Diamond & Caldor Railway's

Shay #4

Of all the Shays on the Diamond & Caldor Railway, Shay #4 is perhaps the most well known.  Not only is she the last remaining D&C Shay, but she was also the only Shay to operate nearly the entire life of the Railway.  Shay #4 was delivered from the Lima Locomotive Works in the spring of 1907.  Being the most powerful Shay yet on the line, she was placed into mainline service hauling the long lumber/mixed trains from Caldor to Diamond Springs.  

In the early years, since there were many communities along the line, passenger service was provided. In many early photos, Shay #4 can be seen at the front of rough-cut lumber trains with the line's only passenger car, a combine built by the Holman Company of San Francisco, bringing up the rear.  Today, most of those towns are simply memories, but while they existed they carried the distinction of being served by El Dorado County's only narrow-gauge common carrier railroad and Shay #4.

Shay #4 bound for Diamond Springs with a mixed train.

In the ensuing years, Shay #4 held her post as mainline hauler even as newer and larger 3-truck Shays were purchased for use in railroad logging on the countless miles of logging spurs constructed around Caldor.  Shays #6, 7 and 8 were purchased during this time.  

In 1923, the mill at Caldor burned to the ground and left the California Door Company without a sawmill.  At that point in time, the mill at Diamond Springs was just a finishing mill for rough-cut lumber that Shay #4 brought from Caldor.  After the fire, it was decided to restructure operations and make Caldor a logging camp.  A new mill was constructed in Diamond Springs to receive logs, thereby combining what was previously done in two locations into one location.  Also at that time a new Shay was ordered from Lima to carry out the log haul from Caldor to Diamond.  Shay #10 was the last Shay purchased by the D&C and replaced Shay #4 on the mainline. 

Instead of sidelining Shay #4, as was soon to happen to Shays #2 and 3, she was reassigned as the Diamond Springs yard switcher and underwent a minor modification in order to move standard-gauge rolling stock from the Southern Pacific around the dual-gauge track in Diamond Springs (an offset coupler pocket).  As time went on, Shay #4 lost her wooden cab in an accident, and a myriad of other mishaps left visible damage virtually everywhere on the locomotive.  Her once polished boiler jacket was painted a dull black and all polished brass fittings, including the bell, were painted the same color. 

When she was donated to El Dorado County in 1953 at the time of abandonment of the Diamond & Caldor Railway, she was in pretty sad shape.  In 1992, an assessment was made by the El Dorado County Historical Museum to see whether or not Shay #4 could run again.  Fortunately, it was determined that #4 could be returned to service after extensive restoration.  With a sizeable donation from Beverly Cola, the museum curator, and the help of museum volunteers, restoration of Shay #4 was begun.  Every last part on the Shay that was not riveted in place (and even some that were) was removed and refurbished.  Many parts were in remarkably good shape, while others were in need of replacement.  The trucks were completely rebuilt with mostly original parts.  The wheels were turned by the Southern Pacific in their shops in Sacramento and a cracked axle was replaced.  The boiler was cleaned inside and out and refurbished and new tubes were installed.  The engines were also rebuilt and new pistons made.  Many of the replacement parts were made by Knights Foundry in Sutter Creek from original patterns kept on hand during the time when they supplied parts for Shays all over the Sierra Mountains.  A new solid oak cab was constructed from the original Lima drawings as an exact replica of Shay #4's first cab by a cabinet maker in Georgetown.  The rusted-out water tank was completely de-constructed and a new one built using the original top panels and trim.  The original oil headlight was located and donated for use while a new number plate was made to exact Lima specifications.      

Shay #4 in October of 2004.

After twelve years of constant restoration work, Shay #4 is nearly ready.  The addition of new, more stringent FRA boiler certification rules have required the removal of the tubes once again and a new ultra-sound test to determine any trouble spots.  Nothing serious was found by the Federal inspectors, and once some repairs are made to the firebox, Shay #4 will once again be able to operate at full pressure.  Most work is now concentrated on the finishing touches and reassembly.  A new boiler jacket will also be constructed in order for Shay #4 to look as she did when new.  For photos of Shay #4, both old and new, click here.