Re: Shay #12 running on C&TS

Ed "Oilcan" Kelley Wrote:
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> hwcwsl Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > BTW, is Shay 12 superheated?
>
> Superheated as-built, converted to piston valves
> on the Swayne (from Willamette), soaked by the
> first WS&CV - then converted back to superheat in
> Glen Bell days. IIRC, the elements had to be
> fished out of the creekbed where Cottle's guys saw
> it fit to dispose of them.
>
> Short answer: yes.
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Ed:

Thanks!

I thought I was fairly familiar with the West Side (since 1959) and some of its management and financial background but I never heard that story before from anyone! In 2002, I spent 4 days with the late Keith Parker and his father exploring the WS country. Keith had worked for Cottle, even fired, and was full of stories about his days there. Not all good but he never said a word about the 12's superheater.

It was my understanding that Cottle was financed by Fiberboard Corp. which owned both the West Side and the nearby Pickering Lumber Co. at the time. At a guess, perhaps Fiberboard saw no reason to advance funds to repair 12's superheater, since the 12 was only going to be used for tourist trains (it was Cottle's main engine), so Cottle's answer was to dump the elements in Turnback Creek. A lot of stuff went into that creek over time.

Best regards, Hart Corbett