Topping Off, photo by William Morrell Harmer
The photo shows some lumbermen loading the last few logs onto a logging train near Cadillac, Michigan somewhere around 1892. While looking around for something about Cadillac and logging, and on the City of Cadillac’s history page, I learned:
The Shay Locomotive was invented in Cadillac by Ephriam Shay in 1878. The Shay Locomotive was one of the first to have the ability to haul logs on uneven terrain, sharp curves, and up steep hills. Shay Locomotives were used throughout the United States between 1880 and 1945.
That sounded promising, so I went over to ShayLocomotives.com and found in their many pictures a photo of one of the surviving Shays – engine no. 5 in Cass, WV (official site. Take a look at that and tell me if you think they’re the same train. Probably not, but still, I’m thinking this one is a Shay.
Wikipedia’s Shay Locomotive entry says that Shays were built by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio. However six Shay Patent locomotives, known as Henderson style Shays, were built by the Michigan Iron Works in Cadillac.
Michigan in Pictures 
The locomotive in this photo is not a shay…it is a “tank” engine as the water tank is above and around the boiler. Shay’s were never built this way. Shay locomotives have vertical cylinders and all wheels are driven on the left side, as viewed from the front, only.
This is more likely a 2-4-2 tank type locomotive as the driving wheels are seen in this view with the connecting rod plainly visible. Shays were gear driven only.
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I’m trying to find anything about the 6 Henderson Shays. I’d be interested in photos, blue prints, builders drawings, etc…
-Don Henderson
Pittsburgh, PA
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Hello,
I totaly agree with the two other agreament, that the locomotive #: 5 are not a Shay, it is a sadle tank engieen. The idea was to keep the water more warm as the tank is on top of the boiler. When it comes to Shay locomotive, you will see that the boiler are “slided” to one side (usualy on the right side) and that just beside the cab, you will find the the vertical cylinder.
Take care,
Bob
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