The Uintah Railway operated a three-foot gauge line in Colorado and Utah where it hauled asphaltite over Baxter pass. This not only had tight curves, but also a six mile long 7.5 percent ascent followed by a seven mile long 5 percent descent. Even though they had used Shays, many trains could only be handled by two of those. To remedy this problem, they ordered a powerful articulated 2-6-6-2T tank locomotive from Baldwin in 1926.

This one now could haul the same load as two Shays. This meant a maximum trailing load of 240 tons at 5 percent and 145 tons at 7.5 percent. Due to problems getting dry steam on severe grades, it was retrofitted with a second steam dome in front of the cab. After this, a second locomotive was ordered in 1928.

The end of the Uintah Railway came in 1939 when trucks had taken over their tasks. Both No. 50 and 51 were sold to the Sumpter Valley Railroad in Oregon. There they were rebuilt to oil-burning tender locomotives and renumbered to 250 and 251. After operating there until 1947, they were sold to the International Railways of Central America in Guatemala, where they were retired in 1962 and 1964.