Did you know the NYC had 5 Shay type locomotives? I didn’t!
Geared steam locomotives are usually associated with logging operations, where grades were steep and the track was light and temporary. The Shay geared locomotive used vertically thrusting cylinders to turn a shaft transmitting power to the trucks. These slow-moving locomotives, with their small wheels, offered greater leverage on hills and were easier on the track than conventional engines with their pounding side rods and counterbalances.
The New York Central was not known to conduct logging operations, but its 1940 roster listed five Shay type locomotives, Nos. 7185-7189. They were built in 1923 by Lima Locomotive Works for use on the West Side Freight Line in New York City, chiefly on street trackage on 10th and 11th Avenues. An old city ordinance required them to be covered to avoid frightening horses, and they also had to be preceded by a horse and rider when operating in the street. When most of the street trackage was removed and the West Side line electrified, around 1934, the Shays were replaced by box-cab diesels that could also run from third-rail electrification or on battery power. The Shays were transferred to western New York State for use on the Genessee Falls Railway, an industrial line in Rochester, and the Owasco River Railway, with trackage around Auburn — both NYC subsidiaries. (Thanks to Gordon Davids and an unidentified respondent for much of this background information.)
The NYC Shays had three 12x12-inch cylinders that, through the gears, drove 36-inch wheels. They weighed 139,400 pounds, and with 200 pounds per square inch of boiler pressure they developed 27,320 pounds of tractive effort. This photo of No. 7189 was taken in March, 1940, in snow-covered Auburn, New York. The unknown photographer snapped this broadside view with what appears to be a water spout behind the coal bunker, on th
I did run across that same info a few months ago poking around the Internet. I could be wrong but I thought I read that the NYC Shays were used for snow removal? I would think that the only way you would see that is if you scratch-built it yourself. Boy! Would THAT look pretty cool on a layout, or what?!? [:)][tup]
I was aware that NYC had Shays, but not how many or where they had gone after the oil-electric-battery motors replaced them. Thanks for the info.
Judging by the photo, visibility, especially toward the smokebox end, must have been ghastly. Good thing they had that, “Man on horseback, carrying a red flag,” preceeding them down the street. Having experienced Manhattan’s west side a few decades later, I wouldn’t have wanted either job (locomotive engineer or horse pilot.)
coalminer3 wrote: "aka the “10 Ave. Cowboys.” Nope. The tenth avenue cowboys were the men that were required by law to ride on horses in front of the trains and flag them. They were also called dummy boys and that name was probably used a lot more often as they were met by a hail of rocks from the local urchins. It was New York City after all.
Thanks! You may have saved me a few bucks and a very red face. I hired out on the Central a “few” years ago, worked there (and on PC) for 7 years, and I’d have bet just about any amount that the Central would never have had a Shay.
I’ll be wagging my head on this one for a good while. NYC Shays!!! And, enclosed to boot!!!
cefinkjr wrote: “Thanks! You may have saved me a few bucks and a very red face. I hired out on the Central a “few” years ago, worked there (and on PC) for 7 years, and I’d have bet just about any amount that the Central would never have had a Shay.” You’d be be surprised by what railroads had sometimes. PC compoenant New haven had Climaxes. “I’ll be wagging my head on this one for a good while. NYC Shays!!! And, enclosed to boot!!!” Well now you know. So start winning those bar bets against those rubes at NMRA meets. Just be sure to bring pictures. Eric
Hello everyone-
First time poster on this forum.What I can add to this is,Marcellus and Otisco Lake RR had 2 shay’s from NYC.The first one was 7185.(c1943)They had it for a short time before trading it back to NYC because of a broken frame.The next was 7187(C.1944-47),They had that locomotive 3 or 4 years before buying a Vulcan diesel.On the not going down with out a fight theme.When 7187 was being scrapped,a vehicle that was parked next to locomotive caught fire and was destoyed. http://www.gearedsteam.com/shay/images/marcellus_&_otisco_lake_7187.jpg http://www.shaylocomotives.com/data/lima3354/sn-3235.htm
