Age is only a state of mind, keep the mind active and enjoy life
Lyco:
Gonna eat up postspace anyway. I'd be interested in hearing more of your proposed rack line to a lumber plot, as I'm wrestling with a problem of impossibly steep grades (on the order of 45 deg) and am considering switchbacks which would require a lot of spadework, so to speak. Did lumber Co's do rack lines? I know they skidded forever with tracklayers, donkeys, or hung overhead cabling (my Gfather was a tall-timber man--a topper, point of fact--but I never heard of a rack RR). Which means that the whole western region might be covered with 'em and I wouldn't know. Your question opens up a possible thread.
FWIW, I intend someday to have a rack RR.
Les
Look at this thread: See my replies. I posted several good photos.
http://2guyz.info/Forums/viewtopic/t=3773.html
Hoofe, thanks for your interest....my real estate is fairly limited and whilst a switchback would be prototypical, I have not got the room for it.I have always been facinated by rack railways and have ridden them in Wales and in Switzerland. Due to cost factors, I would not think a timber company would ever have installed one, but then they say there's a prototype for everything ! I will need rack to get the trains up from sea level to the mill as the grade will be too great for traction alone.Really interested in the comment on Grandfather....the Pacific North West timber operations in the US amaze me....volume, ingenuity, rail lines,flumes,....facinating stuff.
My mill operation will simply be a short branch with a two track change over yard at the end..empties in, loads of milled timber out with the rudimetary passenger service to keep the loggers wives happy....:-)
But I need the rack loco...........
Try
http://www.spotteddeer.com/
This site may be of interest to you.
http://www.thecog.com/
http://www.cograilway.com/default.asp
Energizing (bunny) link:
Lyctus:
I noticed you're from down under. If there were but one country I could emigrate to, Australia would be my pick. I'd want somewhere in the outback, though.
Re the rack logging road: go for it! But by all means, send across some pixes! If nothing else, it'll be unusual. Are you using British designed locos, or someone else's? Is that sawmill conna actually work? I read on a site where one does, but no details. (I used to haul logs to a mill, so I know how they work, no problem--except doing it in 1:20 scale. The mechanics, not the appearances, I have in mind.)
THe temperatures are finally falling here in River City. It was about 81F. Gonna get hot again.
I have found an LGB 24460 red Furka-Oberalp electric rack loco ! The price is $500.95
Nicholas Smith Trains
Broomall, PA
(610) 353-8585
I remembered seeing it there last week. I called a few minutes ago (27-AUG-07, 6:30 PM), and they still have it.
St. Aubins Station and Watts Train Shop also have the same loco for $479.89
Trainworld has it for $459.99
Hope this helps !
Captain Stryker
Yeah, it is kinda pricey, but, they are getting few and far between. I was lucky to have gotten mine off e-bay this past spring.
I also have the matching Schollenbahn passenger cars that go with it.
Tom Trigg
Thanks for the research Capt. I am now trying to talk with St Aubin, as my usual supplier,Trainworld actually says that they do not have this loco. I don't know if St Aubin ship internationally. Trainworld are good at this. For some reason, probably a couple of forms that have to be completed for international parcels, a number of US retailers and mail order houses are reluctant to send stuff overseas.
Hey Hoofe, you'd be welcome Down Under and I could maybe take you for a ride on a 2' gauge steam loco just 20mins from my house, and you could give me hand to commission the backyard empire....in fact, get packing and come on down...
I just called Nick Smith trains and the one they have is the display model sitting up on the shelf. What did they tell you ?
Well Captain,after about 4 expensive long distance phone minutes , the nice fella at Nicholas Smith said, no, none in stock ! He said no problem shipping to Oz, but unfortunately they did not have the loco I wanted in stock ??
OK, I'll have another go !! Thanks for your interest. I'm getting obsessed with getting my hands on one..........
lyctus,
I am about pissed at these people! I will ship the part/train to you!!!!
I have ordered parts before to another man in Oz and shipped them on and not a single problem!
People should not have this much problem. Only problem I had was emailing him back but I could get his.
Let me know and I will be on the phone (and other things) to these people in the AM!
I'll go there tomorrow evening and check as it is only a 20 minute ride from here.
Captain Dale
Dale,
Ok, just makes me dang mad at some times!
William
G'day cobber !
I went there today and the red LGB 24460 FO Rack loco is still on display on the shelf above and to the right of the "Now Serving" number sign and the row of coffee mugs hanging on the nails. It is to the right of the red LGB 2095N OBB Diesel loco.
Ole Chap, did you ask if they ship to Oz?
Toad in da Swamp
That I did not ask, but, in one of Geoff's previous posts, he said he spoke to someone at NS Trains on the phone and they said it would not be a problem to ship to Oz.
Did you call them back and order it? What is the stat?
TF& WL Thanks for checking out status of the rack loco. I have been interstate for a couple of days- went to sunny Queensland for some business meetings in Brisbane- and I have not been into the office to check incoming faxes to see whether Nicholas Smith replied. I will just love giving them the location of the loco in their store from Perth, Australia , but if they haven't replied, I'll assume they don't want to deal, and I will come back to you.
Life can be frustrating......... but international friends- strangers who are prepared to help out someone they have never met, do not know, may never meet, is truly inspirational. Thanks fellas.
Apologies Capt Stryker....I am suffering late night flight red eye and keen to check out where things are with this thread, and trying to get out of the house to meet the family for Father's Day picnic at a narrow guage railway park and I kinda messed up the 'who's doing what on the RacK Loco scene'. Sorry. I owe you for the research ! Many thanks. Same message applies though ! I will enjoy NST being told where their stock is located....... from Oz !!
Ok, mate, just keep us informed!
Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month