I agree with Victor though I have never seen a Shay in action I have seen plenty of videos and I think all the noise and pounding action of the cylinders and gears appeals to the kid in all of us. One of my favorite videos is from Cass and their geared loco “race” all that heavy black sooty smoke pumping from the stacks and the clatter is just amazing.
The shay is certainly a magical beast that can capture the imagination of kids young and old. Much like a tamed dragon would.
Bachmann has done a great job with the Shay both 2 and 3 truck, the Heisler and the Climax and keeping them within reach price wise for the average model Railroader. Wish I could justify a 3 truck they are now at bargain prices. Now if they would only build a large scale “T” tank like I have seen in the ON30 scale that would round out the collection nicely. How about a Willamette ?
keep sharing your Shay stories.
Todd
I got one for my railroad as well, even though I’m modelling standard gauge. I’d originally planned on just ignoring the scale difference, but when the 2-truck shay stand almost as tall as the double-stack container train its pulling, it just kinda puts one off. So its been in the shop indefinitely till I decide on how to convert it to a closer representation of standard gauge or it can be sold off.
I REALLY wish someone would release a plastic affordable standard gauge version, it would be nice to have a three-trucker backing slowly into the station with a large cut of loaded stone hoppers to interchange with mainline as a thru-freight blasts past with a mallet or the executive passenger train thunders past with a streamlined heavyweight berkshire on the point with the company varnish.
I’ve always been fascinated with Shays, probably just because they are so different.
I picked up a 3 truck shay on Ebay new in the box for a steal. It was my second large scale train, (an Annie was my first) and is what sent me into 1:20.3.
It’s just great to look at, so much action, and sturdy as well.
I like the look of the open cab two cylinder shay. I got a excess 3 cyl from Dave and some trucks and made my own, cutting out one cylinder, that I made a one cylinder shay from, just for grins. Here’s the two.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/gunjeep444/_forumfiles/2ShayPnta.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/gunjeep444/_forumfiles/2ShayPntb.JPG)
That is pretty cool Jerry. It looks like a real home made back woods custom use what we have to get the job done Shay . Nice.
Jerry, that is a beauty!
Thanks, I toned down the rust a bit after these shots. I think there are some pix about the build on my web site.