How This Forgotten Logging Engine Survived 70 Years of Brutal Work

How This Forgotten Logging Engine Survived 70 Years of Brutal Work

This video tells the story of the Climax locomotive, the rugged geared steam engine designed for logging railroads that standard locomotives couldn’t handle. We cover why major railroads ignored it, why crews mocked its boxy shape and unusual drive system, and how early critics believed it was too slow and too crude to be useful outside remote timber camps.

The episode then explores how the Climax entered service and proved nearly indestructible — crawling over uneven track, climbing steep grades, navigating sharp curves, and hauling heavy logs through mud, snow, and mountains. Its simple gearing, flexible trucks, and tough construction allowed it to operate in conditions that would destroy modern locomotives in days.

The video ends by showing how many Climax engines stayed in service for 50, 60, even 70 years, outlasting the companies that bought them and earning a reputation as one of the most durable locomotives ever built. Ultimately, this “forgotten” logging engine survived decades of brutal work because it was built for one purpose: to endure what no other locomotive could.

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