[LVLC] New Shays at Ronja Springs

Hello Shay-lovers,

one year ago, I got the chance to buy another Shay for my garden railroad, a Bachmann Spectrum Class C 3-truck Shay. Once arrived, I re-lettered her several times for different railroads and swapped between wood and oil burner multiple times. And I was never sure how to add this loco into my existing Louise Valley Lumber Co.

The final solution was found, when I simply bought another Shay in early 2019. There was a bargain offer for a LGB/Aster “West Side Lumber Co.” Shay 12 which I couldn’t resist. 500 of these locos were made by Aster in Japan for LGB in 1996. The loco is entirely made from metal (brass & steel) and runs just great. When I compared the model to plans of WSLC #12, it shows that the model is closer to 1:20,3 scale as I thought.

Referring to many logging railroads in California, my free-lance Louise Valley Lumber Co. switched to oil burning locos in the 1930th. Instead of rebuilding the old woodburners, the LVLC simply replaced the older Shays by 2nd hand locos from other railroads. So the new locos got lettered for the Louise Valley Lumber Co. and got road numbers 6 & 7. Both are equipped with Deltang receivers, powered by LiPo-batteries. The two new Shays will represent the “modern” motive power on the LVLC. Now I can run either the old-time woodburner, or the modern oilburner.

Both new locos will get an airbrush weathering soon as well as some typical detail parts added.

Cheers, Gerd