The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., May 7, 1964, page 6
Includes a photograph titled:
THE LAST RUN - "Old Number Seven", last Shay logging locomotive in the
Pacific Northwest, made her final run at Klickitat last Saturday, May 2,
for the St. Regis Paper Company. Of all the steam locomotives that crashed
through the woods in the heyday of logging, the Shay was the loggers' favorite.
She could go anywhere tracks could be laid. Her geared underpinning gave
her the power to climb the side of the cliff where other locomotives could
not venture. St. Regis has replaced the Shay with diesel trucks to supply
its pine sawmill at Klickitat. But the Shay will always be remembered as
the symbol of the most colorful era in the logging industry.
LAST RUN OF OLD "NUMBER SEVEN" ENDS COLORFUL ERA IN LOGGING
Klickitat (May 2) A colorful era in logging history came
to an end here today when St. Regis Paper Company terminated operation of
its Shay locomotives - the last steam logging railroad in the Pacific Northwest.
"Old Number Seven" and it's 70-ton running mate, Number
Five, which have been hauling logs for the past quarter of a century from
timber lands near Mt. Adams to the J. Neils sawmill at Klickitat have been
replaced by diesel logging trucks.
At today's brief ceremonies, company officials, state
dignitaries and railroad executives paid their last respects by taking a
final ride behind the colorful old locomotive.
William H. Haselton, St. Regis vice president and Northwest
manager, sadly committed the 35-year-old Shays to history. He told the group
one Shay had been sold to a Midwest firm. The other will go on permanent
display - probably at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma.
Puffer Bellies
Steam railroad logging reached its peak of around the
turn of the century. Although there were other steam logging locomotives
in the woods, the Shay was always the loggers' favorite puffer belly.
It has geared underpinning which gives power to all the
right hand wheels on the locomotive and tender. It could climb grades and
switchbacks which other locomotives could not negotiate. As loggers followed
the timber up steep mountainsides, the old Shays chugged right along with
the fallers and buckers.
Speed was never a characteristic of the Shay. One old
logger drawled, "The Shay could do 13 miles an hour if the grade was with
her . . . maybe a little faster off the edge of the cliff."
Another old timber beast said, "The Shay sounds like
100 miles an hour and looks like hesitation mixed with uncertainty."
Last Shays
The Shay endured at Klickitat because of the unusual
terrain. St. Regis pine sawmill is located at the base of the rock-walled
Klickitat Canyon. The company's timber sources are on a plateau above the
canyon.
The Shay excelled in climbing the steep tortuous canyon
to collect a trainload of logs and ease them back down the cliff to the mill.
But new road construction finally made the Shays obsolete.
"Old Number Seven" was one of the most photographed
locomotives in the country. Thousands of railroad fans have visited Klickitat
to ride and photograph her.
The Shay's pictures have appeared in newspapers throughout
the country and in many magazines including the "Face of America" series
in the Saturday Evening Post.
Other railroad buffs have tape recorded her sounds as
she clawed up the steep railroad grades at Klickitat.
St. Regis has filmed in color and sound a 16 mm motion
picture of the Shay which will be available for public viewing.
Meanwhile, at Klickitat, old timers will miss the sound
of her whistle and bell echoing thru the canyon.
Those sounds were the symbol of a logging era which today
passed into history.
The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., May 7, 1964, page 1
Includes photograph
LOGGING ERA END FOR OLD SHAY ENGINE
A colorful era in logging history ended Saturday in
Klickitat, south-central Washington lumber town. St. Regis Paper Company
terminated operation of it's Shay locomotives - the last steam logging railroad
in the Pacific Northwest. "Old Number Seven" and it's 70-ton running mate,
Number Five, which have been hauling logs for the past quarter of a century
from timberlands near Mt. Adams to the pine sawmill of the company's J. Neils
Operations at Klickitat have been replaced by diesel logging trucks.
At Saturdays ceremonies, company officials, state dignitaries
and railroad executives paid their last respects by taking a final ride behind
the colorful old locomotive.
William R. Haselton, St. Regis vice president and Northwest
manager, sadly committed the 35-year-old Shays to history. He told the group
one Shay has been sold to a Midwest firm. The other will go on permanent
display - probably at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma.
Steam railroad logging reached its peak in that turbulent
and boisterous era about the turn of the century. Although there were other
steam logging locomotives in the woods, the Shay was always the loggers'
favorite. It was credited with doing more for the industry than any other
puffer belly.
It has geared underpinning which gives power to all the
right hand wheels on the locomotive and tender. It could grades and switchbacks
which other locomotives could not negotiate. As loggers followed the timber
up steep mountainsides, the old Shays chugged right along with the fallers
and buckers.
Speed was never a distinguishing characteristic of the
Shay. One old logger drawled, "The Shay could do 13 miles an hour if the
grade was with her . . . maybe a little faster off the edge of the cliff."
Another old timer beast said, "The Shay sounds like 100
miles an hour and looks like hesitation mixed with uncertainty."
The Shay endured at Klickitat because of the unusual
terrain. St. Regis' pine sawmill is located at the base of the rock-walled
Klickitat Canyon. The are on a plateau above the canyon. The Shays excelled
in climbing the steep tortuous canyon to collect a trainload of logs and
ease them back down the cliff to the mill. But new road construction finally
made the Shays obsolete.
"Old Number Seven" was one of the most photographed
locomotives in the country. Through the years of her operation, thousands
upon thousands of railroad fans have visited Klickitat to ride and photograph
her. The Shay's picture has appeared in newspapers throughout the country
and in many magazines including the "Face of America" series in the Saturday
Evening Post. Other railroad buffs have tape recorded her sounds as she clawed
up the steep railroad grades at Klickitat.
St. Regis has filmed in color and sound a 16 mm motion
picture of the Shay which will be available for public viewing later this
spring.
Meanwhile, at Klickitat, old timers will miss the sound
of her whistle and bell echoing thru the canyon. Those sounds were the symbol
of a logging era which today passed into history.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer