Stories and History

A Once in a Lifetime Event:

Engine N^o18, restored to operation in 2017 by the Carson & Colorado Railway organization from Independence California, arrived at the Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site on March 16, 2023, to be reunited with her sister Engine N^o9 (on static display), and N^o18 was in steam and operating on our rails during her visit.

Both engines are oil-fired 4-6-0 “Ten-Wheeler” narrow gauge locomotives, built by Baldwin in 1911.

Guests had the opportunity to ride in caboose N^o401 pulled behind the one and only Slim Princess N^o18 !

Rides were offered from 9:00am to 4:00pm, on the four days, March 18-19 and 25-26.

View videos of SP engine N^o18

The stamp mill and feeder here at Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site were built by the Joshua Hendy Machine Works in San Francisco California. . Joshua Hendy came to this country from Scotland in 1836 and learned the Bishop Museum machinist's trade.  In 1851 at the age of 33 Joshua traveled to California and worked in San Francisco until 1852 when he had saved enough money to build a saw mill on the coast near Fort Ross. In 1855 he returned to San Francisco to manufacture parts for mills. By the 1860's the Joshua Hendy Machine Works was also making parts for mining and milling equipment.