A Shay Locomotive Returns to Harbor Springs: Dedication and Lecture from Railroad Expert

The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society invites the public to a special celebration marking the arrival of Shay Locomotive No. 2005 to downtown Harbor Springs. The public dedication will take place on Friday, June 13 at 4 p.m. in Shay Park, followed by a 5:30 p.m. history talk by Shay locomotive expert Martin Hansen at the Harbor Springs History Museum.

Ephraim Shay, inventor of the famed Shay geared locomotive, retired to Harbor Springs in 1888 and operated his machine shop on the very site where Locomotive No. 2005 now rests. In that shop, he fabricated three locomotives of his own design and ran the Hemlock Central Railway—a narrow-gauge logging track that originated across the street, in front of his steel home. This line not only hauled timber into town but also carried passengers on excursions into the surrounding hills north of Harbor Springs. The return of a Shay locomotive is more than symbolic; it honors the actual activities that defined life at the turn of the 20th century in Harbor Springs.

The dedication ceremony is free and open to the public. Only limited seating will be provided, so attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. The program will include remarks by HSAHS Program Coordinator Beth Wemigwase, who will reflect on the historic significance of a Shay locomotive returning to Harbor Springs.

Following the dedication, Martin Hansen will speak on the broader history of the Shay locomotive and its national and global impact. His talk will take place at the Harbor Springs History Museum at 5:30 p.m., where refreshments will be provided. Registration is required and can be completed at harborspringshistory.org or by calling 231-526-9771.

A lifelong railroad enthusiast and federally licensed locomotive engineer, Hansen has restored and operated historic engines for decades. He played a key role in locating and securing Shay No. 2005 for the Historical Society. Over the past 40 years, Hansen has bought and sold 65 locomotives. He is the author of Timber Titans: Baldwin’s Articulated Logging Locomotives and editor of The Shay Locomotive: An Illustrated History, which features over 250 photographs from his collection. He has also published dozens of articles on western logging railroads and is currently writing a book about the Willamette geared logging locomotive, a copy of Shay’s design.

“Having Martin Hansen here to share his expertise following the dedication makes this moment all the more meaningful,” said Kristyn Balog, Executive Director of the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society. “This event is the culmination of a multi-year restoration effort made possible by the generosity of community members who believed in the vision of bringing a Shay locomotive back to Harbor Springs and who have remained steadfast in their commitment to honoring and preserving our local history.”

One such community member who believed in this vision is Peg Demmer. When the Historical Society received the donation of Shay Locomotive No. 2005 from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, in 2021, they were faced with the logistical and financial challenge of transporting the massive engine across the country for restoration. Without hesitation, Peg Demmer stepped forward with a $50,000 gift—an act of generosity that made it possible to launch the project. Her donation, made in memory of her late father, longtime Harbor Springs resident John Demmer, provided the momentum needed to bring the Shay engine to Michigan and galvanized further community support. Thanks to her commitment and the generosity that followed, the community can now enjoy a beautifully restored Shay locomotive in Shay Park for generations to come.

Only 115 Shay locomotives are known to still exist worldwide, and now, one of them resides in Harbor Springs. The arrival of No. 2005 launches a season of celebration for the Historical Society, as it also prepares to open the Ephraim Shay Works Museum. Housed in Shay’s original stamped-steel home, the museum will feature new exhibits exploring Shay’s innovations, his contributions to the City of Harbor Springs, and the historic trades and industries that helped build our town—and modern America. The grand opening of the Works Museum will take place during Shay Days on July 25 and 26, with Shay Locomotive No. 2005 featured as a central part of the festivities.