This past summer. Originally Anaconda Copper Co. (Forest Products Division) 5 at Bonner, Montana, displayed for many years at the Mehmke Museum at Great Falls, Montana.

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=413885

And why was it moved to Arizona?

Because they had the critical mass of money and motivation to buy it from the collection, whereas the locals did not. Unfortunately the original rumor was that it was sent to Minnesota. Had I known before the fact, I would have tried to lobby for it to stay here. Alas!

At least it's being kept in good order, though not truly historical to its current location.

Another loss in Montana was a former Ingersoll Rand diesel that was operated in Colstrip Montana by Foley Brothers for the NP. It is now in Portola representing somebody else's engine.

Of course, we don't even have a million people here, and being as they are scattered all over, rail preservation is not an easy ticket. Still, better than scrap.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

I was told when I enquired about it when I was out in Williams last September that it was acquired with the eventual goal of including it in the planned railway museum at Williams. Now that the Biegerts have sold to Xanterra, however, I'm a bit dubious as to how much chance there actually is that said museum will ever open, especially as it appears the group down in Chandler (operating as the Arizona Railway Museum) seems to be getting its act together.

There is at least logical reason for including a Shay in said museum if it's in northern Arizona, as there were incredible amounts of logging (and the resulting temporary branch lines) in the areas to the north and south of nearby Flagstaff--witness the two logging steamers (Mallet and 2-8-2) stuffed and mounted in Flagstaff. The books showing me the locos used are out with my brothers-in-law near Prescott, but I recall seeing photos of Shays on these lines.

The Foley Bros. Locomotive at Portola is NOT being represented as anything but the Foley Bros. engine. I do believe it is being considered for de-acessioning as it is not acutally related to the collection. However, at the time of its acqusition, it was headed for the scrap heap, so you can thank Portola for saving it from that fate. Unfortunately, the vandals did quite a number on it before it was moved--it will take some work to bring it back, but it CAN be done! BTW, it IS an almost duplicate of the one used nearby by Red River.
S'
David Dewey
Former Portola Restoration Specialist.

My apologies if the former Foley Brothers engine is now being displayed in it's correct historical context. It has been roughly five years since I've looked at your (WRM) website and at that time it was indicated it would eventually be interpreted as a Red River engine. From all photos seen it appears to be quite a ways out.

That said, there is certainly no crime is rescuing equipment, especially if you are in a position to make the effort and other closer fail to for whatever reason. If I have any reason to be upset, it would only be because local groups aren't organized or exist to identify and meet potential preservation challenges. So thank you for keeping that engine out of harms reach. Someday, perhaps, it might be possible to create a practical and relevant mission for it on it's home turf.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Mike,
Apoligies accepted. I will admit there was some talk about doing the Red River thing, but I always felt it was our "Smithsonian" piece, especially since it is the only surviving 600hp model. Vandals did a good number on the electricals and some engine parts (brass theives--AAAUGH!). But there are enough existing parts left to have duplicates made, and some of that has been done (new push rods, for example), but it was never on the "high list" of the directors, with so many WP units needing attention, and being much more intact.
It will be for the future caretakers to determine if it should be an operational piece, or static display only. As rare as it is, I can see the arguments both ways, but I'm in the active interpretation "camp." I don't believe these artifacts can speak to the next generations without seeing, hearing and feeling them do what they were designed to do. As we get farther away from the generations who remember their active days, I am even more convinced that the message cannot be given with only static displays. How we save the original fabic and still provide the experience is the great challenge (and finding those who can repair and operate the stuff!).
Hmm, this will probably start a new thread!
S'
David D.

I was in Flagstaff and Williams over Xmas, and saw the Shay sitting on a flatcar, down near the north end of the shops. Of course I saw it at a distance, since the shop area is closed to visitors, but easily viewed from the highway. Quite a collection down there as well. Numerous rod steam locos, not including #18, displayed at the depot. There were Diesels out on a train, plus ex-Amtrak FP40's and a line of dead FPA4's in VIA paint. I'd like to know the future plans for the stored equipment, although it appears the FP40's and one string of FA's were in use. I'm sure one of the steamers was an ex-LS&I parts loco, while another was probably 4960. From the line up of "neutered" Budd cars being used as coaches, and other passenger stock, it would appear the GCRy is either in the restoration business, or very much into the tourist train business for the long haul.
Very refreshing.

Currently the Shay is on it's own wheels just outside the south door of Track #1 at the locomotive shop, we moved it there after they removed the cab and tender, but as of yesterday, the cab and tender are back on. It was supposed to be cosmetically restored, but other work in the shops are putting it on hold.

Just to set the record straight on a couple of accounts…Although the Arizona State Railroad Museum at Williams is moving at restricted speed the operative word is moving. And, the Shay is part of that movement.

Although it would have been preferable for No. 5 to remain in Montana this was not to be. It is not anyone’s “fault” and there is no one to “blame.” In fact, several Montana folks helped with the process just to ensure No. 5’s survival. Thanks to Jack Hoover, No. 5 was preserved in remarkably good condition in spite of sitting out in the weather for 40+ years. The posted photo shows her after undergoing hazardous materials (asbestos and lead paint) abatement. Today No. 5 has a new coat of paint and some of the new wood scheduled to be replaced on the way to complete cosmetic restoration. The Grand Canyon Railway shop has contracted with ASRM to do the work.

Arizona is not all the land of “sand and snakes.” In northern Arizona we have the largest stand of Ponderosa pine in the world which gave birth to a long history of logging railroads. Unfortunately, all six of Arizona’s Shays met with the scrapper’s torch. Fortunately, this Shay is virtually an identical match to the No. 5 that operated with the Saginaw & Manistee Lumber Company here in Williams. When she is restored it will be to represent that history which we cannot reclaim in reality. Also, it was common for Shays to change hands several times during their operating life and, more than a few have made it from coast to coast and back again.

When Jack passed No. 5 on to us it was with the idea that she would go to a good home. We intend to live up to that responsibility and will be happy for all Montana railfans to come visit her when the exhibits are complete and the doors open. Maybe some day future funding ($4-500,000) will allow us to return No. 5 to operating condition…as I said, Jack took real good care of her.

Al Richmond
CEO, ASRM Foundation

Where exactly is the Mehmke Museum? On a cross-country trek in 2001 we ran across a huge farm museum (many many old gas and steam tractors) and they had a shay on the hillside beside the museum. This this the same one?

Yes...about five miles out of Great Falls on US 89.