Re: NML Shay 7 - ready to operate again!

"The #7 was one of the locomotives used on the McPhee branch of[f] the RGS, from Dolores to McPhee."
Thanks you Steve for the update of the status of the great proportioned Shay. I hope you don't mind my clarifying that the New Mexico Lumber Co. and not the RGS owned the 4.2-mile branch from Dolores to the mill at McPhee. Just one 'f' would fix your post.
The woman who ran the General Store at McPhee once said that the shinny engine always sat in front of the shop building and did not run to the woods.
In questioning her of the general size of the regular trains arriving at McPhee, she immediately said that the Shay once came in with 26 cars as they were clearing the mill yard when the mill was down. [This had to be in the summer of 1930]. She added the trains were not usually that large.
The engineer Mr. Green, who worked the line after the Shay departed, said the crews were fearful of using it as it was to heavy for the soft roadbed, and thought it would kill them in a roll over.
It was the last NG Shay built at Lima. Some used to say that Uintah #7 was the last NG Shay built but it has recently been discovered from the Service Department records that #7 was a rebuild on the frame of ex URR #3. Atchee shop was able to do nearly anything but did not capture the record book for building the last NG Shay.