Over on Trainorders, there's several photos of a steam locomotive arriving at Cass via flatbed truck on 6/29/2010. Not much more than a boiler on a frame. Anyone know what locomotive this is, and what plans Cass has for it?

Frederick G. Bailey

I'm guessing this is most likely what's left of ex-Graham County RR. 1926. I know that Cass has been interested in it for quite a while. 1926 had been owned by a fellow in PA. If I recall correctly, back when Artie was running the shop, the thought was to combine its parts with CSRR Shay 7 to make an operable engine from the two.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

This is indeed the 1926. Plans originally called for it to be delivered last fall, but due to the fact that major parts need to use the 50t shop crane, it was delayed (operational locos were already stored in the shop getting worked on, at the end of the operating season)

The word on the street is that the boiler will indeed be donated to the effort to restore #7 to operation, along with other parts off the 1926. Both locos are C-70s.

This Shay has been coming to Cass completely disassembled in truck loads. Currently in Cass are most major components, including boiler, frame, wheels, truck assemblies, tender frame, etc.

More parts are still making their way down...

Any hope the remains of the merger would be displayed as 1926? Would be a terrible shame to scrap a Shay at this late of a date. 1926 was retired by GCRR in the 60's because of thin firebox sheets. I guess the remainder of the barrel is a better starting point than the firebox and first course of Meadow River #7.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.