Lima the History

By Eric Hirsimaki, Copyright 1986, second Edition 2004, Hundman Publishing
letter size, hard cover, 352 pages



Table of Contents
Foreword 7
Introduction 10
CHAPTER ONE: Planting The Seed 12
CHAPTER TWO: The Shay 22
CHAPTER THREE: Growing Tall 32
CHAPTER FOUR: Growth, Ambition, and Despair 48
CHAPTER FIVE: The Golden Years 62
CHAPTER SIX: People, Profits, and Promotions
CHAPTER SEVEN: With A Destiny
CHAPTER EIGHT: Building On The Rock 98
CHAPTER NINE: Evolution Revolution 118
CHAPTER TEN: Walking With Confidence 144
CHAPTER ELEVEN: The Terrible Thirties 168
CHAPTER TWELVE: The Arsenal 192
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The Times Are A Changin' 222
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Farewell and Hello 250
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Heating Up The Forge 282
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Portraits of Power 302
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: A Plant Portrait 312
Roster (Shay and Rod Locomotives) 322

This is the story of a locomotive builder and its relationship with many through its various products. To the railroader, Lima was the "Super Power" steam locomotive. To the industrial locomotive user, Lima was the Shay. To the contractor, Lima meant shovels and cranes. There was one common link, however, and that was the quality of the products manufactured in this rural northwestern Ohio town. The story began when a small machine shop was opened in 1869. Because of its attention to producing only the best, it was a success from the start. This also meant Lima was well qualified when a lumberman named Ephraim Shay came to town with an idea for a geared locomotive. Thus, the birth of the Shay era and what was ultimately to be one of the greatest locomotive builders in the world. The decades to follow were ones of prosperity, expansion, and yet at times stagnation. Major economic upheavals were overcome, new owners and plants appeared and then vanished, and multitudes of locomotive designs were built. The most profound of all locomotive designs, however, was the A-1. Its performance was proof of the brilliance behind this program. It literally changed the focus of steam locomotive design and was the difference between Lima being just a manufacturer and a great locomotive builder. The end of World War II, however, brought with it the end of the steam era. Unfortunately, by the time the firm became dedicated to the diesel - it was too late. By 1951 locomotive production had ceased, and the plant was merged with the "once almighty" Baldwin. The construction equipment market did provide some salvation, but eventually, the plant was closed. An era had ended, but Lima's legacy is one both fondly remembered and one to be proud of. The story, in its entirety, is captured here.

Eric grew up in Conneaut, Ohio, home of the Nickel Plate District's main shop and a division point for the Cleveland and Buffalo Divisions. He has shared with me in recent years his two lifelong railroad interests - the Nickel Plate and Lima, a railroad and builder that were both first class and so very easy, in my own mind, to intertwine. These twin fascinations, plus his engineering and business background, qualify him as no other to write this book. In addition, his experience of writing two soft cover NKP histories and many rail-oriented magazines articles has given him the training in style and publishing that has culminated in this work, the first and ultimate history of the Lima Locomotive Works. Long before I met Eric in 1980, he had been traipsing to Lima and back, beginning with his college days in engineering school at Ohio Northern University in nearby Ada. In those days (the late 1960s), Eric would travel to Lima for a full day at the historical society museum, guided and assisted by our good friend, the incomparable Nickel Plate brakeman and museum trustee, John H. Keller, Sr. John's generosity and enthusiasm for railroad history are heartwarming and sincere. Together, Eric and John would spend hours digging through records and negatives, discovering again and again what a fascinating legacy they had been left - and becoming frustrated at realizing the incompleteness of the material - shortages that caused Eric to consult many other sources through the years. Later, he would make dozens of journeys from his home in North Olmstead. Best of all, now that he has his first hardcover book to his credit, Eric's future as a railroad historian is bright indeed. Other projects are in the works. Eric is currently Operations Facilities Manager for CCCPA. Lloyd Lewis, Director News and Community Relations Chessie System Railroads The Terminal Tower Cleveland, Ohio January 1986