THE CliShay PROJECT
CHAPTER 6
What are the chances of two brothers, one from Pratt, KS and the other from Wichita connecting with a hobby shop in Lancaster, OH 950 miles away? The Brehm brothers were driving and listening to NPR. The topic was small business and how they were coping. The NPR host asked the representative of The Smoke Stack Hobby Shop of Lancaster, Oh what was their forte? The response was, “We specialize in selling collections”. The brothers knew they had found a way to dispose of their father’s collection. Lancaster, Oh is southeast of Columbus, Ohio, 950 miles from Pratt, Ks and 123 miles from Cincinnati.
It took several truckloads to remove the collection and the work began on advertising the sale of the pieces. 1200 locomotives and thousands of cars! All but 12 of the locomotives worked! Thanks to the internet, the collection was seen in Cincinnati by Denis Larrick a longtime member of Cinder Sniffers!
Denis was looking at a train collection ad on Facebook. After thumbing through numerous pages of HO equipment, the listing showed some railroad memorabilia and 7 ½” gauge equipment. Along with some riding cars and 2 locomotives was an unusual black locomotive with “100” on the right hand side of the body. In an instant Denis recognized the CliShay as THE ONE BOB MAYNARD BUILT nearly 50 years ago. After a quick converation with one of the former owners of the engine, it was declared to be the ORIGINAL CliShay!
The word of the discovery was sent out to the Cinder Sniffer members in April 2023. The excitement quickly spread. Offers came in to assist in the return of the Original CliShay. One member generously offered to purchase the locomotive and several offered to make the trip to Pratt, KS. ROADTRIP!!!!
The CliShay’s final homecoming getting close, and the CliShay Fest is getting closer as well. September 28-29 2024 is the CliShay Fest. This 2 day gathering is for CliShays, Geared and Side Rod Engines. For more information see CliShay Fest on the Cinder Sniffers.org page.
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