A Shay in its element. Deep woods, steep grades and sharp curves are the hallmarks of the kingdom of the Shay locomotive. With freight car-like articulating trucks and gearing for maximum power these engines could....and still can....go where no conventional steam or diesel engine can go. In this scene, we see Western Maryland Six, the largest Shay ever designed from scratch and the largest one still in existence at 162 tons. She's drifting downhill in this shot, handling one of the tightest corners on the Cass Scenic Railroad: the tail of the Upper Switchback.
For aficianados of geared steam engines, it's "almost heaven." Here are some scenes from the park's annual Railfan Weekends, as well as some private charters.
