The Weyerhaeuser #6 steam engine, a logging Mallet and one of only three standard 44" driver logging Mallets built with a tender, was built by Baldwin in 1928 for Mud Bay Logging as #8. Number 8 worked for Mud Bay near Olympia, WA until 1941 when it was sold to the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company.
They put the Mallet to work as #6 on their Klamath Falls, Oregon line until 1960, by which time #6 was the last steam locomotive in use by Weyerhaeuser. After retirement, Number 6 was repainted and placed on display near Weyerhaeuser's Klamath Falls headquarters. #6 remained on display until 1965 when Weyerhaeuser donated it to the Puget Sound Railway Historical Association at Snoqualmie, WA.
In 1966, #6 was moved from Klamath Falls to Auburn and then finally to Snoqualmie where it was put on display. In March of 1969, the decision was made to return #6 to service and #6 was back in steam by May of that year. #6 served the PSRHA pulling tourist trains up until the arrival of United States Plywood #11 in 1974.
After 11's arrival, at least one Mallet doubleheader was held before #6 left service for work on the rear tube sheet. This rebuild, however, was never completed and #6 sat partially dismantled in the PSRHA's Niblock Yard until 1991. Today #6 is proudly on display at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, WA.
The cache is a black magnetic key holder. Bring your own pen, pencil, quill, or other writing utensil.
--- NOTE: The information below is from the original cache page for the Heisler steam engine that was moved to another location in 2016 and replaced with the current Weyehaeuser #6 timber steam engine along with a new historical sign. ---
The Heisler locomotive was the last variant of the three major types of geared steam locomotive.
Charles L. Heisler received a patent for the design in 1892 following the construction of a prototype in 1891.
Somewhat similar to a Climax locomotive, Heisler's design featured two cylinders canted inwards at a 45 degree angle to form a 'vee-twin' arrangement.
Power then went to a longitudinal driveshaft that drove the outboard axle on each powered truck. The inboard axle on each truck was then driven from the outboard one by external side (connecting) rods.
The Heisler was the fastest of the geared steam locomotive designs, and yet was still claimed by its manufacturer to have the same low speed hauling ability.