modeling the WWSL: 8.11.1.2 Schafer Brothers Logging Company 2 Truck Shay

Prototype Information

The Shay locomotive was a patented design built by the Lima Locomotive & Machine Company of Lima, Ohio. Strange looking and lopsided to the uninitiated eye, Shay locomotives proved to be very effective on logging railroads in particular and some 2770 were built between 1879 and 1945 (Koch 1971). Starting in 1899, the Alamogordo Lumber Company began using three 65-ton, three-truck Shays.

The WWSL

One of the WWSL's future modeling projects is the modeling of representative locomotives of the Class 1 and Class 3 operating in the Montesano, Wa. area. It would be stored on a display shelf and maybe posed on the WWSL for a vignette photograph. .

The Olympic Peninsula Logging Company is imagineered over one of the Schaefer Brothers Logging Company's lines. The Schaefer Brothers Logging Company's had a number of two and three truck Shays on their locomotive roster. A two truck Shay would be a fitting locomotive project.

Engineering

The boiler, cab, and tender were carried on four center-bearing swivel trucks. A large three-cylinder double-action steam engine was mounted on the right side of the firebox driving a longitudinal crankshaft. The boiler was offset to the left of the locomotive centerline to balance the weight of the engine. Power was transmitted from the crankshaft to all four trucks via a longitudinal shaft system running low on the right side of the locomotive. Universals and slip joints accommodated curves and uneven track. Bevel gears transmitted power from the shafting to the drive wheels.

Shay locomotives originally had one, then two, and finally three cylinders, on the right side, located just ahead of the cab to drive a longitudinal crankshaft. Drive shafts extend fore and aft, past the axles of each (two or three) trucks, with each axle driven by a bevel gear. The boiler is off center to make room for the cylinders, and is therefore smaller than would otherwise be possible for a rod engine of comparable size. The offset boiler also gives lateral balance for the "motor", shafts, and gears.

Modeling Information

There are a number of Shay locomotive models in HO scale in both plastic and brass.

Bachman has a discontinued model of an 80 Ton 3 Truck Shay Locomotive. This model can be found occasionally on EBay.

Bachmann 80 Ton 3 Truck Shay Locomotive model

Bachman also has the Cab w/Boiler Assembly, Cylinder Assembly and miscellaneous ancilliary parts available for purchase on their parts web site. The fact that my shay would be a non-powered model lends to an idea of purchasing the Cab, Boiler and Cylinders, scratchbuild the locomotive frame and tenders, and kitbatch the running gear.

Wiseman Model Services has the MDC Roundhouse HO/HOn3 scale 2 Truck and 3 Truck Shay Locomotives kits and Detail Parts. I have purchased the 2 Truck Shay Locomotive kit and will build that kit to represent this locomotive.

I am going to 'super-detail' it but that effort is going to be later than sooner. I have in my railroad library several books/phamplets on the Shay locomotive that I will use for that project. I will update this page when the project is completed.

Resources

http://www.gearedsteam.com/shay/shay.htm

https://www.shaylocomotives.com/

https://www.shaylocomotives.com/trucks/trucks.htm

Brady 338 1857 2272 2821 3225

Melbourne 2008

Montesano 2272

Raymond 714 2160 2200 2446 2566 3010 3019 3130

Satsop 865

Vesta 2587