Monday, May 5, 2025

UPDATE: A MYSTERY SHAY IS REVEALED, PART I AND II

 A Mystery Shay is Revealed Part I


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 There was some urgency in completing the updated engine roster, as the old list was outdated.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. 

Mystery Shay, Part II 

    I like to browse the eBay listings for vintage images of Williams, Arizona, and anything related to the Saginaw. Searches may include old postcards or photographs that pop-up on a search for Saginaw and Manistee. 
    A rare gem was found on a listing by Taplines (Photos@Taplines.net - WWW. Taplines.net.) I have to give credit where credit is due. It was an image of Wilson Luther and Wilson #212 Shay and #6 Heisler. Shay #212 had an interesting history, having traveled to New Mexico and thence to the Saginaw on 9/22/1893 (this information, and a great deal more is documented on the reverse of the photograph I purchased from the seller.) 
The image is from the collection of Donald R. Hensley, Jr. 390 Hillcrest Ave- Waynesburg, PA 15370.




If you take a closer view of the two images, you can see the resemblance of between the Shay in the background of the first image, compared to the Shay, on the left, in the second image. 
Sometimes a remarkable piece of history can be found in the most common of items. 
    

Update

  I have been actively seeking out those hidden historical sites in the woods. Sometimes a hike in the woods ends up with no historical find...