Steam & Excursion > Even The "Off-Side" Of This Locomotive Showed Many Modifications!

The fireman's side of a Shay locomotive was rarely captured on film due to the fact that all the drive train that was so fascinating was to be found on the engineer's side.  However, there were times that due to lighting and other factors the railfans only choice for a photo was on the fireman's side.  Those photos often proved as interesting as the more commonly seen engineers side.  Here is one such image.

In this well-lit view we see Willamina & Grand Ronde Ty #5 parked at Grand Ronde, Oregon in June 1946.  She shows the wear and tear and many modifications that geared locomotives like her were known to acquire in their decades of service.

Originally built in 1914 as #116 for the Missouri & Louisiana RR of Neame, LA this 70-ton 3-truck Shay sported a wood cab and clean lines when she left the Lima floor.  As built she was a coal-burning engine and she later served the Delta Land & Timber Co., also of Neame, LA before being transferred to that company's Texas operation in Conroe, TX.

Finally in 1926 she was sold to the Oregon-American Lumber Co. of Vernonia, OR where she was converted to an oil burner.  Later she was sold to the Polk Operating Company of Grand Ronde, OR and then to the W&GR as we see her her.  She has had stairs over the air pump added along with railing modifications to give her a look of an engine that has been through a number of locomotive shops with many different CMOs adding their touches to her.

By the time of this 1946 photo was see that her wood cab has long ago been replaced by a steel cab and her single air pumps were replaced by this cross-compound pump.  Her headlight is gone which shows the hard service she has endured in her 30-year operating career.

Unfortunately, she is for sale at the time of this photo as she is owned by Washington Machinery & Storage Co. and dealer in used logging equipment.  Sadly, no buyer would be found for her and in a couple years she would be deemed worth more as scrap than as a used locomotive.  Such was the fate of so many Shays of the steam era.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/18 01:57 by LoggerHogger.

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Martin,  that arched handrail above the air pump has got to be  unique!  Interesting photo.

Michael Allen

Michael,

Pretty unusual, but not the only of its kind.  Look at the arched handrail around the airpump on Pickering Lumber #33.

Martin



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/18 09:36 by LoggerHogger.

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