Bill and Tom's EXCELLENT ADVENTURE in Logging and Mining
- Thread starter Doctor G
- Start date
The various lures and hooks of logging modeling are various and many. The machines are interesting, the Mountains Tom and I like are interesting, and there can be a surprising amount of operation out there in the woods. On my RR the vertical distance really gives the illusion that you have gone somewhere, when you have made the trip from State Line to Crooked Creek; Harlow almost seems to be on another planet.
The curves on most model railroads are way to tight, but many of them are almost reasonable for logging equipment. am struggling torward getting portions of my RR operable (am working on Shay #18) trying to fix it's slipping gear. #18 is a hill monster, a veritable Behimoth; ti is a PFM B2 Shay, that has had NWSL gear reduction gearing installed in it , so it does about 13 scale miles per hour @ 12 volts.
Bill Nelson
A large sawmill complex is in the making
Hi all,
Here are some shots of the early construction of the J.E.Patterson Sawmill complex. This is going to be a very big complex with multiple logging related buildings and a good sized central sawmill.
Reckon TRNL Bill will be along here soon to explain the goings on. It really is interesting.
Bill, maybe you could sketch out a track plan for the good Zealot folks and I will digitalize it and get it going around this electronic campfire.
Hope you all can visualize what Bill and I see here amongst the sticks and the homasote.
Doc Tom
Hi all,
Here are some shots of the early construction of the J.E.Patterson Sawmill complex. This is going to be a very big complex with multiple logging related buildings and a good sized central sawmill.
Reckon TRNL Bill will be along here soon to explain the goings on. It really is interesting.
Bill, maybe you could sketch out a track plan for the good Zealot folks and I will digitalize it and get it going around this electronic campfire.
Hope you all can visualize what Bill and I see here amongst the sticks and the homasote.
Doc Tom
Attachments
I scratched out a track diagram, and am posting it here. Due to our long and painful experience, Tom and I are following the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) here; The track we are hand laying (everything between the switch off the passing siding, the backdrop and the crossing that leads to the coal mine) is having gentile curves and #6 switches.
We don't have much depth to work with, and the log pond is taking up most of that. When I first started working with this area there was a hideously malformed lump of mountain that filled the space from the upper deck to the passing siding. In order to get space for a big sawmill, I tore out the mountain and installed a backdrop to get the room for a scene . To get room for proper operation, the loading docks are off scene, behind the back drop. We are going to try to hide where the track goes through the backdrop behind stacks of drying stacks and perhaps an elevated tram for green lumber handling . I likewise am putting in a long storage track for empty log cars, also behind the backdrop. Due to the angle of the backdrop, and the proximity to the creek that feeds the log pond. I'm thinking that I'll run the storage track through a building flat representing the car shops. Not a ideal solution , but better than a viable hole in the back drop.
The sawmill and planing mill , and powerhouse will be represented with narrow flats on the backdrop, with the burner and most of the drying stacks painted on the backdrop. If we can pull this off, we will have the look of a big sawmill, and with the hidden tracks we will hopefully be able to deliver big log trains, and have enough to to pull long trains of lumber out of the mill.
This is a minimalist plan, I don't have any engine or car facilities , a rip track, a track for machinery delivery. the only extra I have is the Company store/Office/warehouse. The one on my own railroad in Crooked Creek has been very useful operationally both as a delivery location for boxcars, and also a place to pick up boxcars of supplies for the log camps.
I really like the way I have used the sawmill track to access the coal mine at the wall side of the peninsula. this will help keep the mill switcher busy, if we have a dedicated mill switcher. the whole complex uses #6 switches and gentle curves; the plan is to make the track work bulletproof, so that big trains can be built up or delivered here without undue hastle.
Before I started on the sawmill itself I did a whole lot of work to the mainline at this end of the club, to get it more reliable. It is a lot more fun when everything stays on the track, and a derailment is an unusual occurrence.
Bill Nelson
We don't have much depth to work with, and the log pond is taking up most of that. When I first started working with this area there was a hideously malformed lump of mountain that filled the space from the upper deck to the passing siding. In order to get space for a big sawmill, I tore out the mountain and installed a backdrop to get the room for a scene . To get room for proper operation, the loading docks are off scene, behind the back drop. We are going to try to hide where the track goes through the backdrop behind stacks of drying stacks and perhaps an elevated tram for green lumber handling . I likewise am putting in a long storage track for empty log cars, also behind the backdrop. Due to the angle of the backdrop, and the proximity to the creek that feeds the log pond. I'm thinking that I'll run the storage track through a building flat representing the car shops. Not a ideal solution , but better than a viable hole in the back drop.
The sawmill and planing mill , and powerhouse will be represented with narrow flats on the backdrop, with the burner and most of the drying stacks painted on the backdrop. If we can pull this off, we will have the look of a big sawmill, and with the hidden tracks we will hopefully be able to deliver big log trains, and have enough to to pull long trains of lumber out of the mill.
This is a minimalist plan, I don't have any engine or car facilities , a rip track, a track for machinery delivery. the only extra I have is the Company store/Office/warehouse. The one on my own railroad in Crooked Creek has been very useful operationally both as a delivery location for boxcars, and also a place to pick up boxcars of supplies for the log camps.
I really like the way I have used the sawmill track to access the coal mine at the wall side of the peninsula. this will help keep the mill switcher busy, if we have a dedicated mill switcher. the whole complex uses #6 switches and gentle curves; the plan is to make the track work bulletproof, so that big trains can be built up or delivered here without undue hastle.
Before I started on the sawmill itself I did a whole lot of work to the mainline at this end of the club, to get it more reliable. It is a lot more fun when everything stays on the track, and a derailment is an unusual occurrence.
Bill Nelson
Attachments
Grab Shots
Here are a couple more "grab shots" of the Clarksville Model RR layout.
We are "blessed" to have a huge assortment of "donated" structures from model pikes that have been taken down because of house moves in this "army town" of ours. Here are a few of those structures being placed on the layout.
Dr Tom:mrgreen:
Here are a couple more "grab shots" of the Clarksville Model RR layout.
We are "blessed" to have a huge assortment of "donated" structures from model pikes that have been taken down because of house moves in this "army town" of ours. Here are a few of those structures being placed on the layout.
Dr Tom:mrgreen:
Attachments
That looks to be a very nice addition to the layout...!! Be sure to keep us posted on your progres...(or lack thereof)...:mrgreen:
some progress today.
Dave and Dr. Tom were running trains at the train club. I worked on the subroadbud @ the sawmill area. there is still some work to do at the hidden siddings, but the core of the subroadbed is in and I have roadbed cut to size , and can start sanding it to the needed thickness in places, and gluing it down and painting it to seal out moisture. In a couple weeks I'll be gluing down ties, and teaching hand laying skills to anyone who is insane enough to want to learn how to do that.
Bill NELSON
Dave and Dr. Tom were running trains at the train club. I worked on the subroadbud @ the sawmill area. there is still some work to do at the hidden siddings, but the core of the subroadbed is in and I have roadbed cut to size , and can start sanding it to the needed thickness in places, and gluing it down and painting it to seal out moisture. In a couple weeks I'll be gluing down ties, and teaching hand laying skills to anyone who is insane enough to want to learn how to do that.
Bill NELSON
HON3 @ the Club
at the operating session Saturday morning, Dave brought me a RMC, July 08 issue for me to study. there is an article in there on how to convert Bachman GE 70 Ton diesels to HOn3. The Author had NWSL custom make some wheels for the project, but since the article was publised, they has assigned a part # to the needed wheels, and are stocking them.
Caboose Hobbies carries the locomotive for about $60, so the conversion should produce a good running HOn3 locomotive for less than $100. I'm going to make at least one, so I can reclaim my MDC outside frame 2-8-0 for my home layout. I am in the middle of converting 8 Titcy train group ore cars to HOn3 for use at home and the club. (Iron ore @ home and Copper ore at the club.
Bill Nelson
at the operating session Saturday morning, Dave brought me a RMC, July 08 issue for me to study. there is an article in there on how to convert Bachman GE 70 Ton diesels to HOn3. The Author had NWSL custom make some wheels for the project, but since the article was publised, they has assigned a part # to the needed wheels, and are stocking them.
Caboose Hobbies carries the locomotive for about $60, so the conversion should produce a good running HOn3 locomotive for less than $100. I'm going to make at least one, so I can reclaim my MDC outside frame 2-8-0 for my home layout. I am in the middle of converting 8 Titcy train group ore cars to HOn3 for use at home and the club. (Iron ore @ home and Copper ore at the club.
Bill Nelson
update
Dr. Tom had to miss the train club meeting, as he was at a meeting of the group that he works with doing medical mission work in Haiti. He gets an excused absence for doing the Lords work.
I got sharpie laundry marker markings on the homasote roadbed showing where the edges of the ties need to go for most of the sawmill area trackage. I still have to add a little V shaped piece of subroadbed where the track comes out of the switch that leads to the coal mine. the track to the coal mine will go over the stream that leads to the log pond. I need some sollid support up under where that bridge abutment will go.
Next Monday, God willing, we can start glueing ties in place.
Bill Nelson
Dr. Tom had to miss the train club meeting, as he was at a meeting of the group that he works with doing medical mission work in Haiti. He gets an excused absence for doing the Lords work.
I got sharpie laundry marker markings on the homasote roadbed showing where the edges of the ties need to go for most of the sawmill area trackage. I still have to add a little V shaped piece of subroadbed where the track comes out of the switch that leads to the coal mine. the track to the coal mine will go over the stream that leads to the log pond. I need some sollid support up under where that bridge abutment will go.
Next Monday, God willing, we can start glueing ties in place.
Bill Nelson
Monday! Monday! Monday!
Subroadbed is in place!, homasote is installed and sealed with paint! Lines are drawn with laundry markers showing where the ends of the ties go! Tie cutting and marking jigs have been made! on monday, inshalah, (that's arab for God willing an the creek don't rise) we will be cutting marking and installing ties in the area of the J. E. Patterson coal and lumber Co, mill @ Patterson Tn. .
Tom, Is you going to be there? I gots to know, as Surry-Parker unit #2 may be ready to arrive. I'ze be much more likely to bring it iffins you be there; but also I knowse (my spell checker thought that word was ok- an I was tryin to write in de dialect) that whens I brings it you is going to have to be in two places at once, biulding another log camp for the Surry-Parker, and helping out at the Sawmill, so you can learn how to hand lay track. The prioritys will be hard to sort out. This sawmill is going to be too big for one logging camp, and operationaly two logging camps and no sawmill are worthless, so we need to do these two projects simultainiousky. we might need to recruit (subvert) some of the other guys.
Bill Nelson
Subroadbed is in place!, homasote is installed and sealed with paint! Lines are drawn with laundry markers showing where the ends of the ties go! Tie cutting and marking jigs have been made! on monday, inshalah, (that's arab for God willing an the creek don't rise) we will be cutting marking and installing ties in the area of the J. E. Patterson coal and lumber Co, mill @ Patterson Tn. .
Tom, Is you going to be there? I gots to know, as Surry-Parker unit #2 may be ready to arrive. I'ze be much more likely to bring it iffins you be there; but also I knowse (my spell checker thought that word was ok- an I was tryin to write in de dialect) that whens I brings it you is going to have to be in two places at once, biulding another log camp for the Surry-Parker, and helping out at the Sawmill, so you can learn how to hand lay track. The prioritys will be hard to sort out. This sawmill is going to be too big for one logging camp, and operationaly two logging camps and no sawmill are worthless, so we need to do these two projects simultainiousky. we might need to recruit (subvert) some of the other guys.
Bill Nelson
Hi Bill,
"You betcha"......to coin a phrase I will be there. Looking forward to some more logging shenanigans.
Doc Tom
Interesting model of an interesting prototype story
Hi All,
We had another operating session of the Clarksville Model RR club and it was a chance to get out the digital beast for a little railfanning.
This is a very interesting model of an actual Church that was converted to a car garage and a junk yard.
Hopefully Eric will be along here shortly to give the true to life story that inspired this very good modeling.
Doc Tom:mrgreen:
Hi All,
We had another operating session of the Clarksville Model RR club and it was a chance to get out the digital beast for a little railfanning.
This is a very interesting model of an actual Church that was converted to a car garage and a junk yard.
Hopefully Eric will be along here shortly to give the true to life story that inspired this very good modeling.
Doc Tom:mrgreen:
Attachments
People convert churches to garages there too eh?
My best childhood friend's dad had a church on his property converted into a big garage. Unfortunately he heated the thing with coal and neglected to sweep his chimney, the place burned down several years ago :cry:
The stained glass and all the church stuff had been moved to town long ago though. It looks a LOT like your model! :thumb:
My best childhood friend's dad had a church on his property converted into a big garage. Unfortunately he heated the thing with coal and neglected to sweep his chimney, the place burned down several years ago :cry:
The stained glass and all the church stuff had been moved to town long ago though. It looks a LOT like your model! :thumb:
I believe the prototype for this structure eventually burnt as well. Eric said it was permeated by motor oil.
Bill Nelson
Bill Nelson
slow night at the choo choo club
Bob and I were the only folks who showed up tonight. Bob cut ties, and I did some subroadbed work at the switch to the mine complex near the sawmill, got the roadbed installed there, and glued ties down I just have the switch ties to glue down @ the switch to the coal mine, and the switch to the lumber loading areas, and a tiny bit beyond each of those to install ties on, before we are behind the backdrop, and can revert to flex track once no one is looking. I have yet to install the subroadbud behind the back drop, so that is a piority now, as well as those switch ties. In two or three weeks (sooner if we have some extra work days (hint hint)); we will be ready to start spiking track and bulding switches.
This is going to be good. I ment to bring my camera to document the ties going in, but I forgot. the red cedar ties ore going in au natural (unstained) and I'm putting ballast down right after the ties are down, so I'm ballasting in front of the rails, which is easier, and ends up looking better. I'm actually getting somewhere!
Bill Nelson
Bob and I were the only folks who showed up tonight. Bob cut ties, and I did some subroadbed work at the switch to the mine complex near the sawmill, got the roadbed installed there, and glued ties down I just have the switch ties to glue down @ the switch to the coal mine, and the switch to the lumber loading areas, and a tiny bit beyond each of those to install ties on, before we are behind the backdrop, and can revert to flex track once no one is looking. I have yet to install the subroadbud behind the back drop, so that is a piority now, as well as those switch ties. In two or three weeks (sooner if we have some extra work days (hint hint)); we will be ready to start spiking track and bulding switches.
This is going to be good. I ment to bring my camera to document the ties going in, but I forgot. the red cedar ties ore going in au natural (unstained) and I'm putting ballast down right after the ties are down, so I'm ballasting in front of the rails, which is easier, and ends up looking better. I'm actually getting somewhere!
Bill Nelson