Some pics I took at work today.

Taking the "tires" off our 90 ton Shay steam engine, once re-profiled in our wheel lathe, they will be replaced and the engine reassembled, hopefully in time for running season 2012!
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Cass WVa








We're also re-flueing our 1905 80 ton Shay 5, making new line shaft bearings for the 11 and the Big Six (1945, 150 ton) our other engines are only in need of general maintenance and the yearly fed boiler inspection. 80 ton Shay #2 is still undergoing a boiler rebuild and wont be running for at least another year or two.
Cass Scenic Railroad

thats about as manly as it gets

Wow those are some great pics! Sounds like a great job you've got there.

My job sucks......

I do love my job, sometimes it just hits me; They PAY me to do this!!!
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CSRR #2 Backin' down after helping push the Bald Knob train up the hill.

Some other pics;



My SWMBO and me, in Shay #5 (1905 80 ton class C)

That rocks man! It is great to find something you love and trick someone into paying you to do it.

Very cool. One of those pics just became my computer wallpaper.

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing...

All thats missing is an ice box car full of beer

Seriously, thats just pure awesomeness!

The only way our job could be better would be if they allowed us to drink beer on the job. The cab of the 5 gets up to 130-140f in the summer, and there's no automatic stoker either, it's all hand shoveled coal.

I take that back, it's probably a very good thing they don't allow Beer on the job, that wouldn't end well... I spent a night in the hospital summer '09 from dehydration and heat exhaustion.

Very cool!!! What are those tires made out of?

cravej said:

Very cool!!! What are those tires made out of?

Click to expand...

It's a wear resistant steel alloy, contains manganese and chromium among other stuff.

Would you please explain the burning part? I'm not following what's going on in the first few pics. Is there some sort of rubber liner on the wheels?

Awesome pics!!!

passedpawn said:

Would you please explain the burning part? I'm not following what's going on in the first few pics. Is there some sort of rubber liner on the wheels?

Click to expand...

I'm guessing it is to get the metal to expand enough that they can knock them loose with a sledge hammer.

frickin Wow

That lathe is huge!

Awesome pictures man, where are you guys at? I'd love to go out there and check it out some time. By the way, I have a Casey's Cannonball in my carboy right now

The snow shot would be an awesome postcard for Christmas!

Thanks for the photos... keep 'em coming!

Man I was going to post pics from my work today and you stole my thunder! I suppose these are better than the 4 beige cubical walls I was going to show.

Seriously, great pics Ottis!

I love it. A couple years ago we took a family vacation to Durango, Co. We rode that old steam train. It was great. My youngest boy really loved it.

Steam engines are well before my time but have been a fascination of mine as long as I can remember, you sir have my dream job!

I recall getting word many years ago that an old steamer was heading to perminant display at a railway museum. They decided to go in style to that museum, under full power and as fast as she would go, I can still remember the awe I felt as it thundered past me and my father on its final journey, belching steam with whistles blaring.

I am glad people like you are keeping these old beasts alive and running, I would hate to have my little son miss out on some of the wonder I felt as a boy.

Sweet pictures. Looks like a lot of fun.

Yes, they're shrunk fit onto the hubs. If you're ever around steam engines you may notice that there are "wheel wetters" pouring water onto the wheels as they go. This is to keep the "tires" from heating up due to breaking and friction in the turns. The geared Shay, Climax and Heisler steam engines were made to operate on VERY steep grades (compared to normal trains) Most railroads consider 3% grade to be steep, Shay engines were built to pull their own weight up an 11% grade. Example; a 80 ton Shay can pull an 80 ton load up a grade raising 11 feet for every 100 feet it moves forward. A few places on our railroad are about 9-10% grade.

A friend of mine was also taking pictures, he's a pro photographer and his pics are so much better then mine..






Scriptunas images --Walter Scriptunas II | SmugMug

I was unaware of the wheel wetters. I imagine it was an important job considering that there are no differentials on those machines so some way to introduce some slip was needed on the wheels to keep frictional heat at bay

Jesus, I thought I liked my job. I hate it now.

Seriously that is incredible.