Hi,
Just wondering, did all Shay locomotives have the driveshaft on the right-hand (looking from rear) side or did it vary between manufacturers?
Thanks in advance,
tbdanny
By far and away, the vast majority of Shays had the engines (and drive shafts) on the right, which simplified connecting the engineer’s controls to the engine (petcock levers, etc.)
I have heard rumors that some left-hand running operation ordered a Yahs (lefthanded Shay) but I’ve never seen a photo.
As far as manufacturers, the Shay patent locomotive was only built by the Lima Machine Works, its successors and heirs. The Willamette had slightly different engine arrangements, just enough to skirt around Lima’s design patents.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with not a Shay in sight)
For information about Yahs, check out this thread: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/158385.aspx - toward the bottom is a post about the 4 yahs that were built for use in Mexico. Here’s a link to a picture - http://www.gearedsteam.com/shay/images/octaviano_b_cabrera_co_4.jpg
- James