Soon after the tracks were starting to be laid, the railroad purchased a used steam locomotive in need of repairs.

In late 1968, Shay #1925 was on a mixed train lost its air brakes and turned onto her engineer's side at Nantahala Gorge, damaging her cab and water tank.

Over the winter, the railroad then took the cab and water tank of #1926 to repair #1925[3] and the Bear Creek operations continued in 1969 with another Shay they bought, the #1923, a 2-Truck-Shay.

This Shay formerly worked for the Conasauga River Lumber Company as their #112 until it was sold to the Bear Creek Scenic Railroad in 1966.

[4] On August 14, 1970, with freight traffic dwindling and the carpet mill closing, the railroad ceased all operations.