CV Wood and RRs

Wood also leased Monson #3 and 4 from Nelson Blount (Edaville) for "Freedomland" here in New York (now "Co-Op City" in the Bronx). The interesting thing is that the guys running the railroad were mostly former steam hoggers from various railroads that also were members of the local railroader's unions. Those on I-95 after the end of each season would see the entire Freedomland railroad being trucked up to South Carver and back so Blount could use them on the holiday lights runs...then they were brought back! Too bad the park only lasted a few seasons.
The #3, as well as the Edaville #5 (rather WW&F #10 now, aka the former 30" gauge 0-4-4) was also leased to Pleasure Island in Wakefield, Mass. which seemed to last a lot longer than Freedomland and Magic Mountain. The remnants of Magic Mountain of course today make up Heritage Square; and from the pictures I've seen, the 15" gauge "Rio Golden Railroad" runs along what appears to be part of the same ROW as the former 3'. The 2' "High Country Railroad" ran until some point in the 80s; the German 0-4-0T is at the Nevada County Traction Co. in California, the coach at Erie Canal Village in Rome, NY, and the open cars converted for use at Edaville. There was also I believe an 0-8-0 (Jung?) used there. These three railroads might make an interesting On Track article soon...
And of course, Wood was the person who came up with the "Let's bring the London Bridge to Lake Havasu" idea!
-Ed Kelley