Logging H.O.

[tatans]

What is the procedure for looking for specific types of logging locomotives,shays, small articulated, tank engines etc etc I don't know what type of loco I want but I want to see as many varied engines used in logging as possible. Do I have to look on every manufacturers website, do I even know if they make loggers, Brass is completely out of the question so I must remain with plastic., and just how wonderful are these new plastic models? they seem a little pricey, are they as magnificent as touted? if so, just how well do they perfom, any help will be appreciated. I'm hoping there is one magical site with everything I need on one page, but I'm being realistic also, thanks

[SpaceMouse]

What I've found

Rivarossi Heisler
Bachman Spectrum 3 truck Shay
Bachman Spectrum Climax
MDC Roundhouse 2 and 3 truck Ready to run
MDC Roundhouse 2 and 3 Trucks Shay Kits

[knewsom]

For logging there are several options now in plastic. Bachmann has the 3-truck shay and the Class B Climax in HO, MDC has the 2 truck Shay, and there are still some Rivarossi 3 truck and 2 truck Heisler's available. In addition there is the Bachmann 0-6-0 tank locomotive and the Mantua 2-6-6-2 Tank logger available.

I have one of each except the Bachmann Climax, and I like them all. The MDC Shay took a lot of work in order to get it to run properly though. I had to get the NWSL regearing kit for it, and it is still very loud. The good thing about all of them is that you can get them relatively cheap on-line. I think I paid $89 for the 2 truck Heisler, $99 for the 3 truck Shay, $79 for the 2 truck shay, and although the three truck Heisler was a gift I think you can get it for $150 or so. An added benefit is they are all DCC ready. Take a look at Trainworld for the best prices on most of these.

Hope this helps,
Kevin

[JohnT14808]

Does one HAVE to use a Shay, or Heisler for a logging engine? Couldn't you use a camelback steamer, or really junked up 4-4-0 with a straight stack and a lousy paint job?

[Anonymous]

What you can use depends on what grades you have, shays and heislers werent used for logging just because they were logging engines. They were used because they are mountain goats. If you are going to model logging and not use a logger engine, keep the grades as low as possible. Even if you do use a logger try not to break the 5% line. I visited a friends layout with a 25% grade, thats right, 25%. But those were cable drawn mine cars and thats a whole different matter.

[Jetrock]

The problem with 4-4-0 locomoties and logging is that logging engines needed lots and lots of traction to carry heavy loads, and very little top end. Early logging locomotives tended to be small locomotives with small-diameter drivers, for more traction. Geared locos were a vast improvement in this department. The typical 4-4-0 model you can buy was intended for passenger service--high-stepping drivers for speed, fewer drivers because passenger cars didn't weigh much. A small Mogul or Consolidation, with 6 or 8 smaller driving wheels, would be a better choice for a logging rod engine.

About the straight stack: You wouldn't find them that often in logging, except late in the period--lots of logging locomotives burned wood, which would indicate a diamond stack.

So, no, you don't HAVE to use a Shay, Heisler or Climax on your logging line--but a 4-4-0 might not be the best choice, either.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JohnT14808

Does one HAVE to use a Shay, or Heisler for a logging engine? Couldn't you use a camelback steamer, or really junked up 4-4-0 with a straight stack and a lousy paint job?

Camelbacks were designed to use a specific kind of coal that had poor burning qualities. They made the firebox extra big to be able to use the coal, and there wasn't enough room for the cab at the back, so it was placed on the boiler itself. So you can see camelbacks would probably not have been used in logging. Of course now someone wil come along and prove me wrong! There is a prototype for everything I guess! [:D]

Bob Boudreau

[tatans]

Terrific responses, John T. : You are right, I have a couple of old switchers and 2 tank engines with lots of old used standard railway equipment sort of modified for logging, I was just wondering a nice addition of a "typical" logging engine might be fun, the above information will be most helpful, but I'm still open to modifying standard steam to logging, I modified an E-8 (doors off, panels removed, plenty of rust and mismatched paint, broken windows) it sort of fits right in to the scene.

[West Coast S]

Baldwin made a specific catalog series of rod engines for the lumber industry. Small wheelbased 2-8-2s,2-6-2s with tenders would fall into this catagory along with 2-6-2,2-8-2 tank engines which all shared common parts and could be maintained in primitive shops.

Logging articulateds ran the gamet from former class one power to catalog 2-6-6-2s &
2-8-8-2s and some rare 2-4-4-2s both in tender and tank versions and sometimes both!
Polsen Lumber aquired former NP 2-8-8-2s that were obsolete for mainline work by the late 30s, slighty larger then the catalog models, they were sucessfuly operated in lumber service for an additional 30 years.

Many lumber outfits equipped their engines, if oil fired with soot condensors. Coal or wood burning could have a Onion stack or a homemade spark arrestor.

A roundhouse old time or the equivelent 2-8-0 would be my first choice in HO.
You could also add a pilot truck to the Roundhouse 0-6-0.
Manatua has the only lumber operation specific 2-6-6-2T . You could follow several prototype examples and assign a old tank car as a tender if you so desired.

Outside the scope of your query, but, The Red River lumber Company was the only operation, to my knowledge, that utilized 600v Catanary with electric motors in leiu of steam power and placed a 600hp diesel switcher in service in 1926.

[Anonymous]

Early logging engines ran the gamut. American, Moguls, Ten-Wheelers and Consolidated were just as likley as grasshoppers and gypsy. Motive power was determined by period, availability, terrain, and how deep were their pockets. Some logging outfits made or bought their own that ran on logs as rails. Logging operation in flat land could run anything. Logging operations with grade began to look at specialized engines such as the geared loggers, Shay, Heisler, and Climax.
Typical logging operation was 4 miles of rail. The bigger operations would have a mix of geared and rod engines. The geared engines would work the short lines in the woods, bring the loads down to a siding which would would then be picked up by a rod engine for the run to the log dump. Top speed on geared engine was 17 MPH. Though that could be attained, smart operators learned that a more pedestrian speed of 10 didn't excessivly beat up the machinery. Rod engines could comfortably handle greater speed. Rod engines could be either tender or tank, Mikado and Mallets (2-4-4-2 and 2-6-6-2) seemed to be popular. Small switchers were usually used at the mill with 0-4-0, 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 being popular.
Fuel depends on location and time. Engines here in the Pacific Northwest seemed to have been wood burners, slowly replaced by coal and oil as infrastructure for these more efficient fuel types became available.
Other things to look at are the log cars which were disconnects, flats and skeleton. Passenger cars at some camps for safer transporting (safer then riding skeleton cars) of crews to the woods. Tank cars for fuel oil, kerosene, water, fire control. Box cars for supply, commisary and mess hall support and transporting finished goods from the mill. There are several good books and many good web sites with logging pictures which will show what I've mentioned above.