Willamette Locomotive No. 7, on static display at the Fort Missoula Museum.
The Willamette locomotive was a geared steam locomotive of the Shay locomotive type, built by the Willamette Iron and Steel Works of Portland, Oregon.
These engines were built from 1922 to 1929, by the Willamette Works when they built thirty-three geared locomotives, incorporating refinements such as all-weather cabs, girder frames, super-heaters and piston valves, but the competition did not go unchallenged.
After key patents on the Shay locomotive had expired, it was possible for other manufacturers to produce Shay "clones".
All but one Willamette burned oil, despite their working for logging companies, where wood would be abundant.
Today there are Six Willamettes survive; and there's only one operational Rayonier, Inc. No. 2 at the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in Mineral, Washington.
Trivia[]
- The Willamette locomotive was very similar to a Shay, but had many differences, as the company that made them intended on making an "improved Shay", even though the "Pacific Coast Shay", later made by Lima, took up many of the features on the Willamette.
- Oil burners produced few sparks, however, and were less likely to ignite a forest than coal- or wood-fired locomotives.
- The only coal-fired Willamette worked for Anaconda Copper.
- The Willamette Works had supplied donkey engines and other steam operated equipment to loggers in the Pacific Northwest from the turn of the 20th Century and had also become known for its ability to repair steam locomotives used by loggers, many of which were Shays built by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, OH.