind the
> shops complete with two large pumps,
> vertical boiler and all the accessories. It
> was used to pump water to the summit, but
> hasn't been so used in years. Check it out.

David,

Are there pictures and information on them online? If not, could you send me more information on them?

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Steam Lizards - Reciprocating Steam Pumps
james1@pernet.net

I plan to go up in a week or so and will try to remember to take some digital shots of the pumps and get accurate info for your site.

The water rams run off of river power and were used to fill RR some water towers.

> I plan to go up in a week or so and will try
> to remember to take some digital shots of
> the pumps and get accurate info for your
> site.

Ray,

Hopefully, you have made it up there; and I am looking forward to your pictures and information.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net