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Logging railroads were typically steep with grades that would exceed three and six percent sometimes. The locomotives in those days had to be able to climb these steep grades, and negotiate tight turns that were typical of the logging railroads and spurs. For this job, there were a few different types of locomotives designed and built to meet this need. The geared engine was developed to maximize tractive effort to the drive wheels of the locomotive, through reductive gearing. This enabled the locomotive to pull heavy loads, as well as steep grades. The steam cylinders would drive a shaft that was then attached to a drive line and either geared to the axel or the wheels of the locomotive. The four most common where the Shay, Willamette, Climax and the Heisler. Probably the favorite and most common was the Shay and very close to the same design, the Willamette.
The Shay locomotive, introduced in 1882 by Lima machine company, quickly became the preferred logging engine at the time. The Willamette was built toward the end of the 1920's by Willamette Iron & Steel Works in Portland, Oregon. It incorporated a number of design changes and improvements that made maintenance and operation more efficient, as well as being a local shop for the Northwest.
No.
22 Sauk River Lumber Co.
D. Kinsey photo, from a
logging photo calendar.
specifications for this loco at shay locomotives.com
Shay #3282
The Climax came into production in 1888. It's two cylinders, on either side of the boiler, were angled to turn a drive shaft that in turn was coupled to a central shaft that was applied to the drive wheels of the locomotive. The Heisler came out in 1894 and had it's two cylinders angled inward to a drive shaft that powered one axel front and rear. The other axle's were driven by side rods attached to the outside of the wheels.
No.
2 Willamette, Rayonier logging Co.
E. Bland - J. Labbe collection
The No. 2 is owned by Jim Gertz and is
kept at Port Angeles, WA
The geared locomotive for logging was the work horse of the logging railroads, able to climb steep grades, negotiate tight track and pull heavy loads. Of the rod engines used in logging operations, there were a few designs that utilized the weight of water over the boiler which eliminated the tender behind the engine. The saddle tank and side tank design provided more weight on the drivers, thus increasing the tractive effort of the engine. The Mallet was another improvement to the rod engine that featured two sets of cylinders. Steam was used in the rear set of cylinders, then piped to the forward set, thus using the steam twice and conserving fuel and water.
No. 6 Climax, can anyone identify the photographer or outfit? (Alan Johnson's postcard collection)
No. 10 Kalamath & Hoppow valley R.R. Lee Johnson collection
No. 5 saddle tank rod engine, Hammond Lumber Co. 1915 (may be from J. Labbe collection?)
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