RECENT FINDINGS: SHAY PART IN THE WOODS
Recently, I spent a pleasant afternoon walking one of the old grades of the Saginaw Southern. Occasionally, the monsoon rains will reveal objects left along the lines. On this particular day, I found various bits and pieces of iron, such as a section of rail, a spike or two and an abundance of ties. As per my usual practice, I take pictures, "ooh and aah" at the items, and then discreetly rebury the artifacts. This ensures that future generations will be able to document the far-flung spurs of the Saginaw. It also complies with current Federal Law, where such items are protected.
On this day, I uncovered a unique piece of iron.
This particular item is about the length of a water bottle, weighing about five pounds. As can be seen in the photograph, two holes are located on the shaft, and there is a groove on the opposite side. At the bottom, the curved area is machined and slotted, usually indicating a bearing surface.
In Williams, Arizona, a Shay, manufactured at a later date, is on display near the railroad station.
This photograph shows the steam cylinders of the Shay. The cylinders are connected by a series of shafts to the main crankshaft, at the bottom of the photo.
This is a close-up view of the artifact's original location on the crankshaft. Note the two bolts at the top, and the circular feature which is connected to a bearing on the crankshaft. On the artifact, the two bolts located on each side were sheared off, probably due to excessive torque. This would result in the engine losing power.
Another view of the part on the crankshaft. Shays were built to take abuse; their work environment was under the most extreme conditions. As such, when a part broke, they were designed to be easily replaced in the field. The bolts would be removed, a new part installed, and the Shay was back to work. This interesting design feature showed forethought and knowledge of the working conditions: if the entire drive shaft was one piece, then a significant amount of time would need to be spent replacing the part, not to mention the cost of one complete casting. The latter Shay, used as the example, had some design changes, such as a reinforced shaft. However, the basic design remained the same. This was in part due to the patented design; you can build a larger engine, but the basic design remains the same.
Appears to be 2 Truck Shay #556, and a second unidentified Shay. Both working the line in Barney Flats area, circa 1900. This would be on the original Saginaw Southern. Courtesy National Archives, neg. 48-RST-4C-2
One of these Shays left a small part of themselves in the woods. Imagine finding such an artifact after some 120 years hidden in the woods. This is what makes walking in the woods, following the old grades, so interesting.
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