Geared Steam Locomotive News

Geared Steam Locomotive NEWS - 1999

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11/23/1999

Oldest Standard Gauge Shay - Restoration Progress

Centrailia, WA USA - Scott Wickert provides an update on Stimson Mill Company #23's restoration progress:

"We are now working on the LH (NA-46) boxes to the trucks. These boxes are called pedestal boxes, housed within these are smaller boxes. These smaller boxes are referred to as (NA-48) inside boxes, they hold the bearing and waste packing for each journal. Up to date we have repaired two of the pedestal boxes and are in the process of fabricating the other two. The two we are replacing were not original and are of a somewhat different size, therefore we aren't going to go to the trouble of repairing those...just have to do a lot of fabricating! We are also fabricating all new inside boxes. This is a very interesting fabrication, I hope to get a photo posted in future. The brake beam hangers we also fabricated since the last report. They are basically old time style chains, 4 of these hangers per truck. The old hangers (shown on the right in the photo) were to far gone to repair. We fabricated the new hangers to the same specs as the old. Using 5/8" round stock, heating/bending, and welding them into quite nice looking chains. It took lots of thought, jigs, and a lot of hard work (especially finish grinding!) but it was certainly worth it. The photo of the trucks tells the story....if this engine can be restored, any engine can!!"

Scott Wickert Shay #23 "The Rebirth" - Contributions Needed! -... srw@localaccess.com

(click here for previous related news)

Brake Beam Hangers

The truck coil springs are 3.5" OD, 6" tall, and painted a slate gray. They were cut from 18" units donated by TTX.

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10/12/1999

Oldest Standard Gauge Shay - Restoration Progress

Centrailia, WA USA - Scott Wickert provides an update on Stimson Mill Company #23's restoration progress:

"We are still working steadily on the old Shay, the rear truck is nearing completion. The LH and RH truck boxes (what the journal bearings are housed in) are still on the waiting list to repair, along with the fabrication of bearings. Most of the front truck components are repaired and the bolsters are now being reassembled. Currently we are fabricating a new LH side-bearing separator and RH end-casting for the front truck (we also fabricated these two items for rear truck). We also went to Southern Oregon, where the engine was partially scrapped and located many missing components. The items were buried under the stream rock from a 1964 flood. Here is what we retrieved...siphon pump, top crosstie bar (rear truck item), 2 fire grates (one rocker type, one dump type), truss rod pieces, parts of the ash pan, all of the frame members (we only had the front 6' feet! here at the shop prior to this recovery), fire door, rear frame bolster/center plate (rear truck swivels on this component) & Westinghouse 9.5" air pump. Most items are actually restorable, the old frame I-beams however are only a pattern for new. We will fabricate an exact replica of the old frame using some of the old cast iron frame components, but with new I-beams. With much digging and the aid of 5 separate skylines we were able to remove these very heavy items. It was very hard work, using a large Ryder International stake truck to pull a mainline cable that was about 500' long. It was also dangerous, many times the cables broke, when the beams would get hung-up on a log and large boulder. This is certainly more than an average restoration!"

Slowly but surely!

Scott Wickert Shay #23 "The Rebirth"

Contributions Needed! -... srw@localaccess.com

(click here for previous related news)

Photo of Scott recovering the air pump.

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08/15/1999	MEDCO #4 - Willamette - Restoration Update - 08/10/1999
Medford, OR USA @ Southern Oregon NRHS - >Photo< - Gerald Hellinga provides this current update of the restoration progress of the #4 (former Owen-Oregon Lumber Company # 4) "Progress had been slow but steady. We had to remove the entire lower half of the door sheet, portions of both side sheets, and parts the front corners of the fire box. We also had to remove the bottom 8" of both corners of the backhead. Seattle Boiler Works has formed the door sheet and the two backhead corners and will be shipping them as soon as they receive our check for $1,580. Rob Sinclair in Portland is in the process of making 120 staybolts for us. Rob is one of the principles on the UP 3203 restoration and came highly recommended by Doyle McCormick and others familiar with his work. Tubes and flues have been purchased. This month I have to take the flues to Redding CA. to have the firebox ends swedged to 4 1/2". There is a blacksmith there that geared up to swedge tubes for the McCloud River RR. They retubed the #18 that they bought from the Yreka Western. The real bottle neck may be our boiler maker. He contracted to do the steam fitting for the rebuild of the Boise Cascade mill that burned down last year. He expected to finish in July. Last I heard, he still had 5 weeks to go. I hope he has time to do our work in Sept. We need to spend the grant out by Sept. 30 and he is the last major expense. " This news was forwarded from Gerald courtesy of Doug Edwards Contributions Needed!

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05/02/1999

Middle Fork R.R. Co. # 7 - Heisler - 05/01/1999

North Carolina Railroad Museum @ Bonsil, NC >Photo<

An excellent article entitled "The Last of the Heislers" by Dave Lathrop has just been published on the Railway Preservation News site. The article details the current restoration progress and challenges of restoring the of the Middle Fork R.R. Co. # 7 Heisler at the North Carolina Railroad Museum. This was the last Heisler geared steam locomotive shipped new from the Heisler factory.

Contributions Needed!

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04/02/1999

Oldest Standard Gauge Shay - Restoration Progress - 04/02/1999

Centrailia, WA USA - >Photo< - Scott Wickert provides an update on Stimson Mill Company #23's restoration progress:

The top and bottom bolsters to the rear truck have been assembled, primed, & painted. Top arch bars have been repaired. One inverted arch bar has been repaired. The other inverted bar is in the process of being fabricated new. We have welded up a bar that is 1 1/4" thick by 4" wide by 10 feet long and it will require 4 bends to be shaped by using a machine next door to us. This should be completed next week. Complete bolster assembly should happen soon, just awaiting shipment of new springs that go between top & bottom bolsters. There is 128 parts and about 130 bolts in one of these old Shay trucks!

Contact:

Shay #23 "The Rebirth" in care of this email address... srw@localaccess.com
(click here for previous related news) - Contributions Welcomed!

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03/28/1999

Heisler. . . FOR SALE! ! !

Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad @ Elbe, WA (USA) - >Photo< - Jack Anderson provides this information:

Broughton Lumber Co. 42-ton Heisler - This locomotive is for sale by Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. Needs crankshaft and eccentrics, big ends, eccentric straps. Crownsheet has some moderate bulging between crown stays. Most appliances missing.

Asking $15,000. (360) 569-2507 or (360) 492-5391 or mailto:steamrr@mashell.com

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03/13/1999

Shay 1925 - Restoration Update

Spencer, NC USA @ North Carolina Transportation Museum - Jim Wrinn provides this current update of the restoration progress of the 1925:

"...The 1925 is coming back together now. The weekend of March 13-14 will see the lineshaft reinstalled and the water tank remounted; the weekend of March 20-21 will be odds and ends and work on the main turrett valve, which volunteers encountered problems with during a hydro test March 6, and possibly another hydro; the last weekend in March will be testing. Expect to see 1925 in operation each weekend in April. She will go out of service the first weekend in May for a boiler wash and loading preparation for her westbound trip. At Sacramento, the 1925 will be involved in the National Shay Time Trials, pitted against the Oregon Historical Society's Mt. Emily Shay No. 1 (former Cass No. 3); this will be east vs. west for the title of the fastest Shay around. Don't blink! Date of event to follow (and yes, it's all in geared fun)."

(click here for previous related news) Contributions Welcomed!

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03/07/1999

Oldest Standard Gauge Shay - Restoration Progress - 03/07/1999

Centrailia, WA USA - >Photo< - Scott Wickert provides an update on Stimson Mill Company #23's restoration progress:

The project is progressing well.

We have been working on the rear truck-

When the trestle gave way, the rear truck landed upside down and it broke almost every cast part on it. And if that wasn't enough, most of the steel bars were torched by the students, Some of the "mild" steel bars we were able to weld back together quite nicely, others will be replaced. The front truck is in a little better shape as it was pinned under water in the stream and was avoided by the students with the torches! 90 percent of the cast parts to the rear truck have now been repaired, primed, and stand ready for the soon to come reassembly of the rear truck. We were able to repair all but one cast component, to weld these old cast parts we used (for those restoration folks out there) 90-18 B3L welding rod. If there are any questions regarding the repair of cast components, you can contact me through the email address listed on this page.

Contact:

Shay #23 "The Rebirth" in care of this email address... srw@localaccess.com
(click here for previous related news) - Contributions Welcomed!

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03/06/1999	MEDCO #4 - Willamette - Restoration Update
Medford, OR USA @ Southern Oregon NRHS - >Photo< - Doug Edwards provides this current update of the restoration progress of the #4 (former Owen-Oregon Lumber Company # 4) The boiler has been removed from the frame of the locomotive. This required removing the cab and the power unit first. Many of the studs holding the power unit and other pieces to the boiler were found to be badly corroded and in need of replacement. The tubes have been removed and the boiler is being cleaned in preparation for an ultra sound inspection. - Contributions Welcomed!

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02/28/1999

W.H Eccles Lbr. Co. #3 - Heisler - Repair Update - 02/28/1999

Sumpter, OR USA @ Sumpter Valley Railroad - >Photo<

Members of the Board of Directors of the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration, Inc. voted at their February board meeting to contract with the State of Oregon, and the Powder River Correctional Facility in Baker City, to do major rebuilding of their No.3 Heisler gear-driven steam locomotive.

Railroad CMO Scott Hutton presented the plan to the board as a way for this narrow-gauge historical railroad to put their venerable workhorse back into service as early as late summer of this season.

The railroad will bring the 40-ton locomotive into the Baker City shop area of Inside Oregon Enterprises for the expected 2 to 3 month overhaul, within the month, indicated Hutton. There the crews will de-scale the interior of the boiler and continue the cleaning of the exterior of the boiler to make ready for a volunteer certified boiler maker to reinstall all 150 flues.

While the locomotive is in the shop, crews will also clean and waterseal the interior of the tender, as well as repair the metal work of the locomotive, running boards, cab and boiler jacket.

Arrangements are underway to allow railroad volunters to begin the critical work of repairing the valve gear eccentric on the drive of this former W.H.Eccles logging locomotive at the same time.

It wasn't known when the tubes were replaced last in this locomotive, the discussion noted. "We replaced about 20 during the initial restoration in 1970," said Nils Christensen, SVRR Board member and founding president "The locomotive carried a 1969 boiler certificate from the state of Idaho when we recieved it," he added. - Contributions Welcomed!

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02/19/1999	Shay 1925 - Restoration Update - 02/18/1999
Spencer, NC USA @ North Carolina Transportation Museum - Jim Wrinn provides this current update of the restoration progress of the 1925: "1925 got her two front axles trued this winter, two-year staybolt cap inspection, one new staybolt and three boiler dome ring studs this winter in addition to some front truck brass work and annual drawbar inspection. This weekend, we're looking at piston valve work; the brake system has been cleaned; shooting for return to service the first weekend in April. All of this is leading up to a trip for the 74-year-old 3-truck engine to railfair in Sacramento, CA in June 1999. This will be her first trip outside of North Carolina since she was delivered by Lima in 1925 to the Graham County Railroad! The trip will be made via UP flatcar via NS and UP to join some 20-other historic engines from across the US, Canada, England and elsewhere for the last big steam bash of the 20th century!" - Contributions Welcomed!

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02/18/1999

Oldest Standard Gauge Shay Being Restored - 12/1998

Centrailia, WA USA - >Photo< - Scott Wickert and his father began restoration of the world's oldest surviving standard gauge Shay in December of 1998. Scott provides these details:

Builder.................. Lima Machine Works
Date Built..............August 21st, 1887
C/N....................... 169
Weight.................. 28 tons
Cylinders.............. 3
Size of Cylinders..10" x 10"
Wheel Diameter....28"

Former Ownership:
1. Big Rapids & Western R.R. #23 {Big Rapids, MI}
2. Stimson Mill Co. #23 {Marysville, WA}
3. Smith-Powers Logging Co. #2, later #3 {Powers, OR}
4. Coos Bay Lumber Co. #3 {Powers, OR}

The Story:
The engine was used until 1926, when it was then taken to a rail spur for storage. The rail spur was built up on a low piling trestle. After many years of sitting on the trestle, the old timbers gave way and the engine fell with it. The engine sat there in a "stream" almost forgotten until 1942 when the Powers High School students {in search of scrap for the W.W.II scrap-drive} proceeded to scrap the engine. The students separated the old Shay into many pieces but nothing was removed for the scrap-drive. The #23 was saved by the fact it was in a very rugged and remote canyon, also the Coos Bay Lumber Company donated a 2-8-2T for the students to scrap. The engine has gone through a lot and its condition reflects its past, falling off the trestle into a rocky canyon stream and then partial scrapping, but we can all be thankful that that history took the course it did, if the trestle would not have gave way the engine would be gone today.

The parts were removed by a collector in 1945 with the aid of a steam donkey. Henry Sorensen acquired the engine in 1968. In August of 1998, I acquired the #23 and brought it to Washington State.

Plans:

Stimson Mill Co. #23 is being restored to operational condition and will operate at the Chehalis-Centralia R.R. Assn. and special events at the Mt. Rainier Scenic R.R. in the future.

Contact:

Shay #23 "The Rebirth" in care of this email address... srw@localaccess.com - Contributions Welcomed!

News > 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999

Got Geared News???? E-mail me with factual news accounts for consideration for posting here-in. Click here to > Report News

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This page changed January 03, 2004 11:15:14 AM