Eric Ross Wrote:
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> Cool story Stathi! Sounds like the Shay was indeed
> the best all-arounder, given that it was the most
> popular type by sales. I must be one of the few
> Pickering Lumber Corp. Pacific Coast Shay No. 11
> fanboys out there. That Powell 3-chime she wore in
> the ‘90s is my all-time favorite. I knew you
> worked on the little saddle-tank 0-4-0 No. 2, but
> I didn’t know you worked at MRSR for so long.
> Well, I guess you learn something new everyday!
FWIW, Pickering Shay 11 got approximately half the mileage nearly every year that she & 90-3 Shay 33 worked together.
This disparity was largely due to her lower gearing than Pickerings 80-3 and 90-3 Shays. There were 2 consecutive
years in the late 40's that 90-3 Shay 33 got in excess of 20,000 miles. Let that sink in. The 11 was a real puller for it's
size, but it came at a cost and was not liked by crews. That all-weather cab was fine for the rain forests of WA, but not
for the 100 degree ambient temps of the Pickering. This info comes from Pickering records and interviews from a few
that worked for the railroad. I also had a few years experience with the engine at Rio Vista, CA both firing and running. Hot days.
Pickering's 3 larger 3T Heislers (1, 5 & 10) were liked by crews and fit well for the line, but lack of Superheat caused higher fuel use
that was not missed by the auditors. A West Coast Special was looked at for just that reason, but too late in the game
to be considered for purchase. Too bad.
Then there stands the noble Climax. Great in the yard or pulling the landing, but a bear on the road as they never really did
solve the rough ride. Look at the trucks of the 10 at Mineral and you'll see the weld repairs from cracks. I rode
Climax 10 in 1967 and 1968 while still at work for Hillcrest & quickly understood how she got her nickname Kidney Kruncher.
She did take 27 loads and 1 empty to town one June afternoon and did this without a slip. Had to split the train in 2 cuts once
we got to Lake Cowichan and then have the local fire dept. give us a few hundred gallons of water so we'd get back safely to
Mesachie Lake.
