Locomotive catches his heart

The new owner plans to fully restore the machine.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- When James P. Marsh says he is adding another train to his collection, you can rest assured it will be more than a 1-pound, 12-inch replica.
Marsh recently purchased a 95-year-old steam locomotive and moved the machine to property he owns along state Route 62 here. The locomotive came with a coal car and a mining cart attached.
The locomotive is black with some rust spots around its aging frame. Anyone standing close enough to the machine can make out the worn outline of the letters "essroc" stenciled across its side.
Marsh said the machine is in line for a complete makeover. He said the first order of business will be to sandblast all three cars, then repaint them.
Falling in love
Marsh began his love affair with locomotives and rail cars while in college. He worked nights in a steel mill and never lost sight of the importance of the locomotives to the steel industry and, in turn, the Youngstown area.
The narrow gauge steam engine Marsh bought was built in 1910 and used in mining materials for Youngstown's steel mills. It was continuously used through the heydays of steel making, then taken out of service in the early 1960s.
"People don't realize how big an effect the steel industry had on the economy, and Youngstown was Steel City USA," he said. "When I was a kid, you would see these locomotives once in a while. Now they are nonexistent. I thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice if I could find an old locomotive?'"
Marsh said the only other similar engine known to exist is in Anchorage, Alaska. Most other steam engines, after being replaced by diesel locomotives, were cut up for scrap metal, he said.
Historic collection
After the locomotive is restored, it will remain on a set of railroad tracks behind Emerald Diner -- but it will not be alone. Visiting the area of the Emerald Diner, which Marsh also owns, is like taking a trip through time.
The property on Route 62 holds several restored buildings, including the first McKelvey's Department Store. One historic building has been turned into a diner reminiscent of small-town eateries most people only see in classic movies.
To the rear of the property are several other classic trains and cabooses that serve as office space. There are also railroad accessories such as crossing signs, lights and an antique gas pump.
Marsh says the love and preservation of the past are his only motivation in restoring and keeping the items.
"I like to keep these things just for display and preserving the past for future generations," he said. "If someone were to do this for the money, it definitely would not be worth it. This is what they call a labor of love."
Marsh knows the items he has collected will likely be here long after he is gone, and, he said, he has children who can claim the items at some point. None of his items, he said, will ever again be up for sale.
jgoodwin@vindy.com