Steam Train-Georgetown Loop, Colorado-Road Trip 2016 (Page 4): very nice pictures I have a model logging RR and have a few shays the Georgetown loop also has a route to Silver Plumb...

LennyP4868 Loc: NJ

very nice pictures I have a model logging RR and have a few shays the Georgetown loop also has a route to Silver Plumb just about at the divide. Its a great RR and I enjoyed looking at the pictures very much

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Jim Carter wrote:

Very good Pat. Since the Shay was designed for climbing, I am surprised it needs a pusher. I count five drivers. Is that correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank,s Jim!!!
The sixth driver is kinda hidden behind the ladder on the locomotive.
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

peteto wrote:

Very nice shots!

Pete

Thanks, Pete!
There are many working locomotives in CA, in Oregon and WA.
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

merrytexan wrote:

interesting narative and nice shots jay pat...i favor no. 1!

Thank you, Merry Texan!!!
I think you have at least a couple of working steam locomotives in your general area.
Pat

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Jim Carter wrote:

Very good Pat. Since the Shay was designed for climbing, I am surprised it needs a pusher. I count five drivers. Is that correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, technically, the Shay was originally designed to work on very light rails where a "rod" steam locomotive's "walking" movement {push on left, then push on right} would quickly spread the rails. Mr. Shay was a lumberman in lower Michigan, where they don't have many real slopes; however over time people discovered that they are especially good on slopes.

Getting back to your original question, the pulling power of a locomotive's steel wheels on steel rail depends on the number of driving wheels and the amount of weight on those driving wheels. A slope doesn't have to be very large before lots of wheels are needed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuben_Wells_%28locomotive%29

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Love all RR photos. Thanks for sharing.

canarywood1 Loc: Sarasota,Florida

If anyone gets up around West Virginia, there are Shay's, Heislers ,and Climax locomotives in Cass, West Virginia, and they also have repair shops where they rebuild locomotives from all over the country, easy to spend a day or more there.

http://mountainrailwv.com/choose-a-train/cass-scenic-railroad

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Jim Carter wrote:

Since the Shay was designed for climbing, I am surprised it needs a pusher.

I was told by one of the engineers that the valves were wore out. I assumed he was talking about the valves that send the steam into the cylinders. I've not heard of the valves wearing out. This was the reason the pusher was needed. I don't know how common this is.
There was another steam locomotive in the shop they had been working on and it was expected to be out of the shop in a week or two. I don't know the rest of the story. This was in June if I remember correctly.
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

rehess wrote:

Actually, technically, the Shay was originally des... (show quote)

Unique locomotive!
Thanks for posting.
Pat

ClinchfieldPaul Loc: Salisbury NC

Shays are 1 of three types of geared locomotives. Climax and Heisler are the other two. Traditional three truck shays have two axles per truck meaning 6 axles with two wheels per axle jinxed 12 wheel drive. Capable of climbing 8 to 10 % grades. Cass Scenic RR in Cass WV have numerous Shays an climb to Bald Knob at about 4800 feet. They also have 1 Heisler

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Hal81 wrote:

Love all RR photos. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Hal!!
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

ClinchfieldPaul wrote:

Shays are 1 of three types of geared locomotives. Climax and Heisler are the other two. Traditional three truck shays have two axles per truck meaning 6 axles with two wheels per axle jinxed 12 wheel drive. Capable of climbing 8 to 10 % grades. Cass Scenic RR in Cass WV have numerous Shays an climb to Bald Knob at about 4800 feet. They also have 1 Heisler

Unique railroad! I did a shop tour, rode the train and chased to one of the first crossings.
I posted about it a few years ago. I don't remember what year it was.
Back then, they were talking about extending the rails and connecting with Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Train in Durbin (which has some steam locomotives).
I would like to revisit Cass and visit the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley.
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

ClinchfieldPaul wrote:

Shays are 1 of three types of geared locomotives. Climax and Heisler are the other two. Traditional three truck shays have two axles per truck meaning 6 axles with two wheels per axle jinxed 12 wheel drive. Capable of climbing 8 to 10 % grades. Cass Scenic RR in Cass WV have numerous Shays an climb to Bald Knob at about 4800 feet. They also have 1 Heisler

Have you heard is the heisler is running, yet?
Thanks, Pat

woodweasel Loc: bellingham Wa

Thank you for the treat.👍

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Jay Pat wrote:

Have you heard is the heisler is running, yet?
Thanks, Pat

I was checking out Cass RR and the heisler.
My mistake....I meant the climax.
I don't think it is running, yet.
Pat