Locomotive Stats:
Builder |
Build Date |
Build Number |
Wheels |
Cylinders |
Driver Diameter |
Empty Weight |
Weight on Drivers |
Operating Pressure |
Traction Effort |
Baldwin Locomotive Works |
09/1902 |
20925 |
2-4-4T |
9x14 |
30" |
15 tons |
10.5 tons |
150 psi |
4,810 lbs. |
History-
Maud L. has had an extensive history. Originally built in 1902 for the Laurel Valley Plantation to haul sugar cane to their plantation in Thibodaux, LA, She was finally retired in 1926 when only one larger locomotive was needed, which was her 0-6-2RT 1897 H.K. Porter running mate Melodia B. Maud sat alone until 1946, when roads and trucks finally caught up with the plantation.
Arthur LaSalle, the son of a wealthy family in Louisiana, received from his mother for his 19th birthday a full-sized Baldwin standard gauge 4-4-0 (Heritage Plantation R.R. #4). He was eventually drafted into service during the Korean War when his mother suddenly died. Since no one was paying the rent where his locomotive was stored, the land and engine were seized. The 4-4-0 was soon sold to a scrap dealer, who cut it up. After Arthur returned to LA, he contacted the Baldwin Locomotive Works for a quote on how much it would cost to build a replica of the 4-4-0 (over a million dollars). He decided to take the scrap dealer to court and sue for this amount plus a million more in pain and suffering. He won the case. The scrapper, who was in the process of tearing up sugar cane lines in LA, decided to partially pay him by giving him multiple locomotives, which included the Melodia and Maud L. With this extra money, LaSalle purchased and saved many other engines and started the Hillard, Florida, American Railroad Equipment Association.
Maud L. has had an extensive history. Originally built in 1902 for the Laurel Valley Plantation to haul sugar cane to their plantation in Thibodaux, LA, She was finally retired in 1926 when only one larger locomotive was needed, which was her 0-6-2RT 1897 H.K. Porter running mate Melodia B. Maud sat alone until 1946, when roads and trucks finally caught up with the plantation.
Arthur LaSalle, the son of a wealthy family in Louisiana, received from his mother for his 19th birthday a full-sized Baldwin standard gauge 4-4-0 (Heritage Plantation R.R. #4). He was eventually drafted into service during the Korean War when his mother suddenly died. Since no one was paying the rent where his locomotive was stored, the land and engine were seized. The 4-4-0 was soon sold to a scrap dealer, who cut it up. After Arthur returned to LA, he contacted the Baldwin Locomotive Works for a quote on how much it would cost to build a replica of the 4-4-0 (over a million dollars). He decided to take the scrap dealer to court and sue for this amount plus a million more in pain and suffering. He won the case. The scrapper, who was in the process of tearing up sugar cane lines in LA, decided to partially pay him by giving him multiple locomotives, which included the Melodia and Maud L. With this extra money, LaSalle purchased and saved many other engines and started the Hillard, Florida, American Railroad Equipment Association.
The Maud L. was purchased from Arthur LaSalle in November 1961 by then Cedar Point president, George Roose. She was the showgirl of the CP&LE R.R. and a favorite among superintendents Jack Foster and Mike Hetrick. On the other hand, she wasn't well liked by crews. While she rode the smoothest between the Porter and Vulcan engines, she was touchy to fire because of her small fire box. It was a delicate job for the fireman trying to balance the right amount of fire and water. When one would get out of balance, it took a while to get caught up—sometimes even taking hours.
Among these gripes, her weight and size played a major role in why she wasn't used much as more locomotives were acquired. Because her water tank capacity was the smallest among the other engines, she had to take on water more frequently. It was a challenge for crews trying to spot her under the water tower, as the big Lakecraft cars pushed her around. With the loss of both Vulcan engines and Jennie K. by 1988, Maud L. was pressed back into regular service. After Judy K. arrived back to Cedar Point from her rebuild at Shop Services, Maud was finally retired at the end of the 1992 season. |
Mike Hetick at the throttle, and fireman Rick (unknown) in 1978. Paul Woodring photo.
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In 1999, the Maud L. was traded to the Disneyland Railroad for the then-named Ward Kimball (now CP&LE #1 G.A. Boeckling) located at Walt Disney World. As she was loaded onto a flatbed before leaving Cedar Point, CP&LE's Engine House Superintendent swapped her Buckeye three-chime whistle (which was beloved by park guests) in place of a single-chime whistle. After receiving a complete rebuild and conversion to burn bio-diesel, she was reborn once again and entered back into service on June 25, 2005.
The Maud L. now in regular service as the "Ward Kimball" on the Disneyland Railroad. The Kimball is seen during it's dedication on February 15, 2006. Steve DeGaetano photo.