Shay Geared Locomotive Profile and Models

Shay Geared Locomotive

Shay No.12 at the Georgetown Loop Railroad in June 2004. ©Mark Byzewski

The Shay locomotive is a geared steam locomotive that originated and was primarily used in North America. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive. Although the design of Ephraim Shay's early locomotives differed from later ones, there is a clear line of development that joins all Shays. Shay locomotives were especially suited to logging, mining and industrial operations and could operate successfully on steep or poor quality track.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Locomotive

Geared Steam

Builder

Lima Locomotive Works

Build Dates

1878 to 1945

Total Built

2,770

Tractive Effort

Varied by design

Wheel Configuration

2 to 4 trucks - geared

Operated By

100s of mainline and private industry railroads

Main Duties

Industrial
Quarries
Logging
Mining
Passenger

In Service Until

1970s

Surviving Examples

115