Railroad Equipment

I've covered this in my earlier blog post, Logging Caboose, so here I will just offer a couple of pictures of some MOW equipment on the THLC, and their new Shay, engine number 5.

Log Cars

The THLC uses a variety of logging cars to get their product to the mill and market.  Most of their cars are modified flat cars, but they have recently acquired some of the fancy new, purpose-built, log cars.   

Sherlock Holmes Hat?

Looks good! I'm a. It geared engine fan so eat this up. 

Your dad probably looked like the detective on the job :- )

Neil Erickson 

Bobber Caboose

I'm a big fan of the Kadee Bobber Caboose.  It really screams logging railroad.

Sawdust Burner

Following an article in the NMRA Magazine, I built a sawdust burner from a kit.  Instead of using the cast top, I substituted a screen from a sifter and included a flickering light module.  Now it looks like the burner is really burning sawdust.  I can't wait to get to Angela's Landing so I can install it on the layout.  It's going to be a while . . . 

Benchwork Begins

I haven't posted on this thread in a while, but I recently started construction of the benchwork for the TwoHats logging branch.  I plan to lay the track here and get it operational before I work on the level below, so I don't mess up any finished scenery.

Sawdust burner article?

Which issue of the NMRA Magazine was the sawdust burner article in? I need to build one for my sawmill in HO.

Thanks,

Kurt Thompson

Track Plan?

I am also modeling a branch logging line on a upper deck. I named mine after my 90 Y/O  step father. Do you have a track plan to post? I would love to see it and compare to my layout. 

Loving Life in Northern Colorado

Dale

Sawdust Burner and Track Plan

I'll take a look through my old issues and try to find the article.  I know it was a couple of years ago, 2015 or 16, but I'm not sure exactly when. 

You can see my track plan in my other blogs, but probably the best discussion of the current plan is here

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/nac-track-plan-12205587

New Track Layout at Logging Camp

We had a snow day today (I love working for the schools) so I worked on the track layout for my logging camp.  I opened up the models I've purchased and figured out their footprints.  I also did some reading in a Sawmills and Logging book I have, and tried to figure out how things would have actually worked.  There are a couple of other logging modelers in the area, and I want my scene to be different from what they've done (because they've done it WAYYY better than I could!!)  Finally, I didn't like where I had placed a coal mine (I have the model and really want to put it somewhere), so I figured out a good way to work that in too.

Here's what I've come up with:
 

The main changes here are:

1. I figured out how to include a Log Flume.  It will be mostly horizontal, run out from between two hills, and empty into a creek.  In front of it will be a pile of logs for loading, and a donkey engine for pulling them into place.  The loggers would dam up the end of the flume letting the water rise.  The logs would float up, and spill over down a ramp, into the pile.
2. I balooned out the bypass track to allow for a crane.  The crane will lift logs from the pile and put them on log cars on one of the two loading tracks.
3. I reversed the coal mine spur at the end to provide for a mountain/hill between them separating it from the logging scene.
4. There's room for my bunkhouse/housing, some small buildings, and a mess hall for the lumberjacks.

I'm pretty excited about getting to work laying track and building these scenes, especially scratch building the log flume!

Track Progress

I began laying track for the logging camp and approach over the weekend.  It's all running very smoothly!  I'm powering the frogs using the homemade slide switch controllers.  I'll detail that in the next post. 

The track is Atlas Code 83 and I've removed half the ties and spaced the others unevenly.  I love the temporary, slapdash look of it.  When it's all operating smoothly, I'll move on with painting and ballasting.

Looking good!

Michael: The Atlas Rail never looked so good - great idea. I tried to do that with ME track and it started to fall apart. Is the Atlas track more durable or are you just really careful? 

Regarding powering your frogs with slide switches, please do show that more closely. I like the idea of manually operating my switches so why not power the frogs as well, right? (Of course my rail is dead so what do I know? Others surely will be interested.) Some of the switches on my layout are just to far to reach and, of course, are at the high point on the line like your lumber camp. Are you looking at any Long reach areas and how to attack those?

Homemade Switch Throws

I'm using Tortoise switch machines, toggles and LEDs to control the turnouts on most of my layout, but I wanted something different to control my turnouts on my logging branch.  I had two reasons for this.  I want the logging branch to look very temporary, kind of thrown together, and very backwoods railroady.  Second, the logging branch is on the upper deck which is only 4" thick, and I want to minimize anything visible mounted under the track.

My primary requirements were to move the switch points and power the frog on my Fast Tracks turnouts.  I considered several commercial solutions, including Caboose Industries ground throws, and Tam Valley Frog Juicers.  But in the end I settled on a homemade version I first learned about from John Saxon here:  https://nmra.org.au/2022/07/18/new-approach-to-turnout-throws/  I'd used slide switches twice before, but these looked much better than mine, and added a target you can swivel to show point position!

I pretty much made mine the way John does, but for the target I punched circles out of brass sheet using a paper punch.  This was remarkably easy and worked very well.  I use a .010 wire to move the points.  I put a bend in it to take up slack, and I also can pinch or widen this bend for fine tuning after installation.

I installed five of these over the weekend, and they work great!  Here are some photos.

Moving Along!

Michael,

Nice to see the work on the upper deck taking place. I'm still bummed that you didn't go with the helix plan under the steps and have the extra coal mine on the upper deck! But hey, this isn't my railroad is it?

Those switch stands really look superb. I use dead frogs on my turnouts because I don't want to do any extra wiring than I have to, but if I ever changed my mind, I'd follow your lead. As always, nice job!

Really Like The Sawdust Burner

Michael:

Really like the sawdust burner.  Replacing the cast top with a sifter screen and installing a "fire" is a stroke of genius.  I'm sure you'll enjoy it when you get to that point on the logging RR.

Trackwork finished in the logging camp

I put the extended weekend to good use and finished the trackwork in the logging camp.  Everything is wired, tested and functional.  The cardboard squares are footprints for the logging crane, bunkhouse and kitchen.

Next up is painting the track and ballasting.  But I'll probably install the rest of the track on the upper level first so I only have to clean the airbrush once!

BTW, the level sitting on the track inspection car is a great way to check the level of your track.  I'm halfway done with track laying before I discover this . . . 

So Simple!

Michael,

The trackwork looks great. I really like your "level" idea. So simple! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks for the tip.

New Locomotive

The prototype for my THLC is the Meadow River Lumber Company.  I've been reading about their locomotives, and the many adventures with their Heisler, and decided I needed to have one.  I found a nice one on eBay with sound, and I renumbered it for THLC.

" I found a nice one on

" I found a nice one on eBay"

Wait! I thought logging equipment always looked "used and abused", even if well maintained and smooth running.

More interesting than "nice".

Turntable

Over the weekend I began construction of a turntable for Angela's Landing.  The servicing area of Angela's Landing is the last track on the layout!  The turntable will allow me to really start operating the branch line.

The table was installed by the Two Hats Lumber Company, so it's only big enough for the line's logging locomotives, and the N&AC 2-8-0 and 2-6-0.  It will also fit a diesel.  So those are the locomotives that can be assigned to the Ashley Creek Local and Passenger runs, unless the loco wants to run backward all the way back to Nicholas!

I'm scratch building the turntable based on a Bob Hayden article I've had for more decades than I care to admit.  So far, I've built the turntable bridge and I'm waiting for the 1/4" phono plug to arrive so I can get to work on the functional bits.

Here's the bridge so far.  It's not fully detailed yet.  I still have to add wood decking, weights, push bars, etc.

Ohhhh!

I can tell...this is going to be good!  Nice job Michael!  That's one great looking turntable!

The chief engineer talking

The chief engineer talking about the Heisler.

“It is a joke,  it was a joke the day they built it, it was a joke the day we bought it and ut will be a joke the day Hitlers men take over”.  

This was written i believe in Jan of 1942 about an engine that had not had a single trip that didn't have problems..  Oddly enough said engine is still pulling trains in WV today.  

I will be staying in a Cabin not to far from there for a few days.  Babcock State Park on the old Manns Creak property above Sewell.  And will have to drive through Rainelle on my way there.  

Have you read what happened when they tried to replace steam with diesels?  Lets say it is a bad idea if you are still fording creaks to use electric traction motors…. 

Also for those less familiar with the prototype in question.  Many of its flat cars went over to Cass to be used as its passenger cars.  And i think the Lidgerwood is from there as well.

-Doug M

I have that book too, Doug.

I think you got that quote from the Meadow River Lumber Company book.  Great book!  I haven't gotten to the diesel chapter yet, but I'm right up to it.  I stopped there and went off on other projects, but now you have me interested to see what happens with the diesels.  

Kadee bobber caboose

I'll have to look for one of those....great little caboose.