Re: How hammered IS that locomotive ?

What you say is true. All of the former West side lumber locomotives show Scars of wrecks Rebuilding and modernization. All of these locomotives worked hard and it shows. Towards the end yes maintanace was deferred and the West side did what was neccasary to get the loads down the hill.
The W.S.L.Co. #3 Had a life before it ever came to Felton. It also was involved in a few missahps of her own. Just look at the exauhst pipes the dents are still there. The #3 was reboilered in 1939 then soon after was converted to standard gauge. All the W.S.L.Co shop crews did then was to rebuild a set of narrow gauge trucks using longer "standard gauge"axals and then extended the brake rigging to fit.
It Is also true about the #7 it did go for a swim in the mill pond. When she was fished out of the drink, her cast iron engine bed was severly cracked and broken. A patch was applied that is still to be seen today. The #7 Was tried when it first arrived it at Felton in 1986 by 1989 it went out of service for a major overhaul. This shay was rebuilt with about $600.000 put into it . the #7 was back in service in 1998.
As for the #12 yes it has a piston valve conversion. This conversion was done years ago by the master mechanic of the Swayne Lumber Co. and yes it has was not without problems. Over the years the G.L.R. shop forces has improved the piston valves and the performance of the #12. Currently the #12 is one of the regular assigned engines on the loop and has done very well this season. This shay still does has a reputation for being a shop queen though.
Roaring Camp is a very extreme railroad. By its very nature it will and does consume its
rolling stock and locomotives. Breakdowns will and do happen that is just a fact of life. Thanks to the hard work of the shop crews, repairs will be made and the engines will run another day . All of these tourist lines reguire a great deal of professional skills and maintnance to keep all of these "hammered" locomotives running into the 21 century no matter who is in the "shops"doing the work.
Phil Reader.
engineer /cheif mechanic.
G.L.R.
formerly with R.C.&B.T.N.G.R.R.