THE TWO FOOTERS        

                    Issue12                                                                                             Jan/Feb 2004

The B&W crew can’t wait for the snow to be gone. On January 31, we pulled the work train out not to go for a ride, but to arrange some of the equipment in the shops. Needless to say, engine #4 is not a snowplow and it had some trouble pushing through 1 foot of snow.

Our plans for the winter are:

Install 170 psi air compressor
Prepare the Shay for painting
Re-piping Otto and installing new injectors
Rebuilding the rear-end of the Backhoe

The highlight of 2003 on Foster Brook and State Line Railroad was the addition of Lima Shay serial number 3118 (FB & SL #12) in May.

Lima Locomotive Works, Inc. built Shay 3118, in May 1920. This being one of a total of 40 two-foot gauge Shays constructed by Lima, and one of the only two known surviving two foot gauge Shays built by Lima. Shay 3118 was built for Good Roads Construction Company, which used the Shay in a rock quarry in Leachville, Arkansas, to haul the rock from the quarry to the crusher. In 1925, Colbert Lime Rock Asphalt Company purchased Shay 3118 and operated it in Cherokee, Alabama. Colbert Lime Rock Asphalt Company along with Shay 3118 was purchased by Birmingham Slag Company, which operated it until it was abandoned in the woods in 1933.

In 1968, Robert L. Johnson found the Shay and then sold it to Marc Lamoreaux of Waterville, Kansas, in 1970. Marc spent the next six years restoring Shay 3118. Marc operated the Shay on the High Country Railroad in Golden, Colorado, from 1976 until 1986, occasionally on weekends and holidays. In 1986, Marc moved the locomotive to Charles Lamoreaux’s (Marc’s son) house in Black Forest, Colorado, where it was operated for family and friends on occasion on a short section of track.

In May of 2003, the Foster Brook and State Line shop crew went to Black Forest, Colorado, to prepare the locomotive for the trip to Bradford. The crew enclosed the cab with plywood, removed the bright parts, loaded the locomotive on the truck and sent it on its way to Bradford. Photo (#1) shows the Shay being loaded in Black Forest, Colorado.

The trip from Colorado went great, passing through Ohio where Shay 3118 was built 83 years earlier, to the month and almost to the day. Photo (#2) of the locomotive on the truck is just entering Pennsylvania from New York. After arriving in Bradford, the Shay was promptly unloaded and moved into the Foster Brook and State Line’s shop. The locomotive was then inspected, minor work completed, tested, and was readied for the painting. Once the painting was completed and had time to cure, the Teaberry & Southern Railroad Shop Crew made a trip to Bradford to paint the number 12 and Foster Brook and State Line on the Shay. While the lettering was being applied, the other members of both shop crews mounted the new bell, whistle, and oil headlamp on the locomotive. The locomotive was now ready for its first run in Pennsylvania. Photo (#3) shows number 12 just out-shopped.

The first run was a great success. It went so well that the fire was banked and was run the next day again. Number 12 proved to be a good steamer with lots of power.

Number 12 was fired up in late August for family and friends. T & S RR 103 was on loan and was used as an excursion car for that weekend. Once again, the Shay performed great with only some minor problems with the steam brake. Prior to the next run, a front numberplate was mounted that the T & S had made. The fall foliage run was made in October with the locomotive and steam brake operating great. Number 12 pulled an excursion (flat) car that was built by the Foster Book and State Line shop and L. Miller Welding.

Now that winter was fast approaching, the effort on the Foster Brook and State Line moved to track laying. An additional 300 feet was spiked down and a crossing installed. A tractor-trailer load of rail and ties arrived and was unloaded just prior to the first major snowfall.

In closing, one last run was made before the snow got too deep. Photo (#4) shows number 12 at switchback #1.

For construction specifications on number 12 and similar information on other Shay locomotives, please visit Shay Locomotives.com for a wonderful web-site and full Shay database. www.shaylocomotives.com

The first loop of the "Twin Meadow Railroad" has been completed and a dedication party was planned for July 8^th. Over eight inches of rain fell in the week leading up to that day, so the event was rescheduled for September. More on this milestone in a future article…

Does anyone know who got the 4-ton locomotive (the one with the Buda engine) from Ms. Bukky in Madison, Ohio? She mentioned a young couple from Pennsylvania. There was also a 10-ton Whitcomb which I saved from the scrapper’s torch.

Both locomotives came from the Cleveland waste water treatment plant and were 2 foot gauge. The Whitcomb is too heavy for my rail. It is complete, but rough, and is For Sale! I would also be interested in trading it for a 4 ton or less locomotive.

I also have four bridge support columns, 18" x 18" x 1" Flat Base, 2-8" C-Channels connected with 10" criss-cross riveted braces, 12 ft. usable length. They weigh approximately 1500 pounds each and are For Sale or Trade.
 

Late this fall, I started track construction in the woods.  In one day I laid 55 feet of track.  The track comprised of three sections.  The first section was 15 feet and had 4x4 timbers for cross ties.  They were specially prepared with threaded studs and pinned in place so they do not pull out.  On one of my machines, I made track clips by punching holes and shearing them to size in a manner of minutes.  The other sections were curved track and had steel ties.  This area of my property, the topography is high, and I could lay directly to the ground.  The whole area of the woods is adapted to the growth of white oaks and shag bark hickories.  I am careful not to disturb the soil.  So I have a lot of trestles and areas built up of Wisconsin glacial stones.  One old trestle was recently extended with 6x6 timbers, and another pair of timbers will be purchased.  What will be created is a berm of about 42 feet.  The timbers will lay lengthwise with the rails laid on top.  Specially made threaded studs will hold the rails down and use of clips and nuts also.  Timbers will be spaced with hefty rods.  The open space between the rails will allow for mine type dump cars to dump the loads between the rails.  Much of the fill will be brought in from the surrounding farm fields.

All of the work is done by me alone with a minimum of construction equipment.  15 feet of track is then left for a ceremony and party.
 

I found this bridge while working on a large septic system for the town of Bridgeton. It was part of the Bridgeton & Harrison Railroad. The town owned the bridge, I asked if they were interested in selling it and we agreed on a price. This bridge is 9’ 6" wide and 55’ long with a beam height of 4’. Removal of the bridge took place in the fall of 2000, after being at this location for ninety plus years. I loaded it onto a flat bed trailer, and it was hauled to Parkman and has not been rebuilt as yet.

Rodgers Brothers Locomotive, Government # 557 EX purchased from Pennsylvania.
 

As our second year comes to a close, we would like to thank everyone for the articles and pictures that have been submitted. We still need more articles!

The Two Footers
534 Armory Road
St. Marys, PA 15857

tpbauer@alltel.net

or

tom@thetwofooters.com

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