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PFM B2 SHAY

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  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 120 posts
PFM B2 SHAY
Posted by DR JIM FITE on Saturday, October 7, 2023 9:47 PM

Does anybody know what the prototype for the PFM B2 Shay was?

Lima Historical Society doesn't and said they never saw one like it with superheater pipe.  PFM wasn't one to produce fictional locomotives.

Thanks.. Jim  

  • Member since
    May 2019
  • 1,314 posts
Posted by BEAUSABRE on Sunday, October 8, 2023 2:46 PM

Picture would help....anyway, you can try paging through this Shay Images - A - Geared Steam Locomotive Works or this Shay Locomotive Search Header

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Northfield Center TWP, OH
  • 2,538 posts
Posted by dti406 on Monday, October 9, 2023 2:51 PM

From what I have read there is no known prototype for the B-2 Shay. They had to slide rule up a standard Shay to fit the available motors for propulsion.

By the way Bill Ryan from PFM would modify from prototype to have the model be more eye appealing. 

Rick Jesionowski 

Rule 1: This is my railroad.

Rule 2: I make the rules.

Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 120 posts
Posted by DR JIM FITE on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 2:08 PM

I've look at every Shay I can find on the web and it isn't there.  The superheater pipe is seen only on 3 truck PC Shays.  There is a very similar 2 truck but no superheater pipe and the trucks are wrong, more like a PC Shay's trucks

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 120 posts
Posted by DR JIM FITE on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 2:11 PM

I have never known PFM to have made a fictional loco model but cannot find a photo of the prototype for a B2 Shay.  None shows a superheater pipe on a 2 truck Shay, just on the 3 trucks.  There is a 2 truck Shay just like PFM's but it doesn't have a superheater pipe.  

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,654 posts
Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 7:49 AM

Remember that not all logging prototypes have pics as many were modified on site like a lot of logging steam.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 120 posts
Posted by DR JIM FITE on Saturday, June 15, 2024 11:54 PM

I've looked at every Shay photo I can find on the web.  I can find a very few similar 2 truck Shays with a superheater pipe, maybe 2.   But they don't have the correct trucks for the PFM Shay.  PFM catalogs never mentioned the prototype.

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