It is wonderful to read your detailed progress reports on the Shay and realize that I might finally be able to see it in operation when I visit the museum. Thanks to all that are working on this project as well as all those working on the other projects in the Steam Shop.
Out of curiosity, why was it decided to restore the shay to burn coal rather than oil if indeed it burned oil during most of its operating life? I presume it originally burned bunker C oil but could it have been modified to use lighter oil? (If the original oil burning hardware is gone and lost to the ages, this would be a moot issue :) )
Hello again Brian and All... Very nice blog and always informative. I seem to recall the water pump, you just restored to operation, was used in 1990's to fight a rather large grass fire down at the east end. I don't remember all the specifics but it was a good grass fire. We even had to call the union fire dept to help us extinguish the "blaze" Yes, the old fun days..... Roger
with its current work rate, i just thought up a consist for members day 2016.
Shay 5
Water Tender
Dump Car 39
CNW wrecker 6363 w/flat
X-23 MOW boxcar
Belt Railway Caboose 223
Hi All,
To answer a few questions here:
The decision to convert the shay to burn coal was made before the locomotive got to IRM. It was converted for IRM by the Chicago and North Western Railway. I do not have any first hand information as to why they decided to convert the locomotive. I suspect the decision was based on the knowledge base of the people who would be running the shay at that time and the logistics of storing oil on property back then. It could be converted back to oil if we wanted to. However, Steam Curator Tom Schneider decided long ago to keep the shay as a coal burner, and he went through the time and effort to make the patterns to have a proper Lima grate system cast for the locomotive. When converted earlier, an industrial grate system was installed. It worked fine for years, but we ran out of spare grates, and that grate system was flimsier than the proper system. I would like to see the shay burn oil, but I am also quite excited to five her again, this time with the right grates!
Roger, you may be right about the pump. I don't know. I do know that it will be usable again now! I look forward to using it to wash the locomotive on occasion.
Raphael, that sounds like a fun train to pull and a fun one to shoot pictures of. That being said, at present that consist is a way off from being able to happen. The 6363 currently needs some attention to at least one of its trucks before it gets used in an actual train again. However, I wouldn't mind seeing that consist behind the shay someday!
Brian (and/or Nigel)
Didn't the Shay originally have a snow plow? If so what became of it? Does IRM still have it? The reasons I ask is: AKAIK no other Shay in the country, operational or display, has a snowplow, so it's very unusual in that regard. The second reason: since I build 7-1/2" gauge Live Steam locos, I'm interested in getting the dimensions and other details/particulars of the plow when I come to visit, if possible. Thanks.
Yes. #5 does have a snow plow.
How to deal with this has been a subject of discussion. When she last ran, and for how long before I do not know, it was still mounted on the front truck but had pieces fitted to ensure it could not be operated.
With all the switches at IRM, accidental lowering could risk serious damage and the likelihood of needing to plough is minimal.
Nigel
Hello,
To follow up on what Nigel stated, the flanger/plow on the shay is essentially complete. The air cylinders for raising and lowering the mechanism were tested during the truck's rebuild. In the past the valve to lift and to lower the blade has been wired shut so that it could not be accidentally moved. The blade is also chained up to prevent this from happening. Once the locomotive's operational restoration is complete the air lines will be reinstalled and the blade tested and tweaked as needed to make it operational, but other than testing it, it will remain wired out of service and chained up to prevent any accidental use. Just as how the duplex water pump was rebuilt even though it will see very little use, I feel it is important to restore and maintain all parts on the locomotive, whether or not they are normally used.
>>>"I feel it is important to restore and maintain all parts on the locomotive, whether or not they are normally used."
Excellent Brian! Well said!! That is exactly the direction I would take if it were me. Completeness sake and historical accuracy are paramount!
I look forward to the Shay running hopefully this year! When Railroad Museum announces that she will run for the public I will immediately go there as soon as practical! In fact we are probably not going to visit the Hesston Shay at Hesston Steam Museum this year, solely so that we can devote our time to #5 Shay run (we live a fairly large distance away)
Yours In Steam