Large Scale Central

Climax tenders?

General Discussion
#1

This weekend I picked up a terrific train book at a yard sale for a buck! It is Kinsey Photographer/ The Locomotive Portraits. The Photographer Darius Kinsey trekked into the backwoods between 1890-1940 to photograph logging locomotives and their crews. In the book there are dozens of shots of Heislers, Climaxs and Shays etc… and quotes from the men who ran them. Really cool.
My favorite quote so far, It was said of the Climax that you could scratch 2 lines in the dirt and the Climax would follow it"
Also that the Shay climbed a 14% grade and was said to be able to do 16%
Lately I have been running mostly diesels on my line while my geared locos rode the shelves but now I have a new found appreciation for them. Kinda getting back to the roots of why I have a garden RR in the first place.

What is interesting is in many of the photos of the Climax engines they have tenders. I have never seen this before. I wonder if it was common practise to have tenders on these? I assume it would be for water or could it be for fuel oil?
Also of interest is I read that the big ballon stacks so common on shays were only used during the summer due to the cinders starting fires. They were removed for the rest of the year because they affected the draft. I will keep mine on because it looks cool.

Interesting facts and photos. Was a tender behind a Climax that common?

#2

“Interesting facts and photos. Was a tender behind a Climax that common?”

Only if it was a 3 truck engine. One bunker was for fuel and one for water. There was a powered truck under each bunker. Same situation on a 3 truck Shay.

“Lately I have been running mostly diesels on my line while my geared locos rode the shelves but now I have a new found appreciation for them. Kinda getting back to the roots of why I have a garden RR in the first place.”

AHHHHH another lost sheep returns to the fold.

Have fun
Rick

#3

Geared Locos are always the most interesting! Also, they deal with rough trackage more better than the other kind!! And the Kinsey Book is the best!

Paul

#4

There are more photos here:

http://content.lib.washington.edu/kinseyweb/index.html

#5

I never seen a three truck version of a Climax. Got any pictures of one. It would seem they would be somewhat rare.

#6

What a difference a few years makes. You paid a buck at a yard sale last weekend, and I paid full retail 5 years ago.

Good for you!

#7

I may be a lost sheep but steam outline engines will always be my favorite. What is interesting is why I run diesels vs the steam and it is the same reason why the steam lost out to diesels years ago… maintenance and ease of operation. I always worry about my fancy geared locos derailing, picking up a stick in their “works” and doing damage plus I’m always thinking when was the last time I lubricated all those little bits and did I miss any??
My NW2 gets the first run of the day pulling a track cleaner and pushing the plow to clear leaves sticks, pine cones, occasional presents left on the main by the dogs and whatever else might get in the way and then it usually sticks around moving freight that gets left out on sidings. Sadly the steamers only come out when a special train is scheduled.
Went back to the book and sure enough I can see a shaft going back to that third truck on the Climax. a really cool loco and book.
The guy at the yard sale (estate sale) had a pile of train books all for a buck a piece. I should have bought a few more but I was thinking about my already sagging book shelf. I did buy another that appealed to me and when I got it home I found out I already had it so I gave it to a fellow train nut. I peeked in the backyard jsut in case but no. I guess the guy was just into reading about trains.
Todd

#8

Mt. Rainer Scenic has one.
http://www.mrsr.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=464

You want to see something, I have some pics of 4 Truck shay around here somewhere.

#9

Thanks John, thats a neat looking loco.

#10

Probably more information than anybody want’s but here it is.

A little Climax information.

There were approximately 1,035 Climax locomotives ever built. These were divided into 3 groups; The Class A, the Class B and the Class C. The Class A, the original Climax is generally seen as a flat platform with two trucks and a full roof and partial cab. The little round wood water tank is very distinctive. The Class B is the one we are all most familiar with it is the two truck version as produced by Bachmann in 1:20 scale. The Class C is the 3 truck version of the Class B. The Class B stopped at 60 tons and the Class C picked it up at 70 tons and was also available in 80, 90, and 100 ton versions.

Of the 1035 Climax’s built there is only confirmed shop numbers for about 56% of them. Based on that 56%; 18 % were Class A’s, 65% were Class B’s and 17% were Class C’s. About 60% of total production were standard gauge (56 ½ inch) and about 28% were 3 foot narrow gauge. Now understand through all the production years (1888—1930’s) they built Climax locomotives in gauges ranging from 24 inch to eight foot.

Only one Class C locomotive was ever built in 3 foot narrow gauge, that was construction # 167 built in 1897. Construction number 167 was also the very first Class C locomotive built by Climax.

A little history on CN #167.

Built as a Class C of 36 in gauge and 50 ton capacity (remember this was very early for weight classing) in December 1897 for the Colorado & Northwestern Railway as their #2, Boulder, CO. In 1898 she went to the Pacific Contract Co as their #8 in Skagway, Alaska. In 1901 she was transferred to the White Pass & Yukon as their #8 and later renumbered to 58, this was also in Skagway. In June of 1902 she was sold to a locomotive dealer (W. D. Hofius) in Seattle WA. She was then sold to White Star Lumber Co in Whites WA and went from there to Maytown Lumber in Maytown, WA in 1903. These last two companies may have been connected. The final disposition of this locomotive is unknown but is presumed scrapped before 1910.

For the definitive look at the Climax Locomotive and the manufacturing company get a copy of the book “THE CLIMAX LOCOMOTIVE” by; Thompson, Dunn, and Hauff OSO Publishing, 2002. They were about 80 bucks back then, if you can find a copy for under 200 now I would grab it.

I like Climax Locomotives, by the way.
Rick

#11

Climax tenders? Yep.

There are Shays with tenders too.

I’ve even heard of chicken tenders. :wink:

#12

Interesting history Rick. I am a fan of the Climax too. There is something about it that attracts me to it something like how we root for the underdog in a competition. I have several engines both large and small and the Climax is somewhere in the middle size wise but when I look at it, it reminds me of the little engine that could.
After seeing one with a tender (powered) now I want to get a tender for mine to give it the appearance of a third truck.
Climax tender
Shay tender
Chicken tender
and… Elvis Love me tender

Thank you verry much

#13

Three truck Heisler’s, too.

Dennis Thompson lives near us and is a member of our club.
He sold a few of his other logging books at a meeting recently, but is out
of “The Climax Locomotive”. It’s only available aftermarket now.

#14

Some logging locomotives did pull non powered tenders. Especially if they traveled far into the woods where there was no water supply. The climax and shay locomotives, not sure about the Heisler, were also able to draft there own water so if there was a creek or pond they could get water there.

Terry

#15

One of the guys in our little band of “Geezers” has a 3 truck Climax that he built. Maybe John or I can get him to take a picture and post it. Ok Mike Williams where are you. Yes like John said there were 3 truck Heisler’s. In fact the Ohio Match Company that operated in our local area had one. It’s now on display down in Lewiston, Idaho. Here are a couple of pictures I have.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/cncrr/_forumfiles/IMG_5568_1_1.JPG)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/cncrr/_forumfiles/IMG_5569_1_1.JPG)

#16

Would they be classify as a. 0-4-4-4-0 ?

#17

Dave;

I don’t think the Wyth system nomanclature was ever applied to geared steamers. I’ve normally seen them counted by “trucks,” i.e. power units, hence a “two-truck Climax” or a “three-truck” Shay and so forth. I could be wrong, but no worries. Someone else will probably chime in and correct things if I am. :stuck_out_tongue:

Best,
David Meashey

#18

Dave 2 you are correct! Paul