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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 Shay #6 (aka "Big 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.

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Uploaded on July 1, 2023
Taken on May 9, 2009