We are pleased to offer drawings and the castings for a 7-1/2” (7-1/4”) gauge 2 1/2″ Scale 20 Ton Narrow Gauge Shay locomotive. The engine builds to over 7 feet long and 20 inches wide with a dry weight of 750 lbs.
John Buckwalter designed and offered the drawings and castings for a number of years before LocoParts acquired the design, rights and patterns for the locomotive. LocoParts is proud to continue to offer the castings, drawings and components for current and future builds.
John Buckwalter, like many baby boomers born in the 40s, took an early interest in trains. His parents made a nightly drive to the Powell crossing to watch the Pennsylvania evening passenger train. Since then he has lived with the train bug through Lionel, HO gauge trains, 15″ gauge trains and even owned a full-size tourist railroad before making the switch to 7 1/2″ gauge.
His first live steam construction project was a 3” scale 15″ gauge Mogul. John did all necessary design work and made his own patterns from which the castings necessary for the build where made. Construction of the locomotive took 8 years to complete.
The Shay project started with the design phase. Plans from three other Shays were studied for ideas. The basis for the designs of the 20 Ton Shay were the drawings published in “Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette” for a 24 Ton Wood Burning Shay. Research did not find any 24 Ton Class A Shays built by Lima, and based on wheel base the Gazette drawings were more likely a 20 Ton engine. The 2 1/2″ scale William Harris’s “Mich-Cal Shay” plans based on the Mich-Cal 13 Ton Shay supplied the most information for this larger version. A Shay research trip to the mid-west added lots of detailed information to the final project.
Numerous locomotives are in the construction phase or completed using these drawings and castings. We at LocoParts will continue to offer the drawings and castings with additional items to support the project in the near future.
We would like to thank John Buckwalter for his contribution to the Live Steam Hobby and developing and producing such a fine locomotive.
This table lists the specifications for the 20 Ton Shay and the Harris Shay for comparison.
| 20 Ton Shay | Mich-Cal Shay | |
| Length over Step Boards | 86″ | 70 3/4″ |
| Height Top of Stack | 32 3/4″ | 30 3/4″ |
| Width overall | 19 1/2″ | 19 1/2″ |
| Gauge | 7-1/2″ (7-1/4”) | 7-1/2″ (7-1/4”) |
| Model Scale | 2-1/2″ | 2-1/2″ |
| Drivers | 6-1/8″ | 5-3/8″ |
| Gear Ratio | 2:1 | 2:1 |
| Cylinders (2) Bore x Stroke | 2″ x 2.25″ | 2″ x 2″ |
| Valve Gear | Stephenson | Stephenson |
| Lubrication | Dual Oil Pump | Displacement |
| Boiler | 8″ – straight | 6″ – Boot “T” |
| Weight | 750 lbs. | 380 lbs. |
Click here to continue to the product pages.