Friday Night Steam

Shays!!!

Just sit back and enjoy a wee bit of heaven!

Source: http://www.cassrailroad.com/shay5.html
Shay #5

Legendary #5 was built by Lima for Greenbrier and Elk River in November 1905. This turn-of-the-century class C-80 Shay has been toiling up Cheat Mountain for nearly 100 years, making it one of the oldest engines in continuous service on its original line, and the second oldest Shay in existance.

Past to Present...

Until 1980, #5 was accompanied by another turn-of-the-century machine -- Shay #1. #1, also built in 1905, came to Cass in 1915 where it was continuously used until the end of the logging era. Cass Scenic Railroad ran the engine till 1963, when a major overhaul was required. In 1980 #1 was re-lettered "Greenbrier Cheat & Elk", loaded on a flatcar and shipped to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD. as part of the trade for Western Maryland Shay #6.

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Technically Speaking:

Builder No.: 1503	Date in Service:  November 1, 1905
Class: C-80	Trucks: 3
Bore: 13 1/2 inches	Stroke: 15 inches
Drivers: 36 inches	Weight: 90 Tons

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Source: http://www.cassrailroad.com/shay6.html

Shay #6

In The Old Days...

Built for Western Maryland coal service Shay #6 was shipped to Elkins, West Virginia May 14, 1945 for use on the 9% grade on the Chaffe branch. Shay #6 was the last Shay ever built. The locomotive's commercial life was short, lasting only four years. #6 was then stored and finally donated to the Baltimore & Ohio Museum in Baltimore, MD, where it remained for 26 years.

Past to Present...

In 1981, an exchange was arranged for Shay #1 and a Porter 0-4-0 owned by Cass Scenic Railroad. Shay #6 was carefully removed from the old museum. It actually was driven onto the Turntable and out of the B&O Museum using air generated by a compressor. Today, #6 is still like new and a spectacular example of the fine technology of geared locomotives. It combines the grace and refinement of the Pacific Coast Shay with sheer mass (162 tons). The locomotive is about twice as large as any other locomotive at Cass. The Big 6 is assigned to the Bald Knob, Spruce, and Elkins excursions.

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Technically Speaking:

Builder No.: 3354	Date in Service: 1945
Class: C-150	Trucks: 3
Bore: 17 inches	Stroke: 18 inches
Drivers: 48 inches	Weight: 162 Tons

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Source: http://www.cassrailroad.com/shay3.html

Shay #11 - Feather River #3

In The Old Days...

Shay #3, built in 1923, went originally to Hutchinson Lumber Company, Feather Falls, Calif., this Shay is best known as the Feather River #3.

Past to Present...

In 1967 #3 went to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum San Diego, Calif. In March of 1997, Cass Scenic Railroad sent a team to Campo, California, to inspect #3. The purpose of this trip was to determine the means by which the big Shay could be transported back to Cass, and to get an idea of the type of repairs that would be necessary to bring the engine back to life.

Feather River Shay becomes the Cass #11.......

Another Shay has been added to the Cass collection. What was once the Feather River #3 is now the Cass #11.
The Cass #11 was built in 1923. It operated both as a logger and a common carrier. Until 1965 it served the Hutchinson Lumber Company, and then the common carrier Feather River Railway as #3. Weighing 103 tons (204,704 pounds), the wheels are 36" and the cylinders measure 14 1/2 X 15. With a boiler pressure of 200 pounds. Big 6 is the only larger Shay at Cass.
Four men from Cass and six from MSR&LHA went to Campo, California, to bring the Shay to Cass. Herbert Jones, INC. of Dunbar, West Virginia, was contracted to pick the Cass #11 up in Campo and see to its arrival in Cass. It took three days to load the massive Shay and have it sent on its way.

Cass #11 repaired at Cass shop

Shay #11 is assigned to the Whittaker Station Train.

Technically Speaking:

Builder No.: 3221	Date in Service: July 14, 1923
Class: C-90	Trucks: 3
Bore: 14 1/2 inches	Stroke: 15 inches
Drivers: 36 inches	Weight: 103 Tons