WILEY RAILROAD RELIC GARDEN in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lynchburg, Va

From collecting small datenails found in discarded railroad crossties to actual railroad structures, the passion for railroad history is manifested and displayed in our garden which is shown below. For us, the collection and arrangement of three dozen pieces from seven railroads makes our own Railroad Relic Sculpture Garden. Having 10 plus acres helps keep normal life and the railroad collection in perspective. Our goal is to stimulate our visitors to want to learn more after leaving.

Friday, June 25, 2010

VIRGINIAN Steam Locomotive Firebricks

Arranged in a row in our fern garden, near the collection of other railroad relics, are four large boiler fire bricks discarded by the Virginian Railway shop force in Victoria, Virginia in 1959. The writing cast into it reads, "American Arch Security Company." Future research may provide more information. They are the gifts of Greg Elam and Edwin Massie, both of Victoria, who told me they were intended for the railroad's 500 (BA class) or 900 ( AG class) locomotives, when needed.