Geared for success

Geared for success

By Brian Schmidt | August 25, 2021

| Last updated on August 7, 2025


Geared steam locomotive reverses with coal cars

Geared for success

Brimstone’s 3-truck Shay No. 35 pulls coal in Tennessee. Lumber railroads were the primary users, but a few coal-haulers used Shays and/or the two other popular geared locomotives in North America, Heislers and Climaxes. Dwight Smith, Jim Wrinn collection

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