Article sent by a friend of mine, no source cited:


Cass railroad receives transportation grant
Drew Tanner
Staff Writer
The Cass Scenic Railroad has received a grant for $96,800 to purchase two Shay locomotives from owners in Pennsylvania and Oregon for parts.
The grant was part of $4.9 million in transportation grants awarded last Wednesday to 29 transportation projects throughout the state by the office of Governor Joe Manchin.
Funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the state's Department of Transportation, the Transportation Enhancement grants are designed to help local communities develop recreational and transportation infrastructure. The grant program provides 80 percent of the eligible project cost, while the project sponsor provides the rest.
The Oregon locomotive sought by Cass will be used to supply parts for the park's Shay number 11, while the Pennsylvania locomotive will be used to help the park revive Shay number 7.
Shay number 11 is the second largest Shay locomotive at Cass, and was a western import, also, having come to the park from California. Its parts companion was originally built in 1924 and put into service with the Cascade Timber Company in Reliance, Washington. It later saw service with lumber companies in Oregon and California before it was purchased by a rail enthusiast who has owned it since 1982.
The locomotive from Pennsylvania will be used to help revive Shay number 7, which had boiler trouble and has been sitting on the park's "dead line" for some time, said park superintendent David Caplinger. The parts engine was built in 1926 and was first used by the Tallassee Power Company in Calderwood, Tennessee. It, too, was later purchased by a railfan, who has had it since 1988.
"They're not complete locomotives, but they will give us what they need," said Caplinger.
One locomotive is missing a cab, while the other lacks a water tender, parts that Caplinger said the park is capable of fabricating. The remaining parts are much harder to obtain or create from scratch, he said.
While the owner of the Pennsylvania locomotive is arranging for shipping, getting the locomotive from Oregon delivered to Cass will be a "major undertaking," said Caplinger.
To move its sister locomotive, Shay number 11, the park sent four employees and six volunteers from Mountain State Railroad & Logging History Association to Campo, California, to bring the Shay to Cass. Herbert Jones, Inc., of Dunbar, was contracted to pick up the 103-ton locomotive and see to its arrival at the state park. It took three days to load the massive Shay and have it sent on its way.
The engine now serves as the lead engine on the park's excursions to Bald Knob and Spruce.
Detailed descriptions and histories of the locomotives to be purchased can be found at the following links:

www.shaylocomotives.com/data/lima3354/sn-3299.htm

www.shaylocomotives.com/data/lima3354/sn-3254.htm

Information on the Cass roster of locomotives can be found at

www.cassrailroad.com/locos.html

******

Now where in heck did they hide that one in Pennsylvania?!?

Glad to hear some of he 1926 will finally get to see some action!

Let's see add the two numbers, divide by two and the new number is 967!

J

Well, never say never.......

One of the British preservation groups to which I belonged ended up buying a second "Deltic" diesel locomotive from the scrap line strictly as a source of spare parts.

It's done many miles on the main line since.............

http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/engi ... _index.htm

Which raises another question. Have any "parts-donor" locomotives ever been returned to operable condition once the previous "donee" finished its active life? One could speculate on a revival for RDG 2124, UP 838, CNR 6200, an ex-CNR Mike at Steamtown, and others.

I'd be curious to see how much of 1926 is usable for #7. OK not really. I'd rather see 1926 reunited with 1925's cab (or whichever it is from the 2147 in Townsend) and displayed as GCRR 1926. I hope that whatever is left after culling for good parts, is indeed preserved, as opposed to being destroyed.
As a quick Cass update, last weekend 2, 4, Heisler 6 and 11 were running. Shay 5 was having some boilerwork done and Big 6 was having running gear work. I was suprised to see Angnew Lumber #4 sitting in virtually the same state as a year ago. Brimstone 36 and MLR 7 were the same, of course.

Mike

Mike,

Good question. and it will be curious to see if the '26's boiler course is worth much -- the GCRR took her out of service because the firebox was shot back in 1967.


J

Jim,

I thought about that too. MRL 7 was put aside due to a bad front boiler course. I really don't see a piecing together of the 2 halves, provided 1926's front course is well. I seem to remember that 1925's boiler was fairly worn and required (and does once again) a pretty comprehensive rebuild. My gut is telling me that 1926's is probably in about the same place. ...all comments with due respect to the Cass shop, as they surely know what the heck they are doing.
Much like yourself, I have a soft spot for GCRR and don't want to see her going the way of orignal Cass #6 (worn out, wrecked, parted and finally basically scrapped in 1980).

Thanks - Mike

Reading 2100 was once a parts supply for sister 2101. In fact 2100 was the worst looking big engine I have ever seen. When restoration began many parts were borrowed back from 2101.

While the firebox on 1925 was in poor condition and needs further work now the boiler courses were in very good condition. There was only one small pit in the bottom of the front course as I recall. The boiler in the 26 is superheated so it would be interesting if they used her boiler on the 7 which is saturated. I am not sure how heavy the 11 is but I guess the 25 boiler could be used on that engine since I think it is superheated.

As far as other parts of the 26 go I would guess the most important could be the crankshaft. I think I remember someone at Cass telling me the 7 donated her crank to the 4 when that crank cracked probably 15 years ago or more. I am not 100 percent sure of this item.

I consider both the 7 and 26 very good old friends. The 7 was one of the first engines I clearly remember pushing me up Bald Knob as a kid. I can still see her number plate from the front of the flatcar and hear the roar of the exhaust as we went up the mountain. When I moved to Graham County and found the parts of the 26 were in a field along the creek behind the Bemis sawmill I hauled everything I could dig up in my pickup back to Bear Creek. Those parts came with the 25 to Spencer and some were used in her restoration. A few went back to the 26 after it went to PA. Before deciding on which engine to restore at GC Ted and I looked over the 26 and decided the 25 would be a little cheaper because it was complete and did not have superheaters. Unless we would have found something after the flues were out the boilers appeared to be in similar condition. I think the frame on the 26 was in much better condition which helped bring the costs more in line with 25. Probably the best boiler we had on the property was on the 36 but she too was stripped and would have required parts from the 25 to restore. If I had the money and time I would not be afraid to use the remains of the 26 to begin a restoration to operation but these days it would take a bundle of money.

While I will be very happy to see the 7 run again it will bring great sorrow if this is the end of the 26. Hopefully something good will come to both of my old friends.

John Bohon

Reposted from Trainorders.com's steam forum, a counterclaim by some chap calling himself "Martin" and going by the "handle" "Loggerhead":

"Pickering Shay #8 was NOT sold to Cass Scenic RR as was incorrectly reported elsewhere.

Fred Kepner still owns the 100-ton Shay and has her tender and rear truck and many other parts such as the universal joints and line shafts stored in Merril, OR.
The engine was stored on property in Cottage Grove, OR when her moving truck proved to be too light for the big engine. The property changed hands several times recently and the new property owner claimed to have "bought" the engine with the property. That cannot happen as the engine is personal property and not part of the land. The land owner has been informed that his claim of ownership is invalid under Oregon law.

We have notified the Parks Director of Cass that the ownership of #8 resides solely with Fred and that the engine is NOT for sale. Any attempt to move the engine to Cass would only open them up to a damage claim that they do not want.

Yes, it would be ridiculous to take an engine that could be made operational and simply "part" her out. Fred would never let that happen.

Now you all know the FACTS. "

Sounds like a messy legal fight is about to ensue.

That "chap" goes by Loggerhogger and is very active in Pacific Northwest steam operations, including Mt. Emily Shay No. 1, SP 4449, Mt. Rainier Scenic, and anything else that boils water. Martin HanSEN, and yes, he is Fred Kepner's attorney.

Unfortunately, Fred Kepner is another in a long line of railfans who heroically rescued locomotives that were otherwise headed for scrap, but who then never had the money or ability to restore them. For what ever reason these folks are then totally unable to ever part with their treasures. Only when the inevitable estate sale is held do the salvagable remains get sold. Fred has quite an elephant's grave yard up in Oregon, with three Sierra locos, including 2-6-6-2 #38 being the most notable.

Michael Allen

Freddy also lays claim to the Sierra 34, still in the roundhouse at Jamestown, CA.
Chris