Oregon Lumber Co. Shay #101

In 1907, the Oregon Lumber Co. owners of the Sumpter Valley Ry. bought two new 24 ton Shay locomotives. Oddly, they came lettered for Sumpter Valley Ry., but were immediately put to work on the logging spurs of the parent company. Later on, they were re-lettered for the Oregon Lumber Co. Like so many engines in logging service, they received numerous modification to increase their utility and sometimes changes due to wrecks they were in. Here is #101 as it looked in 1937 on the Middle Fork of the John Day River. Among the modifications, are the enormous pilot beam supporting the gypsy winch for loading logs. We can also see that a fire hose reel has been added up on the cab roof. #102 started out looking identical, and had similar modifications for utility. But, #102 received a new cab after a serious wreck which was constructed a little differently than the original providing historians with a spotting feature. Back to our engine in the photo #101, after a long service life, she was finally retired in 1941 and scrapped. The scan is from the SVRR Archive.