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The Auburn Valley Railroad #401

History:

Towards the end of the 1940’s, Martin Lewis designed a larger scale engine, a 1 ½" scale with a track gauge of 7 ½” and in 1956, T. Clarence Marshall began building his own 1 ½” 4-8-4 locomotive with plans and castings from Martin Lewis.   After 7500 hours of hard work by 1959, the locomotive was almost complete and Tom and his father began planning the location of the railroad around the property.  Many hours were spent regrading the land around the house and grounds and laying down the track.  Aluminum alloy rail and redwood ties were furnished by the Little Engines Company, as well as tiny spikes (which were given up as not practical), splice bars, and other items.  On August 5, 1960, T. Clarence Marshall’s 75^th birthday, the railroad carried its first passengers.

Several hundred people rode the Auburn Valley’s one train pulled by locomotive 401 during the fall of 1960.  Two of the original passenger cars used had come from the old Tolchester Amusement Park on the Eastern shore of Maryland (they were cut down from 12 ½” track gauge).  Four other cars were built of similar design, and all were brightly painted in “circus train” colors.

In 1960, Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc., had been incorporated to undertake certain historic and restoration projects in the area, the most elaborate of which was the re-activation of steam passenger service on the Landenberg Branch of the B & O Railroad, and Tom Marshall was its president.  The organization had many enthusiastic people who became members, but it needed funds. T.Clarence Marshall agreed to “lease” the Auburn Valley to this new organization if its members would man it, and all proceeds would be turned over to the HRCV.  It was soon realized that another train would be needed. T. Clarence Marshall purchased the mate to the # 401 from the widow of Martin Lewis which had been ¾ complete when he passed away.  This second locomotive became the #402 and entered service in April 1961.

Tom Marshall, with the help of HRCV members, built stub switches and two passing tracks at West Yorklyn Station and the other a “low grade” near Summit (this latter trackage has now been abandoned).  The two trains could run in opposite directions and pass at either place.  The 1961 schedule advertised that the railroad, and the museum, would be open the last Saturday and Sunday in each month, from April through October.  The April weekend was cold and wet.  Finally on May 28^th, the weather cooperated and 409 passengers were carried in 3 ½ hours.   Word spread and attendance picked up.  On October 27, 1963, 1,159 passengers were counted.

The two trains ran on a regular basis from 1961 to 1965, then in 1971 interest in the Auburn Valley Railroad resurfaced and the Magic Age of Steam began, which included, a Stanley mountain wagon that ran around the grounds, a mini Ferris wheel, a "toonerville trolley" which ran on 36 inch gage track, and a live paddle wheel steamboat in the pond.   However after 7 years of running, the patronage was falling and insurance costs forced the Auburn valley to close its doors.   In 1994 trains began running on a limited basis after many long hours and hard work were spent in getting the track, cars and locomotives back into shape and running again for the public.

Firing up:

In March 2003 work was started to replace the boilers on both locomotives as more stringent state regulations required new boilers be built for the two locomotives.

It takes about one hour to fire up 401 or 402.  An air hose is applied to the blower line, giving the fire a forced draft, and cedar shingles get the fire started.  As the shingles are burning, coal is slowly added, pea coal, a grade of anthracite which burns with no smoke to choke the boiler flues or get in the eyes of the engineer.   Pea coal must be kept hot to stay alive in the firebox and these little engines steam best when kept busy without long delays in the station.

Tiny injectors or inspirators force water from the tender tank (which holds 45 gallons on both locomotives) into the boiler when needed.  These locomotives, with tender full of water and coal, weight about one ton each.   The usually travel about 10 m.p.h., which is equivalent to 80 m.p.h. as they are ⅛ actual size.  The driving wheels are 10” in diameter and are copied from real Union Pacific 4-8-4’s, the pride of the Union Pacific’s passenger fleet during the forties.

The Auburn Valley Railroad Today:

The railroad itself is about ½ of the original Auburn Valley line built in 1960, and the remainder new in 1971.   From Table Junction behind the Museum, past Auburn Mills, and up to West Yorklyn on the “high line” is all single tracked original.  But the double tracked main across the steel trestle, through the new West Yorklyn Station area, around through Steamhill Tunnel, across the lake embankment, and back to Table Junction is all new location.  In all, there is approximately 4000 feet of trackage (3/4) mile with 13,500 ties, 54,000 spikes, 1600 splice bars, 3200 track bolts and nuts, 5 spring switches, 2 stub switches, a double tracked tunnel 90 feet long, a double tracked trestle 95 feet long, a single tracked trestle 75 feet long, an operating turntable, and 4 grade crossings.

The Auburn Valley Railroad Today

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