Log Hauling in California in the 1880s – Part II

By Derek Rayner
Published on October 9, 2008
1 / 8
One of the two of my proverbial needles, the elusive third photo, showing the Leach residence at Challenge, Calif., with what is described as Henry South's traction engine in front of it. This is an image which in the Macdonald/LaHore article is dated 1892. Obviously not an Aveling, research has determined this unusual design of engine was made by the Owens, Lane & Dyer Co. of Hamilton, Ohio.
One of the two of my proverbial needles, the elusive third photo, showing the Leach residence at Challenge, Calif., with what is described as Henry South's traction engine in front of it. This is an image which in the Macdonald/LaHore article is dated 1892. Obviously not an Aveling, research has determined this unusual design of engine was made by the Owens, Lane & Dyer Co. of Hamilton, Ohio.
2 / 8
Aveling no. 2259, but without an awning. This is the Glidden engine at Lumpkin Mill. Other detail differences relate to the dome on the chimney top, presumably as a spark catching addition, and the lack of a wooden toolbox in front of the front axle. This is a much sharper view of the engine that appeared in Steam Traction, May/June 2003 and shows very clearly the large size Aveling horse and Invicta on the smokebox door.
Aveling no. 2259, but without an awning. This is the Glidden engine at Lumpkin Mill. Other detail differences relate to the dome on the chimney top, presumably as a spark catching addition, and the lack of a wooden toolbox in front of the front axle. This is a much sharper view of the engine that appeared in Steam Traction, May/June 2003 and shows very clearly the large size Aveling horse and Invicta on the smokebox door.
3 / 8
A three-wheeled traction engine at French Creek. This is an engine by the Best Manufacturing Co., built in San Leandro, Calif., with two trailers in tow.
A three-wheeled traction engine at French Creek. This is an engine by the Best Manufacturing Co., built in San Leandro, Calif., with two trailers in tow.
4 / 8
On the left in the distance is Aveling road locomotive, no. 2259, with an empty log trailer behind it. It was described in the press as the
On the left in the distance is Aveling road locomotive, no. 2259, with an empty log trailer behind it. It was described in the press as the "Great North American" traction engine, despite it having been built in England. This is at Lumpkin Mill. The capital "G" on the huge tree trunks indicates A.J. Glidden, the name of the contractor who felled the timber and owner of the logs. Glidden himself is said to be the man on the far right.
5 / 8
On the way to Oroville. Clipper Mills, Cal. Butte County Pine and Hardwood Co. Although the engine appears to be the same type as the Best engine at French Creek, comparison with contemporary
On the way to Oroville. Clipper Mills, Cal. Butte County Pine and Hardwood Co. Although the engine appears to be the same type as the Best engine at French Creek, comparison with contemporary
6 / 8
Possibly the same McLaughlin engine at Clipper Mills, with logs for the mill. Information supplied by Jim Lague indicated that two Best engines were ordered by this firm for different duties associated with the mill (one for hauling logs, the other for planks), so there may have been
Possibly the same McLaughlin engine at Clipper Mills, with logs for the mill. Information supplied by Jim Lague indicated that two Best engines were ordered by this firm for different duties associated with the mill (one for hauling logs, the other for planks), so there may have been
7 / 8
The crew and Aveling no. 2146 pose for the camera while hauling two loaded timber trucks at Forbestown, Calif. The engine appears to have lost both its horse and Invicta by this time.
The crew and Aveling no. 2146 pose for the camera while hauling two loaded timber trucks at Forbestown, Calif. The engine appears to have lost both its horse and Invicta by this time.
8 / 8
Aveling no. 2146 at Forbestown, Calif., with empty timber trucks in tow after it had been sold to Henry South of Challenge in May 1891. Forbestown is about 3 miles northwest of Challenge and, at the time, the engine was recorded as being used by James Young. It is not known whether the engine was sold by South to Young, or whether South worked for Young, perhaps on contract.
Aveling no. 2146 at Forbestown, Calif., with empty timber trucks in tow after it had been sold to Henry South of Challenge in May 1891. Forbestown is about 3 miles northwest of Challenge and, at the time, the engine was recorded as being used by James Young. It is not known whether the engine was sold by South to Young, or whether South worked for Young, perhaps on contract.

Editor’s note: Derek Rayner’s first article on log hauling in California ran in the May/June 2003 issue of Steam Traction. We continue this issue with his fascinating account of tracking down Aveling & Porter steam engines in the U.S. 

Readers of my article on “Log Hauling in California” (Steam Traction, May/June 2003) may recall its origins lay in the discovery of two photos of Aveling & Porter road locomotives in Butte County, northern California, not far from the town of Oroville. This community is located about 150 miles to the northeast of San Francisco. These two photos had been used by author Jack Alexander of Gilroy in his book Steam Power on California Roads and Farms (1858-1911) published in 1998.

My subsequent research in the Aveling records at Lincoln had revealed the identities of the two road engines in question as Aveling works no. 2146 of 1886, which had been delivered to the order of George Gable at an unspecified destination. The other was Aveling no. 2259 (with under-belly tank), which had been supplied by W.C. Oastler of New York to the Merrimac Mill Co. and it was pictured at the Lumpkin Mill in the same area.

Further research had led me to a book on lumbering, Endless Tracks in the Woods by James A. Young and Jerry D. Budy. The book referred to an article by Philip Macdonald and Lona LaHore on the commercial activities of one Andrew Martin Leach, which was said to include a photo of the Leach residence at Challenge, Calif., outside of which was another image of a four-wheeled traction engine that could possibly have been an Aveling. I followed up with the book’s authors in 1999 but they unfortunately drew a blank as to where a copy of this article might be located, so the trail went cold. Or so I thought at the time.

Avelings in California

I had long held an ambition to visit California in order to see one of the earliest known Aveling & Porter engines – works no. 916 which dates from 1873 – located near the community of Le Grand, Calif. This engine was pictured by Peter Love in Steaming, Vol. 46 No. 3. It is in Arthur Bright’s museum collection, not far from Merced, Calif., some 65 miles to the southeast of San Francisco. Other personal and holiday commitments prevented this visit until the summer of 2004, and during the planning of this trip I decided to include Oroville on the itinerary in the vain hope of turning up something more on the wonderful pair of 1880s 10 HP Aveling engines in Butte County.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-624-9388