Observations and Musings: Identifying a Mystery Shay

 Observations and Musings

A Mystery Shay is Revealed


After a short absence, I once again awakened this Blog from its blissful slumber, authoring new posts. There was some urgency in completing the updated engine roster, as the old list was outdated. I am thankful for all of the research by prior scholars who immeasurably helped in documenting this information. Combined with my recent research, I hope to have given them due credit for their prior work. 

I am also thankful for a significant milestone in the number of hits on this Blog. It is now becoming a reference point for research and information on the Saginaw and Manistee Lumber Company of Williams, Arizona. This is not to be confused with other logging railroads that used the same name in different formats, and in separate regions of the country. Thanks to all who have browsed these pages, and making this Blog what it is today. Hopefully, I will get a book published someday...



  Courtesy National Archives, neg. 48-RST-4C-2


  This is a well-known image of Saginaw Southern engines at work, south of Williams. The second engine is often listed as "Unidentified." I can now confidently state that the two engines are two-truck Shay #556, and Shay #212. Both working the line in Barney Flats area, circa 1900. In addition, two-truck Climax #327 was at work in those woods. Like the two Shays, it appears to have the same number as its builder's number.
This may seem to be a minor point; however, it took several years of sleuthing to uncover the second engine's identity. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

COUGAR PARK, HELL CANYON BRANCHLINE; BARNEY FLATS: Recent Findings and Research

Image
  COUGAR PARK, HELL CANYON BRANCHLINE; BARNEY FLATS Recent Findings and Research COPYRIGHT; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED (5/10/22)           The  spur starts at the intersection of FR3110 and Highway 73 (Perkinsville Road.) Satellite imaging shows the grade crossing Cougar Park, then entering Hell Canyon. This entire region is rugged, steep and challenging to traverse. Evidence indicates, from the numerous stump fields, that a centrally located spur might have existed in the Canyon.      Recent research, conducted in the field, and in the climate controlled archives at the Cline Library, NAU, have offered evidence that challenges my earlier view that a line existed within the confines of the canyon.     Field research, Forest Service maps, and satellite imaging confirms that a line did exist to the mouth of the Hell Canyon; it is a speculation as to how far it penetrated the area. Stump fields exist that tell a story of early logging methods, so some harvesting at an early date did take place.
Read more

THE SAGINAW AND MANISTEE LUMBER COMPANY MILL, WILLIAMS, ARIZONA 1893-1941 (Updated and Revised 7/2023)

Image
  THE SAGINAW AND MANISTEE LUMBER COMPANY MILL, WILLIAMS, ARIZONA  1893-1941   COPYRIGHT; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED (5/10/22) Updated and Revised 7/2023, including the Fire Department, The Roundhouse and Commissary                        An overview picture of Williams Township and the Mill, looking westward,                                circa 1920s. The town was situated on an East-West axis; the mill was on a more                          N or th-South axis. The mill site was just west of town.  (All Historic Photographs in this section, unless otherwise noted, are from the  Arizona Memory Project: Williams, Arizona Collection. A copy of the original scan is available at the Williams Historic Photo Project, located in Williams, Arizona.)   The year 1893 would be a pivotal time for the upstart community of Williams. Reports of tall stands of Ponderosa pine reached the desks of mid-west businessmen. Well-established and financially prosperous logging companies needed new sources of tim
Read more

SAGINAW AND MANISTEE FLAGSTAFF OPERATIONS: 1941-1952

Image
    SAGINAW AND MANISTEE FLAGSTAFF OPERATIONS: 1941-1952   On March 1, 1941, the Saginaw and Manistee leased the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company from manager Joe Dolan. The S&M had acquired vast timber holdings in the area of Mormon Lake; the lease of the AL&T allowed them to harvest these holdings.      The Saginaw extended the Howard Spring line an additional 14 miles to Allan Lake, located South of Mormon Lake.  The Allen Lake Line was essentially a steam engine powered, reasonably straight conveyor belt to and from the mill. With the exception of several short spurs and a "Y" near the southern end, the line was fed by trucks.   Mechanized logging had replaced the need to constantly relay spurs into the forest. A steady flow of quality timber was provided to the leased Flagstaff mill, and during WWII made a significant contribution to the war effort.     In October of 1944 the Saginaw and Manistee purchased its' first and only 2-6-6-2 articulated mallet locom
Read more