Steam & Excursion > This Can Happen When The Downgrade Takes Over The Train!

Like most folks know in railroading, anyone can take the train up the mountain, it is the coming down part that is tricky.  Such was the case we see here.

We are in the logging area of the Oregon Coast Range on the Carlton & Coast Railroad and it's logging outfit the Flora Logging Company.  70-ton 3-truck Shay #70 has come to an ungainly rest along with her loaded log cars on the bottom of one of the grades on the logging line.  Perhaps her air pump quit or maybe the crew did not set up enough retainers before descending the grade.  Regardless, the grade took over and the hapless crew had to bail off her and walk to the bottom of the grade to see where she came to rest.

#70 was a sturdy machine turned out by Lima in 1913 for the Twin Falls Logging Co. as their #200 (which is still on her spot plate in this photo).  She went to the Carlton & Coast in 1919 and was transferred to Flora logging in 1922.  Both outfits ran her as their #70.  After this wreck she was sold to the Clyde Equipment Co. in Portland who rebuilt her and resold her to the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. of Ohop, Washington where she lasted in operation until the 1940's.

On this day, once the women have completed their inspection of the wreckage and the men have devised a plan for removal, the work begins to pick up the pieces.

Martin



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/15 03:47 by LoggerHogger.

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I wonder if the "gear down" effect would help to control this?  Reverse the engine and feed a bit of steam?  Looks like the old girl had quite a ride.

Not as much as you'd think, Don. On lighter grades they're a big help, but on the heavy grades typical of a logging road it doesn't make much difference.

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