SHAY Steam Locomotive
Originally, the Japanese "Fujida Group" purchased one 13-ton, two-cylinder Shay steam locomotive from the Lima Company in the United States. This was the first steam locomotive running the Alishan Railway. Due to the limited financial resources, the "Fujida Group" had had no proper plan for the purchase of trains until the Office of the Taiwan Governor-General officially took over the operation. From 1910 to 1913, in order to carry out the construction work in the high mountain area, a total of eight 18-metric ton, two-cylinder steam Shay locomotives were purchased. In 1912, the 18-ton locomotive failed to climb the steep slope from Erwanping Station to Shenmu Station of the Alishan Railway. Therefore, a three-cylinder 28-ton steam locomotive was introduced. Between 1912 and 1918, a total of 12 locomotives of the type were purchased. After the 1920s, diesel locomotives were invented, and they cost less money to run than steam locomotives, and the Shay locomotives have gradually fallen into disuse. Even so, these more than 20 steam locomotives played a very important role in the most difficult pioneering history of the Alishan Forest Railway.
Features
- The Shay steam locomotive is designed by the American timber entrepreneur Ephraim Shay. The design of this "vertical cylinder" is more suitable for the curved track and the stop-and-go driving mode than the "reciprocating cylinder", so Shay was greatly welcomed by the logging industry and was patented in 1881. In addition to domestic sales in the United States, the locomotives were exported to Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Australia and other countries.
- The Shay steam locomotive adopts the Stephenson D-type valve device, coupled with the eccentric sliding guide and the reversing gear to control the direction (forward and backward) of travel of the locomotive and the speed is controlled by the amount of steam.
- This type of locomotive has the world's most peculiar structure, which allows it to be able to run on a curve radius of only 30 meters.
- The performances such as low speed, high torque, strong climbing ability, and easy manual maintenance have made it long lasting.
- There is no shock absorber spring on the right axle box, and only the left axle box is equipped with a shock absorber spring.
- This type of locomotive is a US-Japan hybrid. Although it was designed and manufactured by the Lima Locomotive Manufacturing Company in Ohio, its ET-6 type braking system was manufactured by American Westinghouse Air Brake Company and the brake parts and lubricator were Japanese products.
- Under the condition that the construction and vehicle limits are not violated, the Shay steam locomotive has a double vertical and short-distance piston stroke structure, equipped with four pairs of bevel gears, to form eight-transmission power wheels, which have high climbing ability and are suitable for meeting the unique requirement of the Alishan Forest Railway.
- This type of locomotive is equipped with a sanding system that allows the driver to use "pneumatic control sanding" or "manual control sanding" to spray ceramic powder on the track to improve the friction between wheels and track. This has set an example of "spraying ceramic powder on the track to improve the friction" in the history of rolling stock.
- The Washington pump is used to increase the pressure on the water supply and have a fire protection function.
After World War II, because of railway dieselization and electrification as well as the rise of road transportation and air transportation, Lima closed its locomotive plant. Our repair plant in Chiayi locomotive garage, without the original parts, had to make molds to manufacture the parts, so that the No. 26 steam locomotive can be preserved and provide passenger service, and has been completely different from the Shay locomotives that used to travel in other countries around the world. This is the rare asset unique to the Alishan Forest Railway in Taiwan. Hopefully, all the tourists do not forget to pay attention to this precious national treasure while admiring the beautiful scenery.
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Steam Locomotive
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SHAY Steam Locomotive