Just an old postcard on eBay, but pictures a minature Cagney or Herschell train many decades ago at a park in Maryland. Considering that many of these locomotives have survived and replica fringe-top passenger cars could be constructed, such a project could be a worthwhile community betterment project for a group that likes trains. Installing the train in a public park or other venue as a non-profit project could bring donations of money, materials and services, and access to city, town or county heavy equipment and operators would not be out of the question.The finished project, operated by qualified volunteers, could provide a real boost in community pride. A most successful example is the 22-inch gauge Cagney at the San Francisco Zoo, rebuilt and run by the Golden Gate RR Museum folks. Initially, they were met with resistance from Zoo officials, but now the little train is so popular, the Zoo depends on it for added revenue.http://cgi.ebay.com/VERY-OLD-PEN-MAR-PA ... otohosting

This park was served by (and maybe even owned by) the Western Maryland Railway; it would see much weekend excursion traffic out of Baltimore.There's a possibility I know where this very loco is, although if it is indeed the same one it's far from operable.In addition, I know of one forming project to locate and repatriate another such live steamer, the former Tolchester Beach (southeast of Baltimore near Rock Hall) "Jumbo", to the Baltimore area.Unfortunately it appears that Brother Yarger underestimates the demands and attraction of train rides. I have it on good authority that the Baltimore Zoo is looking at removing its (Chance?) train ride, due to the increased liability and difficulty keeping it staffed and in repair. And that's one of the internal-combustion "CP Huntington" lokies with Blomberg-outline wheelsets.......

The reason most park trains have been removed is that they have been operated by young people as a summer job and maintained (if at all) by city mechanics who know little about them. For some, parts were a problem. As they age and wear. local officials note their potential for liability and decide the money from their sale could be better used elsewhere. That is not a recipe for success. The fake steam outline CP Huntingtons, built from the 1960s on, aren't really that historic or interesting anyway. For a volunteer group emulating the San Francisco Zoo success, however, the story could be different, especially if there are persons with live steam and mechanical/machine skills nearby. Operations and maintenance would be by the volunteers rather than those with little interest besides a paycheck. By restoring a 100 year old Cagney, you are restoring a real piece of history and presenting it to the public, not just amusing yourself, as happens at many private live steam clubs. Combine that with some small Victorian structures and a well-laid roadbed, perhaps among nice public gardens,and you have improved the community. Though the sometimes eccentric collectors who have such trains rusting in their backyards often want a fortune for them, their widows might be induced to donate the pieces to a well-supported group if properly approached. The overall costs are much less than a 1:1 size railroad project, especially with donated funds, services and materials.And the steam trains aren't the only possibility. At least a couple of volunteer groups have restored 1950s-era Minature Train Company streamliners (based on the EMD F3 diesels) in public parks, with similar success. That success depends mostly on having people who care run the operation.

The eccentrics may not be so crazy.Although I know that Crown Metal Products steam locomotives are more modern and many leagues above the normal "backyard" or "park" steamers such as Cagneys, I recall reading in another forum that recently a Crown steamer in good condition sold for $175,000. (Yes, without verification, call it rumor.) If true, this would be about or more than twice what another group recently paid for two not-very-operational-at-the-moment standard-gauge 2-8-0s and a PRR caboose.Actually, come to think of it, I know what someone paid for the B&M Pacific live-steam model a friend of mine built a while back. Yes, it was on the order of what one of the 2-8-0s in question sold for, per unit. The difference was that it was being purchased for a business enterprise.

There are two other mineature trains in the greater Bay Area. The Billy Jones Railroad is in Los Gatos, CA uses live steam and a hand powered turntable after each trip.And the Redwood Valley Railroad in Tilden Park near Berkeley, CA has both apeople size ride in in (like 18 inch gauge) and a Live Steam Club that has the model trains that you can look at.I think both groups have web sites.Ted miles