Impressive detailing highlights Atlas N scale Shay geared steam locomotive

An N scale model of a two-truck Shay, highlighted by a remarkable representation of the Shay’s side-mounted drive train that churns furiously as the locomotive moves down the track, has been released by Atlas. As with a real Shay, this model’s drive train is an intricate assembly of rotating universal joints and shafts with sleeve couplings that slide in and out as the trucks swivel to follow track curves.

History. Shays are the all-terrain vehicles of steam railroading, handling brutal grades, hairpin curves, and rough track with ease. The story of these remarkable machines began in the late 1870s, when lumberman Ephraim Shay combined a vertical steam boiler and a chain-driven power truck to create a small, sure-footed locomotive well-suited for his primitive track (Mr. Shay’s railroad had wooden rails).

Convinced of the merits of his engine, Shay approached the Lima Machine Works of Lima, Ohio, for further engineering help.

Lima devised an ingenious geared drive system, then began producing Shays in 1880. By the time production ceased in 1945, 2,771 two-, three-, and four-truck “Shay Patent” geared steam locomotives had been made.

Most Shays toiled in obscurity for logging and mining companies, where cheap track construction was common. With its flexible all-wheel-drive, the entire weight of the locomotive was available for traction.

Model construction. An operating Shay mechanism in N scale is a remarkable sight, even if this one is just for show and not for go. (This model uses a conventional internal worm drive and truck-mounted gear towers for propulsion.)

The external drive is fascinating, but its parts are extremely small and somewhat delicate. In examining the locomotive, I overextended one of the telescoping couplings, which promptly came apart. Later, the rear drive shaft separated itself from the piston crankshaft. Slipping these parts back together required a steady hand, tweezers, and a magnifier.

The model’s dimensions closely match Shay drawings published in the Model Railroader Cyclopedia: Vol. 1, Steam Locomotives (Kalmbach Publishing Co.). The die-cast metal body and chassis add needed heft to this stubby tank engine and have a pleasing level of cast-in detail. Separately applied details include a bell, hand grabs, and steam turbogenerator.

Its pulling power is equivalent to 23 free-rolling cars on straight and level track. At three volts our Shay delivers a silky 5.26 mph and it creeps along at just 1.3 mph. However, we also found that the ultra-slow speeds make this tiny engine ever more sensitive to track conditions – the cleaner the better!

All eight RP-25 contour chemically blackened wheels pick up electricity. There’s no provision for Digital Command Control and hardly any room to fit a decoder.

With solid performance and intricate detail, this Atlas Shay is an interesting model of an exceptional steam engine.

N scale Shay

Price: $199.95

Manufacturer
Atlas Model Railroad Co.
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlasrr.com

Description
Metal ready-to-run locomotive

Road Names
Merrill & Ring Lumber Co.,
Aloha Lumber Co., Crown
Williamette Paper Co.,
Pennsylvania Power & Light,
Southwestern Portland
Cement Co., Sugar Pine
Lumber Co., and painted but
unlettered

N scale Shay features

AccuMate magnetic knuckle
couplers mounted at the
correct height
Blackened RP-25 contour
nickel-silver wheels mounted
in gauge
Die-cast metal frame and boiler
Directional headlights
Drawbar pull: .96 ounce
Dual flywheel drive
Eight-wheel drive and electrical
power pickup
Engine weight: 2 ounces
Minimum radius: 9 3/4″
Moving drive shaft detail
Separately applied grab irons