Willamette locomotive

Willamette Iron and Steel Works in Portland, Oregon, was well established in the Pacific Northwest, as a logging operations supplier, when they expanded into locomotive building.

Their design of the Willamette locomotives, was focused on logging, incorporating all of the modern (in 1922) aspects of a Shay locomotive and the standard features most requested by western loggers; steel cabs, girder frame, cast trucks, air brakes, electric headlamps.

Designed and introduced in late 1922, the high point in production was 1923, when 11 were built and shipped.

The differences were: All but one Willamette burned oil, despite their working for logging companies, where wood would be abundant.

Oil burners produced few sparks, however, and were less likely to ignite a forest than coal- or wood-fired locomotives.