John Boykin has sent me the photograph below and information on this steam pump via e-mail. Thanks, John.

It was used to transfer bunker oil to the lumber companies' steam donkeys. It is a duplex pump of unknown make; and is now covered in old oil; no nameplate is visible. It is also missing its valve
cover.

It is mounted on car #42, which is sitting in a scrap line a few miles from Shelton, Washington. Simpson Timber's Shelton operation was the last working logging railroad in North America. It closed last spring; hence this pump, along with the rolling stock, mill, roundhouse, and it's fleet of five diesels (including two dynamic brake-equipped SW1200s and one dynamic brake-equipped SW900) are now in danger of scrapping.

It is the first time I heard about the operation closing. I would think there would be a writeup about the Simpson Timber Co. Shelton operation and the fate of its equipment both here and elsewhere. But I doubt anyone will mention this lowly steam pump; so I thought I would pass it along.

If the railcar itself doesn't make it into preservation, I hope this pump at least will. John didn't indicate it's size; based on the size of the rivets and wheels in the background, I think it is a 6 x 4 x 6. That would mean it is about 3 1/2 feet long, and weighs about 450 pounds. I know a couple of individuals who might retrieve it for me, and I could come up with the money to ship it to Beaumont; its convincing the wife and landlady that yet another steam pump in the yard is OK that is impossible!

The only other Simpson Timber Co. steam engine in preservation that I know of is a 1910 Eureka Foundry Co. steam donkey on display at the Simpson Tbr. Co., Korbel, CA office.

BTW in regards to my "uniform pricing" (or "Blue Book") idea below; Bob put me in contact with an individual who had a steam pump for sale some time back. He wanted something like $2,000 for it; when I pointed out that pumps of his size and condition have been going for 1/5 to 1/10 that price on e-bay in the past year, he revised his thinking. This pump is probably worth $10.00 in scrap value, but perhaps $100.00 for someone willing to buy it. Can Simpson Timber write it off as a donation only for it's scrap value?

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

james1@pernet.net

> It is the first time I heard about the
> operation closing. I would think there would
> be a writeup about the Simpson Timber Co.
> Shelton operation and the fate of its
> equipment both here and elsewhere.

What timing... I was down at the Roundhouse in Shelton last week and working on a story... I just started scanning photos last night.

From what I heard last week, the only scrapping that is under consideration is of the lines west of the "Dry Sort" yard, which have seen VERY little use in the last few years. The target date is next July.

The railroad is still in almost daily operation switching for the mill in Shelton (where the roundhouse is) and moving loads of "water wood" and "dry" logs. The interchange with the Puget Sound and Pacific sees almost daily exchange of empties for loads. I don't have my notes with me (I'm at work) but the Simpson mills are mostly shutdown and the prognosis for next year is not optomistic.

The 4 tank cars (two fuel cars and two water cars) and snow plow at Jackpot Siding (where John took the photo of the pump on one of them) are probably at risk if homes aren't found. Jackpot is near the west end of Simpson's current trackage. Also considered at risk is the 1920's (?) Pacific Car and Foundary 4-truck steam donkey moving car (150T capacity) which is in storage at the Dry Sort yard.

There's quite a lot of interest at Simpson Timber and I'm far from an expert (which makes writing up my trip last week slow as I check my facts with others who are better informed than I am).



Washington Steam Railroads and Locomotives
brianf425@yahoo.com

Here's a photo of the tank car on which the pump is mounted.

I've got photos of the other tank cars and snow plow and will try and get a "brief" written in the next few days...


Washington Steam Railroads and Locomotives

brianf425@yahoo.com