Roaring Camp Railroad celebrated the 100th birthday of the Dixiana Shay steam locomotive on Oct. 12.
The Dixie, as it is fondly known, was built by Lima Locomotive Works, Shop No. 253, on Oct. 12, 1912.
The locomotive earned its name serving on a narrow-gauge mining railroad in Dixiana, Va., and also served on six different short-line railroads before coming to California.
Roaring Camp Founder F. Norman Clark purchased the engine and dubbed it the railroad’s No. 1 engine, because it was the first he acquired when he inaugurated steam train service at Roaring Camp in 1963.
The Dixiana Shay is one of three extant engines with the designation of National Mechanical Engineering Historical Landmark.
It is one of four operational steam engines at Roaring Camp, which has six engines in all, all built around the turn of the 20th century.
