Your experience with Shay logging locomotives - what works and what doesn't

I have a WM Premier PS3 4-truck Shay from MTH. Rated O72 but does Gargraves/Ross O54 flawlessly. Lots of sounds, smoke and detail.

I would highly recommend it.

I have a 3 truck Lionel Shay, a 2 Truck K-Line Shay, a MTH Climax, Lionel (Cass)Heisler, an MTH (N&W) 4 Truck Shay. The best among all of those is my 4 truck MTH Shay.

Scott Smith

My wife has a WM RoW shay that runs like a watch.  I suppose it helps that she knows I did the sound system in it (as is common to all RoW locos, it is the actual digitized sounds).  It is something she always wanted after seeing a 2 rail one at a friends house.  

Lou N

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I really enjoy the gearing in action.  Hope to make this addition. 

The Lionel Western MD Shay needs O54; however, the MTH WV&PCo 4 truck is supposed to run on O42 (I have not tried it yet).  The Lionel Heysler and MTH Climax both are rated for O31; however, my tightest curve currently is O42 on my 3rd level.  I should have O31 on my 4th level which will not be up for a month or so.  While someone disagreed with me on an earlier post, the technician at Engine House Hobbies (Louie), told me that his repairs to those engines have been related to persons running them too quickly or pulling a significant load.  If your consists are light (4 cars or less) and  20 smph or slower, you should not have any issues.  Their weak point is that the gearing is not as strong as regular steamers.  When I purchased the WV&PCo at York (just before closing), I did not have time to unwrap the engine.  All the gearing to the trucks were broken.  The cost to repair was significant.

DCI Guy,

I have a Legacy Shay which is one of my favorite Engines, when it's running.  It has never run over 42 MPH and has aways been properly LUBED.  Now for the 2nd time it is having to go back to Lionel for Gear Repair.  To say I am disappointed is an understatement.   If Lionel can not fix it properly this time, I will tell them to just keep the Shay Engine.  

PCRR/Dave

I have a Lionel Legacy Bethlehem Steel Shay that I love and has worked flawlessly since I got it.  Love all the gearing, looks so cool when running.

Thanks all, what about ON30 ?  any experience or comments on that equipment from any members ?

Here is four-year-plus video of my Shay in action -

Alex

I have the 4 truck WVP&P premier MTH engine and it's a great loco. It pulls heavy consists no problem and will handle O36 curves assuming the drive is on the outside (haven't tested it on the inside). Only in super slow operation does it get jerky moving around the curves but I think that is motor related vs. drive train related. Its got electro couplers, hi rail wheels, good detail, and smokes like a chimney. If it was command control/PS2 it would be my favorite engine.