Hetch Hetchy 6

Hetch Hetchy Railroad no. 6 is a standard gauge three truck Shay locomotive built for the Hetch Hetchy Railroad by Lima Locomotive Works in 1921.

Hetch Hetchy Engine No. 6 prior to restoration

Hetch Hetchy 6
Hetch Hetchy Engine No. 6 after restoration
Type and origin References:[1] Power type Steam Builder Lima Locomotive Works Serial number 3170 Model 80-ton Class C Shay Build date November 1921
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte Three truck Shay Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 36 in (914 mm) Adhesive weight 167,200 lb (76 t) Total weight 167,200 lb (76 t) Fuel type Oil Fuel capacity 1,800 US gal (6,814 l) Water cap 3,500 US gal (13,249 l) Boiler 50 in (1,270 mm) Cylinders Three Cylinder size 13 ^1⁄2 in × 15 in (343 mm × 381 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 35,100 lbf (156 kN)
Career Operators 1921–1926: Hetch Hetchy Railroad 1926–1958: Pickering Lumber Corp. Numbers 6 Retired 1958 Current owner El Portal Transportation Museum Disposition Static display Hetch Hetchy Railroad Engine No.6 U.S. National Register of Historic Places Show map of California Show map of the United States Location CA 140, El Portal, California Coordinates 37°40′27″N 119°47′11″W Area less than one acre Built 1921 Architect Lima Locomotive Co. Architectural style 3T Shay Locomotive NRHP reference No. 78000360 [2] Added to NRHP January 30, 1978

Although it operated as a common carrier, the Hetch Hetchy Railroad was built by the City of San Francisco to build the O'Shaughnessy Dam across Hetch Hetchy Valley as part of the city's water supply. The dam was completed in 1923 and the railroad scaled back operations, selling some of its equipment, including #6, which was sold to Pickering Lumber Corporation in Standard, California. The locomotive served Pickering's logging operations until 1958 when it was retired.[1]

The railroad operated four Shays at different times. Number 6 was by far the largest, the only three truck Shay of the lot and weighing more than twice as much as the others.[1]

It is in a small collection of railroad equipment owned by the National Park Service near El Portal, California. Number 6 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as Hetch Hetchy Railroad Engine No.6.[2]

References

1. "Lima Locomotive Works, Inc. s/n 3170". Shay Locomotives. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.