Admit it -you know this one was designed by a lumberjack.

The true Shay was built by Lima in the USA however when the patents ran out then other companies began building their own versions of it. During the lifetime of this design there were so many variations that it -it sometimes seems impossible for anyone to find two alike!

The other builders of ‘Shay’ type geared locomotives were: 'The Willamette Company' and 'The Washington Iron Works'.

My "Shay" locomotive is based on the design from "The Washington Iron Works".

See Picture 1.

However , during its time with me it has under gone three incarnations and when time allows will undergo the fourth and hopefully final one...

See Picture 2. Initially using IP ENG budget chassis -test assembly photo

See Picture 3. Test assembly using IP ENG de luxe chassis

The current model is based on a hybrid of a Shay top with rod steam bogies -the original version came from Brazil

See Picture 4.

The model is the first to use my rigid baseplate to which I attach everything. The boiler is made from a spare (free) dishwasher attachment, the steam and sand domes are made from Kinder Surprise Eggs. The smoke stack is from the remains of glue cartridge. The plumbing is made from those allen keys that seem to come with all IKEA furniture...

Over passing years I have encrusted it with various white metal castings from "Garden Railway Specialists"