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The Shay locomotive was the best-known and most numerous type of Geared Steam Locomotive . They were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay , who can be fairly credited with the popularization of the concept of a ''geared steam locomotive''. Although the design of Ephraim Shay's early locomotives differed from later ones, there is a clear line of development that joins all Shays. , Felton, California ]] The majority of Shays were built by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio , although Shay patent locomotives were also built by the Michigan Iron Works in Cadillac, Michigan in small numbers, and some were even built by Baldwin Locomotive Works . Most Shay locomotives featured a regular locomotive boiler mounted conventionally, except for being offset to one side - generally to the engineer's left. On the other (conventionally, right) side were mounted two or three cylinders, vertically, driving a longitudinal driveshaft mounted at axle height. This connected via Universal Joint s and sliding joints to Bevel Gear s attached to the ends of the axles of swivelling trucks. In the Shay design, every driven axle was driven from the driveshaft, there were no siderods. Shay locomotives were often known as ''sidewinders'' or ''stemwinders'' on account of their side-mounted driveshafts. Most were built for use in the United States, but examples also ended up in Canada, Mexico, South America and both Australia and New Zealand, Japan, among others. One Shay has been reported being shipped to the Bilston Ironworks in England, although there is still some doubt whether it actually ran there. SIZES Shay locomotives were built in all sizes, from small ten-ton locomotives to giants weighing almost 200 tons. They were divided into four general classes:
Few Class D shays were built; they were no more powerful than Class C, but had a greater fuel and water capacity resulting in a better factor of adhesion. Two of the C Class Shays were built with 2 Cylinders. Four of the Shays were left handed, all built for the Octaviano B. Cabrera Co. SURVIVORS Approximately 3354 Shay locomotives were built; the first production example in 1878, the last for the Western Maryland Railway in 1945 . This last built Shay still exists on the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park ; one of the largest Shays built, this 162 ton Class C monster had only five years of service when it was retired and placed in the Baltimore & Ohio Museum . In 1981 it was removed from static display, in exchange for a smaller Shay and a Porter locomotive, and placed in service on the Cass Scenic Railroad - it has now served in tourist and enthusiast service for longer than it did for its original owners. It's still in practically brand new condition. EXTERNAL LINKS
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