As mentioned Shay #169 was recovered from a creek near Coos Bay, OR. It was actually closer to Powers, OR. Scott Wickert of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad currently owns the locomotive and the restoration stalled about ten years ago when Scott began the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad in Tillamook.
I first met Scott in 1998 while I was a volunteer at Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and later moved to Tillamook to help start the OCSR. What I know of the locomotive is that Scott visited Henry Sorensen in 1996 or 1997 to see the remains of the engine. A friendship was formed and Henry sold the engine to Scott.
Check out the ShayLocomotives.com website for the ownership here.
Shay 169
As I understand the history sometime in the 1920s the engine was retired by Smith-Powers of Powers, OR and the engine was sent to an unused section of the railroad and abandoned. The spot was on a trestle that ran up a creek bed. Sometime prior to WWII the trestle decayed enough that the weight of the engine caused it to collapse and fall into the creek. When WWII came about the Coos Bay Lumber Co. donated the engine in the creek to the local High School for the scrap drive. Some of the locomotive was cut up. When it was then determined that hauling the metal out of the remote location was too difficult it was abandoned and another locomotive in town was given for the scrap drive.
After Henry acquired the locomotive he went back to Powers and removed what could be found. Scott and his dad visited the site after getting the Shay from Henry and with a metal detector retrieved more items.
Scott and his dad worked on the engine until OCSR became a priority in 2001 and 2002. Not much has been done since.
Some of the items completed include new trucks, frame and water tank. The Shay is currently in Centralia, WA at a private facility.
Hope this helps,
Aaron Zorko
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
The Heisler Locomotive - Best of Both Worlds, Gears and Rods
