8.8.1 Shay No.1 Class: A 15-2

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

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).  

Engineering

The boiler, cab, and tender were carried on two center-bearing swivel trucks. The boiler was offset to the left of the locomotive center line to balance the weight of the engine. The engine had two cylinders, on the right side. Power was transmitted from the crankshaft to the two 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.

Diagram 

Right

Front

 

The WWSL 

The Olympic Peninsula Logging Company is imagineered over one of the Schaefer Brothers Logging Company's logging lines. The WWSL's alternate history is that the OLPC inherited rolling stock from a US  Army's Spruce Division line's contractor. (The Spruce Production Division (U. S. Army) did have a Class A 15-2, Shop Number 3019, and one of those inherited items could have been a Class A Shay.)

Modeling Information 

I liked the idea of building a Class A for for two reasons: 1) the 'boot' boiler, and 2) a scratch built locomotive is a requirement for the Master Model Railroader Achievement Program. There are no Class A Shay locomotive models in HO scale.  

Bachman has a three Cylinder Assembly and miscellaneous ancillary 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 Cylinders, scratch build 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. Some of those detail parts may be appropriate for 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/pamphlets 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
https://www.shaylocomotives.com/ShayDrawings.htm

 

 

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Photo Credit: Left: by Clark Kinsey Right: Steve Hauff collection

Shop Number 338	-	Built for: Mack Log. Co.
{302nd Lima Built Shay}

Built: 2-20-1891	Class: A 15-2	Trucks: 2	Cylinders: [#-Dia. x Stroke] 2 - 7 x 12
Gear Ratio: 2.176	Wheel Dia.: 26"	Gauge: std.	Boiler: [Style - Dia.] Boot - 36"
Boiler Pressure: In Lbs. (PSI) 150	Tractive Effort: 5,536 Lbs.	Factor of Adhesion: 5.41	Maximum Safe Speed: 14.2
Fuel Type: Coal	Fuel Capacity: 0.5 Ton	Water Capacity: 486 Gallons	Empty Weight: As built 26,000
Owners: Mack Loggi. Co. #338 "W. D. MACK", Hoquiam, WA S. E. Slade Lbr. Co., Elma, WA Schafer Brothers Log. Co. #2 (1st), Brady, WA (10-17-1924) Linde Shingle Co., Aloha, WA (2-9-1931) H. J. Armstrong Co.(D), Portland, OR; For Sale * (2-1931) Hofius Steel & Equip. Co.(D), Seattle, WA *
Disposition: Scrapped
Additional Notes: * Owned by Dealer

 

Photo Credit: Mike Kirk collection