Large Scale Central

One of only five left

Prototypes
#1

Yessiree, only A FEW others running anywhere in the whole big wide world. The old side-winder shufflin’ Shays are still pretty common, at least, by comparison, the high-steppin’ and hoppity Climaxes less so, but the Heisler, the product of half-brain, half-genius and half sheer cussedness, well, there’s only A FEW left running [NOT THE FIVE AS I STATED IN THE TITLE TO THIS SCREED] in the entire universe to remind us what it was all about. The clonking-clanking of the double crankshaft, and metallic knocking sound of the enormous knuckle joints, the whining of the gears and the rhythmic glongglong of the out-of-sync side-rods - all these noises come together in a blend that can only say ‘Heisler’ to those who love old trains.

Earlier this week we were in Oregon, the day was blustery and drizzly - nothing new for July, then. We were driving along Highway 101 when even my deef old ears caught the sound of the whistle in the distance, as the former Curtiss Lumber Company #2 of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad clanked its way along the single line from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach. A couple of brave souls risked being blowed away or drownded - either was possible - in the open observation car as the train, backed up by a fine old green caboose, swayed and clanked its way west and north in the gloomy day.

I stopped first near the Three Graces - a trio of offshore rock formations in Tillamook Bay - catching it as it steamed by. Then not far from Hidden Lake on a straight stretch, and finally as it pulled in to its half-hour sojourn in Rockaway Beach, where I was invited up into the cab to get warm.

Here are the short movies recording an experience that most of us will never ever have as long as we have belly-buttons - a much-loved and near pristine Heisler in action.

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P7er844yV8

Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEdu-p8TC2k

Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsH5_Q1qxLk

Enjoy, and turn up the volume.

tac

#2

Thank you tac.
So very cool :smiley:
Ralph

#3

Nice video’s Tac. So you’re in the good old US of A visiting the Oregon coast hah. Head East to Spokane, Washington tomorrow Saturday, July 16th and come play trains. It’s our July meeting date with our annual BBQ. You’ll have lots of fun.

Chuck

#4

…:)…I like the heisler

#5

So, that would mean the five operational survivors are:

1.) That one …
2.) Clarks Trading Post, NH
3.) Cass
4.) Big Trees and Roaring Camp
5.) That one in Vermont… Pasumpsic?

#6

Great videos. THX tac.

#7

There’s one at Mt Ranier Scenic RR

#8

Of the geared engines, the Heisler has always been my favorite. My dad was a Shay man - if he could have persuaded my mother, we would have had a full size one in the back yard…

#9

Well, I have a whole bunch of Shays, electric and steam, all in prefect working order. My one Heisler lasted all of ten minutes before it caught afire, I was just too downhearted to repair it or to get it repaired. Funny enuff, it IS the Curtiss Lumber version as well.

tac - jet-lagged beyond belief

#10

tac
You’ve overshot the mark!
We’re here in Ottawa at the OVGRS “American Invasion” and miss Ig.
How could you deny Ig the opportunity to visit with us again?

Thanks for the videos.

The Passumpsic Railroad has a web page" http://www.passumpsicrailroad.com/
It is in Barnet, Vermont no matter what Google or Wikipedia says.
Here is an intersting link on the goings on at the Passumpsic: http://www.newenglandrailfan.com/apps/forums/topics/show/3495891-passumpsic-railroad-barrnet-vt-?page=last

#11

Don and all - me and ig are wishing you a great time in Nepean, and hoping to be allowed to make it for next year. Our grand-daughter, Georgina, had the bad timing to be born on 22 July, and life would be made just not worth living if we had to miss that occasion. I had a good long chat with Fred before we went to Oreygun, and explone it all to him.

Needless to say, the ig took us along to Orygun with him, and we spent a couple of days down with Dick and Helen in Port Orford, eating LMP and pizza, and visiting with Pat at Crazy’s.

Best to all there, from us here.

tac & the fambly ig

#12

Spacebar made me do it.

#13

Sweet!

#14

Hmmmm Surviving Steam Locos say there are nine, two class c and seven class b Heislers, and the one at Clarks ia listed as out of service, wonder when thismwas updated last?
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/survivorsdb.php?country=USA&by=whyte

#15

That would appear to be correct about the one at Clarks, Bart: http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=187942 … as of last September, anyway. And, I’d forgot about Mt Ranier and SVRy.

#16

The pedants, nit-pickers, general detractors and crap-in-hatters here will note that I have amended as much as I can of my original post to reflect the ever-growing number of Heisler locomotives that seem to be a’poppin’ out of the shrubbery at every turn.

It was once commented on, concerning the famous pre-war British racing car, the ERA, that although only 35 were built that there are nevertheless around 48 survivors.

It remains a FACT that I posted three consecutive short movies of a real-live clanking, hissing and steaming Heisler in action early last week, not simply a bunch of letters and glyphs in a dusty old historical document, but near enough for me to stand in the cab.

I suggest that the critics search this forum and find out when they LAST saw such posts on this here forum…

Just sayin’…

tac

#17

Im sorry…I didnt mean to appear to be picking nits, i was more pointing out that the Survivng Steam Locomotives site wasnt up to date, and just sorta discussing…I do sincerely apologize for coming off critical…and i do appreciate the stuff you post… (edit to correct creative spelling attempts…)

#18

Aw, Terry.
Don’t be so thin skinned. :slight_smile: :slight_smile:
I sincerely thot that the one at Mt Ranier was one of your five, but that’s a 90 ton 3 truck, (with the trailing truck disabled–a dummy, if you will.
At least is was last time I saw it running.)

#19

Terry,
I forwarded the email you sent me with the video links and got a lot of nice comments. The clinky, clanky sound in the second one was especially neat. Something you can’t just go out and hear (or see) much anymore.

#20

Dear nephew - TVM for that. Your Auntie Gaynor and I just missed getting a ride by ONE DARN MINUTE as we pulled into Garibaldi just in time to see the train passing the Coast guard station.

Huh.

You can guess who was MOST disappointed.

tac