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1906 Harbor Springs Michigan Narrow Gauge Photo-Neg on Ebay

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Wayne Laepple:
I've seen this photo published elsewhere, and if I recall correctly, this is a photo of Ephriam Shay's first geared locomotive, known as "Baby."

Keith Taylor:

--- Quote from: Wayne Laepple on February 09, 2010, 04:26:37 PM ---I've seen this photo published elsewhere, and if I recall correctly, this is a photo of Ephriam Shay's first geared locomotive, known as "Baby."

--- End quote ---
Hi Wayne, this is Ephraim Shay's "Hemlock Central No. 1" but it is not the first Shay. The first Shay was built by Ephraim Shay using a vertical boiler on a flat car, with steam engine parts built by Carnes, Agerter and Co. the predecessor firm that became the giant Lima Locomotive Works. The definitive book on the Shay locomotive, with a chapter on the Hemlock Central, is Mike Koch's "The Shay Locomotive." It's hard to believe that I bought my copy of that book...thirty nine years ago!
Keith

Stewart "Start" Rhine:
The line had the nickname "Hemlock Central"  and at one point had 3 home-built Shay locomotives.  The railroad was chartered by inventor Ephraim Shay and built to haul wood to the steam powered water works he owned at Harbor Springs.  The line opened in 1902 from Harbor Springs to Mill Race, a distance of 7 miles. There were a few extensions through the years.  It handled some vacation passengers during the Summer at 25 cents a trip.   It operated until 1911 when the lumber ran out.  The rails were removed in 1912.  

Regarding the photo ... The locomotive's cab roof appears to have the same lines as the Hinkley/Portland cab roofs.

Mike Fox:

--- Quote from: Bill Fortier on February 09, 2010, 09:34:57 AM ---What does that critter have for a frame? Is there just a single beam down the left side of the boiler?

--- End quote ---

Looks like the Frame is incorporated into the boiler. Talk about stress. The Shays wre never used on smooth track. I can imagine all the twisting the boiler was subject to.

Glenn Byron:
Hi All,  Found this great link for the Ephraim Shay life story.  Hope this works as I've not tried this before.  Glenn   http://www.shaylocomotives.com/shaypages/EphraimShay.htm                         

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