Now this has been a model project that I have been wanting to work on for YEARS!! It is an On20 scale/gauge shay locomotive! For those who are students of model railroading and narrow gauge, On20 is "O" scale running on HOn3 gauge track. I go into On20 some years ago when I was thinking about adding a small tramway to my, also eventual, On30 Big thunder & Western RR. I looked into On18, O scale on N gauge, as a thought. However it is difficult to find suitable 2 axle chassis, especially steam engine chassis, in N gauge. And what are available are usually not the best running mechanisms either.

As I dug deeper into the subject, keep in mind I also have my On30 line based in the rugged Arizona desert, I came across On20. It turns out that Arizona has a unique history with narrow gauge and their first line was 20" gauge! I researched it and I was sold.

I have dubbed the little locomotive "Ocalla" as it will run on my eventual Ocalla Tramway. A little common carrier that goes where the "bigger" trains, my BT&W, can't. The primary motive power come from little 0-4-0T Porters, but I thought I'd add a shay just for fun. There's really too much to to describe properly in this comment box, but you can follow further and more detailed progress of the build on my blog, The Ocalla Tramway. A link is provided below.

http://theocallatramway.blogspot.com/

Out of all the trains I've modeled I have to say that this, I think, is the most whimsical looking. I hope you like it and comment if you fave please!