I plan on making a logging operation and I want to know what would be seen on a transion era logging site
Look at the link, this is typical for the era you are asking for, even if the photos were taken last month!
http://cs.trains.com/forums/1431622/ShowPost.aspx
Typically, they would use steam as long as possible, then move to second hand diesels. Here on the west coast of BC, Crown Zellerbach used a Baldwin and a couple of RS2/3’s, one ex-CPR, the other some US eastern road.
The engine in the photos on the link was one of 3 bought new by Canadian Forest Products specifically to replace steam. They have since been re-engined with Cat power. And another has been added to the roster.
You might also see custom conversions. There was an article on a motorized tender.
http://www.freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=239&forum_id=3
This list of links has a logging and a sawmill section in it. It’s mostly narrow gauge, but still a bunch of useful info.
The history channel has a show about logging called ax men.
Which is much more about the men than it is about the technology of logging.
During the transition era, a lot of logging shows transitioned from steam-powered rail to too-big-for-the-highway trucks. Only those with extensive, easily-maintained systems stayed with rail and dieselized.
Another factor was that a lot of the older woodlands had been logged out or taken out of production by law. A logging railroad couldn’t justify new motive power when production dropped to a few dozen carloads a week. With them, when the steamer’s flues expired, so did the railroad.
It all comes down to money. If the railroad/sawmill/lumber company isn’t making enough, it goes out of business or sells out to somebody else.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
You would find piles of used equipment, used locos, boxcars, flats, gondolas, with lots of modification, these people were great for converting second hand equipment to fit logging needs. The great thing about a logging operation is you can use almost any railroad loco or car and it will fit right in,( no need to worry about the prototypists) a lot of the actual logging machinery was built on site and logs were used to load and unload trees. Get a good book on logging operations as there are plenty of photos to guide you
If You have an LTS/LHS that is a Walther’s Monthly sales flyer participating dealer, ask if they still have a copy of the MAY sales flyer (sales prices in the flyers are generally good for TWO months) This flyer has a Kalmbach book titled “The Model Railroaders Guide to Logging Railroads” in it on sale for $15.98, reg price $18.95, sale price is good until June 30th. The Walther’s item # is 400-12423 Soft cover 8-1/4 X 10-3/4" 80pgs 75 color, 75B/W photos +5 illustrations.
If You don’t have a LHS nearby, try www.walthers.com I haven’t ordered mine yet, but I do plan on adding it to my Library.
BTW, it is on pg 69 of the May sales flyer, top of the page second ad right of the spine. Also in the new arrivals section pg 8 same flyer.
Doug
Here in BC, the logging railways went away when the ground got too steep for the trains. So unless it made sense to have truck to train re-loads, then they went all truck.
The two most notable re-load operations were Crown Zellerbach’s Nanaimo Lakes and Canfor’s Nimpkish operations. Of those 2, only the ex-Canfor operation is still going, now owned by Western Forest Products. Unfortunately from a modeling perspective it is totally isolated from any other railway, so there is no interchange opportunities. The CZ route had a crossing and interchange with the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway (CP Rail) at Ladysmith, so there is some interchange options there.
Those off-road trcuks are mighty impresive in their own right.
The older log trucks such as this 1940s-era Hayes appeal to me more such as pictured here on Vancouver Island. It is still used to transport logs to t