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Fort Missoula museum highlights century-old Willamette Shay locomotive undergoing restoration
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Summary
Presenters at the Fort Missoula Historical Museum discussed Engine No. 7, a Willamette Shay locomotive used in regional logging operations that is currently being restored and has film and company ties in local history.
Museum presenters described Engine No. 7 as a roughly century-old Willamette Shay locomotive originally used by a timber division of the Anaconda Copper Company in the Blackfoot River Valley and said it is undergoing restoration. "So this train turned a 100 years old. I believe last year. If not, it's either 101 or a 102," a museum staff member said.
The presenters said the locomotive worked in railroad logging until it retired in 1948 and later appeared in footage filmed by a Hollywood crew in 1954 for the movie Timberjack. The museum noted restoration aims to retain original paint schemes and cited historic documentation for the library car color and other details.
The presentation included material evidence: original rails in the museum yard and stamped manufacturing dates visible on rail pieces. The staff member said restoration philosophy favors matching historic paint and construction details where documentation exists. No funding or formal restoration schedule was presented in the recording.
