modeling the WWSL: 8.11.6 New York Central Shay 7185

The Prototype

The New York Central had five Shay locomotives for use on street tracks in New York City. The railway tracks on both Tenth and Eleventh Avenues (laid in 1846) ran down the street and were the cause of frequent death and injury. City regulations required moving parts to be shrouded, to avoid preventhorses and pedestrians from becoming entangled in the machinery.

The wheels and their bevel gears were covered by sloping plates but the engine crankshaft and the telescoping shafts were not guarded.

The street tracks were were finally removed in 1932, and the West Side line was electrified around 1932. The Shays were transferred to New York Central subsidiaries Genessee Falls Railway in Rochester, and the Owasco River Railway around Auburn. The Marcellus & Otisco Lake (M&OL) RR leased #7185 in 1942. It was returned to the New York Central in 1943 with a broken frame and exchanged for #7187. The Shays were scrapped in 1948.

The WWSL

The WWSL as an electrified short line would have no need for a New York Central Shay locomotive. 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, and diesel, steam and electric locomotives of personal interest to me.

When I first saw the New York Central Shay 7185 I was fascinated. It was indeed an unusual locomotive and I decided that at some point in time I would have to model it. This locomotive will be a non-powered static model.

Engineering.

Engineering diagrams for a two truck Shay are available. A simple locomotive frame, a boxcab retangular structure with appropriate doors and windows could feasily be constructed. Roof hatches are necessary constructed for servicing access to the Shay steam and sand domes, and the locomotive stack.

The challenge is the 3 Cylinder Engine Assembly and the drive train / truck assemblies. Fortunately there are two Shay part suppliers.

Bachmann had a 80 Ton 3 Truck Shay Locomotive. Manufacturing has been discontinued although some parts are available. The Shay Bachmann 3 Cylinder Engine Assembly is listed on their parts web site as available, but drive train or truck assemblies are not available.

Wiseman Model Services has the Roundhouse MDC Shay kit - FOUR different kits - in stock! They also have the full drive train, gears, truck assemblies and side frames.

Kitbatching

The exterior covers most if not all the significant engineering features of the Shay locomotive, therefore there is no need to use an existing Shay model for the kitbatching.

I will scratchbuild the locomotive frame, boiler front and top, and superstructure.

I will use the Bachmann 3 cylinder engine assembly.

I will use the Wiseman Model Services drive train and other parts (headlights, rear sanding bins, end beams, etc.

Construction

More information on construction when I start the project.

Reference

Its original NYC No was No. 1896. This would be an even simpler kitbatching.

Reference

See Shaylocomotives.com for the prototype information for Lima Shay Geared locomotives.

Lima Locomotive Works, Inc.

Photo Credit:
Top Left: George R. Kadelak collection (BP 11-1923) - Top Right: Michael Koch collection (BP 1-1923)
Bottom Left: Clevis & Debbie Jones collection - Bottom Right: by C. W. Witbeck (1940's)

Shop Number 3235	-	Built for: New York Central RR
{2,652nd Lima Built Shay}

Built: 11-26-1923	Class: B 60-2	Trucks: 2	Cylinders: [#-Dia. x Stroke] 3 - 12 x 12
Gear Ratio: 2.22	Wheel Dia.: 36"	Gauge: std.	Boiler: [Style - Dia.] E.W.T. - 46.375"
Boiler Pressure: In Lbs. (PSI) 200	Tractive Effort: 23,976 Lbs.	Factor of Adhesion: 6.02	Maximum Safe Speed: 19.3
Fuel Type: Coal	Fuel Capacity: 3.8 Tons	Water Capacity: 2,200 Gallons	Empty Weight: As built 118,500
Owners: New York Central RR, New York Central #1896 later (in 1936) #7185, New York City, NY Leased to: Owasco River RR #7185, Auburn, NY (1942) Marcellus & Otisco Lake RR #7185, Marcellus, NY (1-13-1943) New York Central RR, New York Central #7185, New York City, NY; returned with a broken frame (4-14-1943) Lima Locomotive Works #4 (2nd), Lima, OH
Disposition: (1948) Scrapped
Additional Notes:

https://www.shaylocomotives.com/data/searchdataframe.htm

Shay Locomotive Standard Class Models

Class Code

Weight in Tons

Trucks

Cylinders

Wheel Base

Drivers

Boiler Pressure

Water in Gallons

Tractive Power

Hauling Capacity in Tons

No.

Diam "

Stroke "

Rigid

Total '-"

No.

Diam "

wheel base

32'8"

Class B Shays 3 cylinders & 2 trucks
Bay	24	2	3	8	8	50	21'11"	8	27.5	160psi	830	10280	1261
Bale	28	2	3	8	10	50	24'4"	8	27.5	160psi	850	12860	1580
Baler	32	2	3	8	12	50	25'5"	8	29	160psi	1000	14150	1736
Ballad	36	2	3	10	10	50	26'5"	8	29	180psi	1200	14320	1756
Balloon	42	2	3	10	12	50	28'6"	8	29.5	180psi	1560	16900	2070
Baluster	50	2	3	11	12	52	28'10"	8	32	180psi	1750	22580	2775
Balustrad	60	2	3	12	12	56	32'8"	8	36	200psi	2000	23890	2928
Class C Shays 3 cylinders & 3 trucks
Cap	70	3	3	12	15	52	40'2"	12	36	200psi	3000	30350	3723

Generic Class C 70-ton
Right	Left	Front	Rear	Top	Bottom	Spec List
Cab Cross Section			Frame/Truck Bolster

Generic Class B 37-ton
Right	Front

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).

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 Saginaw Timber Company had a number of two and three truck Climax and Shays on their locomotive roster. A 3 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 3 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