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| Posted: Sun Nov 20th, 2016 06:31 am |
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11th Post |
jtrain
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Here's an article I found that chocked full of ideas for anyone modeling a logging railroad. Perhaps one day, if I have enough space, I'll have to model a log jam on a river!
http://bigskyjournal.com/Article/montanas-original-man-camps1
This article is based on the logging of the Blackfoot River, which did in fact have it's own successful logging railroad. It had two steam engines, Williamette shays to be exact! But what struck me is that the same logging company, the Western Logging Co. apparently had an electric loco!
Here's a photo:
--James
Last edited on Sun Nov 20th, 2016 06:40 am by jtrain
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James W.
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| Posted: Sun Nov 20th, 2016 07:01 am |
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12th Post |
jtrain
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Much of the logging was done on the Blackfoot by using the river, but the Big Blackfoot Railroad, the one with two Willamette Shays, ran from Bonner (aka. East Missoula) and up the Blackfoot River about 15 miles or so, and had enough rail to do several temporary branch lines into the different valleys.
This line was located just East of Missoula, MT, and one of the shays is still in existence at the Fort Missoula Museum!
One thing I learned from a couple of articles is that a lot of these lines must have been dozens of miles away from other railroads and were thus not connected to any other line. Therefore, it makes sense that so little is known about these lines, it's not like photographers back then traveled far into the back country where these little railroads were, most were busy taking pictures of interesting man-made creations or the vast beauty of Flathead Lake and what would become Glacier National Park.
I've also got a feeling that the miles of track which are recorded are MAIN-LINE track, they didn't include branch lines because they would be moved so often. so maybe these setups were bigger than I originally thought?
Anyways, I dug this photo out of the surviving Willamette Shat at Fort Missoula:
The museum also had some very interesting equipment that I would be happy to post as soon as I find the photos and do a post on my blog (see the link in my signature below).
--James
Last edited on Sun Nov 20th, 2016 07:03 am by jtrain
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James W.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21st, 2016 01:34 am |
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13th Post |
jtrain
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A decision has been reached as to exactly what I want to model! For my Crown Peak project I'd like to model the sawmill area and the shops first. we've all seen some impressive model sawmills on the internet, but for this railroad I'd like to make one where everything moves, the belts, wheels, saws, and the log carriage. I don't need this thing to actually cut lumber, but I'd like to have the motion there so I can combine it with sound in the future.
While everything else is either a rotary or a single direction linear motion, the log carriage needs to go back and forth. therefore I need something that will turn the rotational direction of the DC electric motor into a linear motion that will go back and forth.
here's a link to the various options I thought of, but I need to know which one I should go with:
http://westernloggingrr.blogspot.com/2016/11/planning-railroad-or-how-to-make-saw.html
Any thoughts?
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James W.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21st, 2016 02:01 am |
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14th Post |
jtrain
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Okay, I decided that the time-delay would be the best and cheapest option. I can buy such a circuit ready made and programmable for about 12 dollars.
The circuit is designed to take the voltage to a DC motor and reverse it over a set time, this should be done continuously.
The motor itself will rotate a piece of all-thread that is 3/8 or 1/2 inch diameter by about 10 inches long. On the all thread I will have a nut which will move back and forth when the all thread is rotated. This nut, in turn, will move the log carriage.
Okay, well that's one problem solved. Next I'll have to start planning the sawmill!
--James
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James W.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21st, 2016 04:55 pm |
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15th Post |
Reg H
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| Joined: | Sun Oct 19th, 2014 |
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I know you said you have the problem solved...
But you might consider using either a Tortoise or SwitchMaster switch machine.
They are already slow motion and might have enough "throw" to operate the carriage.
Reg
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21st, 2016 08:27 pm |
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16th Post |
oztrainz
Super Moderator
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Hi James,
Given that you are planning on going with a sectional layout, have you checked out http://www.freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=6338&forum_id=20
There is some good information there that might assist you with your build. Any questions on what is there, ask away,
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John Garaty
Unanderra in oz
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22nd, 2016 02:00 am |
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17th Post |
jtrain
Registered
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Thanks Reg H, I did briefly consider a tortoise switch motor, but I need 8-10 inches of movement. To get that kind of a throw I would need a very long and very stiff rod.
Oztrainz,
Thanks for the link to the thread! I'll be sure to ask questions if/when I have them.
--James
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James W.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22nd, 2016 04:02 am |
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18th Post |
Thayer
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James,
Why do you need so much throw? If you have a 16-foot log and a 4-foot blade, and log precedes and clears the blade by 2 feet then you only need 24 feet of throw.
True, the total length the log and carriage will consume through the cycle is 40 feet, but the mechanism attach point stays on the same end of the carriage throughout the cycle.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22nd, 2016 04:09 am |
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19th Post |
jtrain
Registered
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Now that I think about it, you're absolutely right. But even so, I would still need 6 inches of throw. If I had a long enough, and stiff enough rod, the switch machine could throw that length, but even then it would have to be automatic so the back and forth motion would happen on it's own.
Simply put, this would be exceeding what a turnout motor is designed for, whereas a specifically designed circuit board should do the job nicely for a few bucks.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
--James
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James W.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22nd, 2016 07:32 am |
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20th Post |
Thayer
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I agree, you are on the right path with the lead screw idea, I just didn't want you trying to come up with a lot more throw than you needed. A long arm on any kind of servo will magnify any uneven motion in the system but your lead screw should run smoothly.
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