I am starting a new layout and would like to add a Logging operation. I have been looking at buying a Shay for some time now but with all the negetave things that I have read I am afraid to make the investment. I looked at one in the LHS a couple weeks and it seemed to run very jerkey. Is this normal or is this one of the many problems.
C & O Steam Talk me out of buying a Shay!
Talk me out of buying a Shay!
Now, why would we want to do that?
I'm assuming you're looking at a Spectrum. I love mine, and would encourage others to buy too.
-Morgan
C & O Steamseemed to run very jerkey.
Don't buy that one.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
That can be a tough call. Some Shay's have had a jerky motion because of a cracked plastic gear for a truck. NWSL has replacement steel gears. Yes, I know what you are going to say.
Bachmann does have a replacement policy. Again, I know what you are going to say.
A couple people have found there is slop in the drive train which shows up going down an incline.
Some have had no issues.
Good luck. It is your call.
Rich
You can check with the Bachmann forums but I have seen much the same discussion there.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I have a small two truck PFM shay that is painted, lighted and tuned that needs a new home, pm me off site if your interested. The NWSL gears are the way to go on the Bachmann shay, but I have heard they are tedious to install. Mike
LHS mechanic and geniune train and antique garden tractor nut case!
DON'T! Buy a Climax instead.
No! Get a Heisler!
Somehow I think we are not helping.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I just use my trusty P2K Heritage USRA 0-6-0. A rusty ol' beast, it likes shoving logging cars around on rickety tracks and tight curves.
Yeah, like he said. Nothing says a logging operation HAS to have a geared locomotive.
Do you want the geared locomotive and are just using the logging operation as an excuse? If so that is a different story.
Did the C&O connect to any railroads that had geared locomotives? Did that railroad have a Shay?
Talk you out of it, you say? Not a chance. Who wouldn't want one of these unique little buggers?
Mine is a Spectrum and it does have a little too much play in the drive train that shows up on a 4 to 5 percent grade, but it's no big deal.
Jarrell
selectorI just use my trusty P2K Heritage USRA 0-6-0. A rusty ol' beast, it likes shoving logging cars around on rickety tracks and tight curves.
Crandell you crack me up
I didn't realize you were such a prankster !!
The Rivarossi Heisler goes for $169.00 at Bulldog Trains store on Ebay. They run like a swiss watch and are DCC ready .
The Bachmann Climax, if you can find one, will be overpriced, and they split gears too, the downside is there are NO parts to repair them. Bad idea on the Climax, send one in for warranty repair and they will send you a Shay as a replacement.
Micro-Mark is selling the Bachmann Shays for $74.00, buy some NWSL gears for 25.00 and you have a great shay for $100.00. The gears are not that bad to install, take your time and read the excellent instructions from NWSL.
That brass shay you were offered sounds like a good deal.
Your choices......
and Crandell, turn in your saw, you are not a logger.
I too have a shay I don't use. I run modern diesel but a year ago tried a few different options. The shay is about a year old with 2 hours on it. It's a spectrum 80 ton, 3 truck unit. I think it's tsunami sound. They're fun to watch with lots of gear action. Runs nice with original trucks but doesn't fit in with my layout so it's been in the box. PM me if interested in it.
Springfield PA
If I couldn't talk myself out of buying a Shay (twice!), how on Earth am I supposed to talk you out of it?
As the Preacher told Bart in Blazing Saddles, "You're on your own, son!"
-George
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."
Why not go for a "tenderized" Heisler?
PA&ERRIf I couldn't talk myself out of buying a Shay (twice!), how on Earth am I supposed to talk you out of it? As the Preacher told Bart in Blazing Saddles, "You're on your own, son!" -George
C & O Steam I am starting a new layout and would like to add a Logging operation. I have been looking at buying a Shay for some time now but with all the negetave things that I have read I am afraid to make the investment. I looked at one in the LHS a couple weeks and it seemed to run very jerkey. Is this normal or is this one of the many problems.
A good friend of mine has several Spectrum Shays, he has not had any trouble. They see lots of action as our round robin group operates his layout at least once a month. His are all DC and he uses Aristo Craft Train Engineer throttles on his layout. I am aware of the reported gear problems.
As for jerky operation, that sounds like a dud, pass on that one. Bachmann does have a reputation for letting a few duds get to customers, but they have a great replacement warranty policy. I would say, based on my what I have seen, and my own experiance with lots of other Spectrum steam locos, if you get a good one, you will be fine.
They are slow, just the the real thing but they do run smooth as a rule.
Sheldon
C & O SteamI am starting a new layout and would like to add a Logging operation. I have been looking at buying a Shay for some time now but with all the negetave things that I have read I am afraid to make the investment. I looked at one in the LHS a couple weeks and it seemed to run very jerkey. Is this normal or is this one of the many problems.
repeat in a monotonic tone...
I don't need a shay...I don't need a shay....they run too slow...they are old and rusty...never on time..
they sound like they are going 100 miles and hour but I can out run one...I dont need a shay...I don't need a shay...they can only pull logs...I mean dogs...I don't need a shay...it has a drive train but can't drive a train... I don't need a shay...when you reach your destination you need a shayve..I don't need a shay...full throttle it's still parked..I don't need a shay...
Texas Zepher Did the C&O connect to any railroads that had geared locomotives? Did that railroad have a Shay?
Well, it connected to lumber companies that had them. Mower Lumber (and it's predicessors) in Cass, West Virginia would be the best known example.
dinwitty repeat in a monotonic tone... I don't need a shay...I don't need a shay....they run too slow...they are old and rusty...never on time.. they sound like they are going 100 miles and hour but I can out run one...I dont need a shay...I don't need a shay...they can only pull logs...I mean dogs...I don't need a shay...it has a drive train but can't drive a train... I don't need a shay...when you reach your destination you need a shayve..I don't need a shay...full throttle it's still parked..I don't need a shay...
You want me to talk you out of buying a Shay? Sorry, no can do. You want one, you need one. Done deal.
Ooooohhh, you want me to talk you out of buying THAT Shay. Well, I would pass if I didn't want to deal with the warranty right off the bat. Wait for another one. Of course, just because it runs well when it arrives doesn't mean it will not do the same thing shortly after arrival. Then again maybe if it runs jerky there might be some incentive given buy the shop owner to sell you this one? Then warranty and good running Shay? Did that help to talk you out of it? Hm, still on your mind isn't it.
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Ok, that settles it....I don't want a Shay, I don't need a Shay and I am not going to buy a Shay....Well maybe another trip to the LHS just to see if they still have them in stock. I can always just look it won't hurt anything..............................
The Meadow River Lumber company at Rainelle, WV had both Shays and Heisler. They operated on the Nicholas, Fayette & Greenbrier. The yard at Rainelle was jointly owned by New York Central & Chesapeake & Ohio. The NF& G connected to the C & O at Meadow Creek, WV.
C & O SteamOk, that settles it....I don't want a Shay, I don't need a Shay and I am not going to buy a Shay....Well maybe another trip to the LHS just to see if they still have them in stock. I can always just look it won't hurt anything..............................
Your are going to buy.
Make the LHS aware of the issues with the Shay. Will the LHS give you a replacement if it does have the cracked gear? Consider the cost if you decide to replace the gears yourself.
With the jerky motion you should be able to get a better price. No doubt you saw it running on a level straight track so there must be some kind of issue with the loco.
Is it DCC ready or DCC equipped?
Some people have replaced the gears and have said it is a beautiful running loco now.
We hope to hear more.
C & O Steam The Meadow River Lumber company at Rainelle, WV had both Shays and Heisler. They operated on the Nicholas, Fayette & Greenbrier. The yard at Rainelle was jointly owned by New York Central & Chesapeake & Ohio. The NF& G connected to the C & O at Meadow Creek, WV.
All true but also the C&O had many shays
just go to the C&O Historical Society site and type in shay in the photo data base
http://www.cohs.org/cgi-bin/cohs_search.pl#
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
Just so the guys with the Bachmann Climaxes, know, NWSL is working up replacment parts to solve its ailments as well. Just be patient and dont send them back to Bachmann, you will get a shay in return as Bachmann has no parts and doesnt seem to be interested in solving the issues with thier products. Its a shame that such a company, makes the huge step to offer such trains to us, but then wont stand behind thier product. If you send them a Climax, you expect one in return, not a shay or other train. But the way thier warrenty is written, allows them to do this. I want to pick up a Bachmann Climax myself soon, to run along with my PFM Climax, but I am waiting to see what NWSL comes up with for repair parts. If anybody else wants a small brass shay, PM me. Not sure he wants to spend the $$ it takes to own this engine. Cheers and good luck! Mike
Email sent to you C&O
No, you can't have "my" Shay.
One thing about a Shay is it's only "interesting" on one side, since all the cylinders and such are on the right hand side of the boiler. One reason I went with a Climax is it has moving parts on both side so looks good coming and going. BTW I haven't really had any trouble with my Climax's running characteristics or anything like some people have described. It's pretty small so won't pull more than 7-8 cars on level ground but I won't be using it for trains of more than 3-4 cars anyway.
Of course, if you were modeling logging operations out here on the Pacific Coast in Washington or California, you could always forego the Shay and invest in a 2-6-6-2 tank logging Mallet, but since you're back east, I'd get a Shay.
Besides, they're neat.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
climaxpwr I have a small two truck PFM shay that is painted, lighted and tuned that needs a new home, pm me off site if your interested. The NWSL gears are the way to go on the Bachmann shay, but I have heard they are tedious to install. Mike
alco's forever!!!!! Majoring in HO scale Minorig in O scale:)