Arn't trains related to tractors?

[dieselcrawler]

We have the Cass Scenic Railroad here in West Virginia. We took the kids there last summer, I had never been there, and was enthralled with it. The engines are unique, as they are all-wheel drive, and specifically built for logging, and steep mountain tracks. I got to climb in the cab, as did my 10 yo son, engineer was happy to talk about how it worked, history, maintenance and repairs... I think Shay is the mfg, they have about 6 of these, over 100 years old and still climbing the mountain.

 

[MossRoad]

That is so cool.
Where did you find that?

I googled road train.

 

[ch1ch2]

Wow, I have a lot more trains to ride.

 

[MossRoad]

We have the Cass Scenic Railroad here in West Virginia. We took the kids there last summer, I had never been there, and was enthralled with it. The engines are unique, as they are all-wheel drive, and specifically built for logging, and steep mountain tracks. I got to climb in the cab, as did my 10 yo son, engineer was happy to talk about how it worked, history, maintenance and repairs... I think Shay is the mfg, they have about 6 of these, over 100 years old and still climbing the mountain.

Very nice!

They are probably Shay's made by Lima Locomotive Works. Other's made shay-style locomotives, but they legally couldn't call them Shay's, even though they probably did. Kinda like Kleenex.

Shay locomotive - Wikipedia

 

[MossRoad]

Some good reading on that.... they own 8 Shay's and a couple other engines. Looks like a fun place to visit. Thanks. :thumbsup:

Cass Scenic Railroad State Park - Wikipedia

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Very nice!

They are probably Shay's made by Lima Locomotive Works. Other's made shay-style locomotives, but they legally couldn't call them Shay's, even though they probably did. Kinda like Kleenex.

Shay locomotive - Wikipedia

Yes, they are from Lima.
Ive been up that mountain a few times, even in the snow.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Number 2 in 2003

 

[buckeyefarmer]

1985 engine 2

1987 engine 3

 

[ArlyA]

Here is some narrow gauge RR history of MI found at Railroad logging We've hiked some of these grades found near here. One in particular went down and up a river draw, far to steep for engine to climb out, so they hit it at a run. That grade is really something!

RAILROAD LOGGING

From 1870 to 1890, Michigan was the nationç—´ leading timber producer, and its sawmills were among the most efficient in the world. Logging had become a large-scale industry that utilized the latest technologies like steam-powered sawmills and circular saws. The spread of the railroad, accelerated by the development of narrow-gauge moveable track, made the more remote forest areas accessible. Production peaked in 1888 at 4,292,000,000 board feet. As technology improved, the wood in Michigan was more quickly taken, especially with the introduction of the logging railroad in the 1850ç—´. These small engines and their portable narrow gauge track made it possible to log farther away from the rivers. These railroads could haul loads of logs no matter the weather. Other improvements included the use of the crosscut saw to fell the trees much more quickly than the axe, the circular saw in the mills and the "big wheel" for logging in the summer months.

About the Upper Peninsula where we reside---------------------

Trains could be used in place of sleds year round for the relatively short run to the riverside banking grounds, or the river drive itself could be avoided entirely by carrying the logs to a mainline railroad depot. In addition, the logging railroad was sufficiently economical to allow cutting in areas that had been considered too far from the nearest driving stream to make sledding practical.

Lumbermen who logged Michiganç—´ Upper Peninsula included Con Culhane and Dan McLeod. Culhane reportedly moved his logging equipment and railroad south from the Little Two Hearted River to the Tahquamenon River valley one winter by laying tracks in front of him as he went across frozen swamps, then picking them up behind him. McLeod built a logging railroad across one of the Upper Peninsulaç—´ worst cedar swamps without even bothering to fill in the grade with sand or build trestles. He did anchor the ties to long stringers and build two bridges where his railroad crossed branches of the Two Hearted River.

 

[ch1ch2]

Ahhh

The world is vast full of information.

TBN is a great resource.

Keep it coming!