Which company built about 2,770 Shay locomotives?

Lima Locomotive Works built about 2,770 Shay locomotives. The Ohio company began as Lima Machine Works and obtained the manufacturing rights to Ephraim Shay’s geared locomotive, turning his logging solution into a widely used production type.

Lima’s first Shay prototype appeared in 1880, and the company steadily improved the design. Its locomotives used vertical cylinders, a longitudinal driveshaft, universal joints, and gears connected to the axles. That machinery sacrificed speed but provided adhesion and flexibility on steep grades, tight curves, and temporary logging lines.

Production is commonly summarized as approximately 2,770 locomotives in four main classes between 1878 and 1945, though historical totals can vary slightly by source and counting method. Class A, B, C, and D Shays ranged from small two-truck engines to much heavier multi-truck machines. The company’s success with Shays helped transform Lima from a machine shop into a major locomotive builder.