Climax Locomotive Works - Corey, PA
Built March 1928,
Construction Number (c/n): 1693
3-truck 70-ton, Class C

Built:  Hillcrest Lumber Co. Messachie Lake, B.C.  #3 
(later renumbered #10) Operated until 1968.
Terry Ferguson #10 - 1968
Victoria Pacific #10, 1971 - Victoria, B.C.
Mount Rainier Scenic RR - 1979 Mineral, Washington

By the late 1880's the need for geared steam locomotives to harvest timber across the country was increasing by the month. Ephram Shay had entered the market with his successful Shay locomotive design, but competition was only natural in this growing market. 

Charles D. Scott was a logger and inventor who lived in Pennsylvania during this era. He operated a tram railroad with a second-hand locomotive that he found ill-suited for his needs. Mr. Scott decided to develop his own locomotive design which he felt would do a better job on steep and un-even track. He took his plans to the Climax Manufacturing Company of Corry, PA for them to construct. The design worked even better than expected and the Climax Locomotive was born. Loggers used to say about a Climax Locomotive, "She'd follow 2 lines scratched in the dirt" as a compliment to the engines ability to operate over rough and uneven logging track. The engine was identified by the 2 power cylinders on each side of the boiler being at a 45-degree angle as compared with the cylinders on a Shay or Heisler. 

The Climax became the second most popular locomotive design after the Shay. The engines were popular for being less expensive to purchase than the Shay. Crews often disliked the Climax due to the pounding action of the cylinders during operation caused by the up-and-down movement of the piston rods. Climax #10 is nick-named "Old Humpy" as a result of this action. Hillcrest Lumber purchased this Climax in March 1928 just as the Climax Locomotive Works was shutting down its business. 

Climax #10 was the second to last Climax ever built. She has all the refinements found on Climaxes built in later years. Originally designated as #3 for the Hillcrest Lumber Co. she was delivered in May 1928 to the Hillcrest operations on Vancouver Island, B.C. where she spent her entire logging career. She operated for Hillcrest until 1968 when the mill shut down. She was the only Climax in regular operation in the world at that time. Climax #10 was sold to a collector in 1968 who hoped to use her on a tourist railroad in Victoria, B.C. but that plan was never started. In 1979 she was purchased by the Mount Rainier Scenic RR and rebuilt, becoming their first steam engine.