Re: Geared Locomotive ride question

You may get some difference of opinion as to whether a Shay or Heisler has the better ride...I feel most 3T Shays offer a smoother ride than Heislers. But the Climax is a real kidney cruncher and I say that having spent several hundred hours on Hillcrest Lumber Co's. 10 and also a few on their smaller 9 as well as the former Pacific Lbr. Co. 38.
The crank on the Climax was inadequetely balanced and this resulted in a terrific bounce to the locomotive once any speed was reached. A careful look at Hillcrest 10 will show where the cast trucks have been welded a number of times to fix cracks caused by the hammering it got over the years. Hillcrest even tried added more counterweights and these were called "boxing gloves", but the 10 was and is, a poor riding locomotive. Much better suited as a yard engine.
Back to the Heisler, I have had a lot of time on 3 larger ones, Pickering's 5 and 10 as well as the 91 @ Mineral, WA. The Pickering 10 ran really nicely despite being well worn out then. We had one trip when running for water that had her going pretty fast and she was fine.
Shays have the advantage of the 3 cylinders having the crank throws 120 degrees apart and I feel that this may contribute a little to a smoother ride.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/2010 08:28PM by Tom Moungovan.