Jackpot! (logging info sites)

Matthyro

Will always be re-membered
Wow what a source of information here. Have to add them all to my favs as these posts disappear in time.
Thanks everyone.
 

TrainClown

Member
If you like that traction engins, mabie you will like this one. It rests quietly at the Saskatoon Rail and Steam Museum.
 

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Matthyro

Will always be re-membered
Nice photo TrainClown. There are a number of these at the Milton fairgound so will have to go and take some photos there.
 
Spent a whole Sunday morning, reading about the history of the logging in the Adirondacks Thanks for the site,lots of inspiration for my layout. This is what I enjoy about The Guage if you want info, somebody out there will provide it Keeps this 72 year old brain of mine ( a recent MR scan proves that I have one ) very active Thanks Chaps
 
A History Link

Here is a link I came across sometime back. Every logging operation has or had a history ... so I began to formulate a "history" for my very-much-under-construction Crandon & Northern RR. The following link details the actual histories of Wisconsin logging railroads county by county--

http://members.tripod.com/~sassmaster/

I model 1947 on a common carrier owned by forest products concerns and located primarily in Forest County, WI. This site, while short on photos, gave me a leg up on developing a plausible freelanced layout plan. I hope you fellows enjoy it!
 

Summit

New Member
Another site

Nice list of sites that have been compiled here...

Wanted to put in a plug for my site about a northern California shortline that was born a logger...

www.trainweb.org/mccloudrails

Still have a lot of equipment left over from the logging railroad days...

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV
 
Reply to Summit

Hey Jeff. That McCloud site is terrific! I really like the pine trees hugging the right of way in the photos. Also, I clicked on the 1920-1940 time period and liked the description of the combined logging and common carrier operations. The biggest knock on logging model railroads seems to be that they are a one-commodity show. Not so with the McCloud. I have visions of wood outside braced boxcars and 40 foot flats rolling through those trees behind steam and rolling past a log train waiting in the hole at a junction--all the perfect ingredients.

Thanks for a great link. --Stu--
:)
 

logsNtrains

New Member
Re: A History Link

Originally posted by grlakeslogger
Here is a link I came across sometime back.

http://members.tripod.com/~sassmaster/



Thanks ever so much for this link. I'm brand new to this website. Move to GA from WI 2 years ago when I retired. Have been interested in logging all my life. My Mom cooked for loggers on her uncle's farm at Phillips when she was in high school. As a kid I lived for summer vacations in the Northwoods.

I will be modeling the Thunder Lake in HOn3 in my big, walkout basement. All came about by giving book about it to a friend. Ran across the same book in library years later as I was trying to find a RR to model. Can't remember the author. Bet you can. I have 2 copies now. My life is still packed up. I'm in my new, but not complete, log house. I will make a lot of use of this Forum.

Steam rules. So does narrow gauge.
 

Summit

New Member
Thanks Stu

Stu-

Thanks for the kind words. It has been fun putting the site together...

Even if logging railroads were basically "one commodity" they generally had a lot of interesting equipment that more than made up for the lack of variety in their traffic. But you are right about the McCloud providing a good balance...more often than not, especially on the Lookout line, the 40' log flats and outside braced boxcars would be found on the same train.

After the Burney line opened in 1955 until the end of log hauling in 1963 it was an everyday occurance to see the log flats trailing behind steel 40'-50' boxcars and chip hoppers as well.

Glad you enjoyed the site...

-Jeff Moore
Elko, NV
 
Reply to logsNtrains

Of the books that I own, the one I find most useful and find myself referring back to again and again is Minnesota Logging Railroads by Frank A. King (Golden West Books, c.1981, ISBN 0-87095-076-2). Very little was published in railroad books about Wisconsin logging specifically. King was an official with the DM&IR, so he had access to a ton of information, as well as intimate firsthand knowledge of the subject. I expect there are a batch of county historical societies that have put out useful local histories that HAVE to include logging, but I've never found a comprehensive list gathered up together.

The only other widely circulated book that I am aware of is Koch's Steam and Thunder in the Timber , which a friend once loaned me. Unfortunately, it is regarded as a classic and is very expensive these days. It contains a chapter on the Lakes States (Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota). This is where mechanized logging got its real start, courtesy of Shay (MI), Weyerhaeuser (he started out in the logging business in WI), and Edward Hines (also got his start in WI).

If you are aware of any other good books on the subject of logging in this part of the country, please let me know. All the best in your efforts to fill that basement! --Stu--
 

logsNtrains

New Member
Re: Reply to logsNtrains

to grlakeslogger

The book I'm referring to is specifically about the Thunder Lake. It was written by a guy from IL. I have 2 copies. The 2nd one cost a bit as it was signed by author. I didn't care too much about the signature but since it took me over 5 yrs to find the book I paid the price. I wanted to have 2 copies. I highlight etc. in the cheap book. I'll let you know when I unpack it.
It's a neat & quaint RR. 3ft. narrow gauge that operated in the Rhinelander area from 1893-1941. They began ripping up track the month I was born (6/41). I'm cutting off my era about 1930. After that they were on the way downhill.
I attended the 10th Narrow Gauge modeler's convention in St Louis. (My 1st AMTRAK trip.) a couple months after I found Thunder Lake. The keynote speaker at the banquet said some of us should forget about CO and go home & find narrow gauge in our home state. I felt pretty smug. I had beat him to it.
I'm not sure how to research a lot of this stuff. I'm pretty new to the internet. Where would I be able to find a map of Rhinelander around 1930? I'd also like to find some more pictures in addition to what I have in the book. They had a mill in town and I'd like to be at least close to what it might have looked like. That is the only part of Rhinelander I will model. Most of the layout will be woods or ex-woods. Season will be late winter, early spring. I saw a picture of a water wagon loaded with icicles. Looked so cool! (Pun intended) Folks say this is a bad season to model but I don't think so. It can still be pretty wintry in woods but beginning to green up at the mill. Not all trees will be bare. Oaks keep leaves til new ones come on. I think I can make some frozen slush happen too. Icicles should be easy. Besides, most of their log moving happened in the winter. Some track was just laid on frozen ground and pulled up before thaw.
I was raised in the Milwaukee area and moved to Waukesha my second year in high school. Joined Navy, got married & lived all over. Came back to WI after 1st divorce. Was in Madison when I retired & moved to GA. Where are you?
 
REPLY TO logsNtrains

Hello logsNtrains. Since we are going to be trading some info that is probably not of interest to most of the forum members, let's go ahead and do it by Private Message.

Please check your PM Area (I think I got the name right--still a little new to this! ) --Stu--
 

sumpter250

multiscale modelbuilder
logsNtrains,
The line was a private carrier until 1898, when it was incorporated as the Brown and Robbins Railroad. In 1919 the line was sold to a group who formed the Thunder Lake Lumber Co.. By 1929 the company had 40 miles of rail line with six active locomotives. Nine of the ten locos in the lines history, were rod engines. The company used one shay as a switcher at Rhinelander.-"American Narrow Gauge Railroads" by George Hilton.
Pete
 
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