Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

THE SHAY NO. 2

Pacific Coast Shay

Shay #2, a Pacific Coast Shay, was constructed in July of 1928 for the Mayo Lumber Company of Paldi, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. A Pacific Coast Shay is a souped-up model of the class C-70 3 truck Shay. The Pacific Coast features superheat, a firebox that is 13 inches longer, lower gear ratio, steel cab, cast steel trucks, and steel girder frame (seen below). A feature of the steel girder frame is the large opening for exposing staybolts.

Also, the cylinders were designed so they attached only to the locomotive frame, rather than to the boiler shell as in other Shays. This allowed for easier access and maintenance. #2 is the only Shay of it’s kind in the east. Shay #2, originally a wood burner, spent its working commercial life with four companies in British Columbia including Lake Logging Company, Cowichan Lake B.C. and Western Forest Industries, Honeymoon Bay, B.C. Later converted to burn oil then rebuilt to burn bituminous coal at Cass, #2 is the only known Shay to have used all three types of fuel. The locomotive ended its career switching cars on Vancouver docks in 1970, making it one of the last commercially-used Shays.

a train on a track with smoke coming out of it
a train traveling through a lush green hillside

Builders Information

 Built:

7-26-1928

 Class:

PC-13

 Trucks:

3

 Tractive Effort:

38,143 Lbs.

 Maximum Speed:

17.8 mph

 Wheel Diameter:

36″

 Boiler Pressure:

200 lbs.

 Empty Weight:

98 tons

 Gauge:

Standard

 Fuel:

Coal (originally wood)

 Fuel Capacity:

5 tons

 Water Capacity:

3,000 gal.