With all the talk of the town on Taunton, Mass on mainsteam media lately I was wondering if there is anything left of the Mason Locomotive Works. If there are any buildings left and their current use.

No, it is a parking lot and a grocery/strip mall. The property was wiped clean. I visited the site ten years ago.

There is a fabulous new book out on the history of the Mason Locomotive Works and Mason locomotives.I have it, highly recommended!http://www.heimburgerhouse.com/latest_releases.htm(2nd book down the list)I believe there are only 2 surviving Mason locomotives.the "William Mason" - a 4-4-0 from 1856!at the B&O railroad museum:http://saulnadler.railfan.net/display.cgi?B_O25.jpgand the "Torch Lake" - the only surviving Mason Bogie.http://www.ironhorse129.com/Prototype/M ... _Clr.jpgIm building a model of a Mason Bogie that once ran near Ithaca, NYhttp://gold.mylargescale.com/scottych ... an.htmScot

I met the author recently during the narrow gauge convention. He asked a lot of questions.I know a little bit about the Torch Lake, But does the mason at the B & O museum operate?

The Strasburg did work on it prior to the "Wild Wild West" movie of a few years ago. I think it was understeam for the picture.

No. 25 is operational, having also been used in "Gods and Generals", as well as occasionally being operated for special events at the Museum.

Yes, it was made operable by Strasburg to appear in Wild Wild West; the movie company paid for the work. It operated serveral times afterwards at the B&O Museum; Jim Wrinn and I watched it together one All Aboard Days around 1999 or 2000.For those who don't know the locomtoive, it is an American Standard 4-4-0, not a Mason Bogie. Nice example of the type. Had to say how much other than some castings and trim really dates to the 1850s any longer, but a neat engine nevertheless.

I snagged a cab ride on it at about that time. My grin was pasted from ear to ear. We visited my mother-in-law that evening, and even she couldn't wipe the grin off!