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The Crown Peak Logging Co.

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Posted: Sun Nov 20th, 2016 06:31 am

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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

____________________
James W.

See progress on the Crown Peak Logging Railroad

http://apartmentrailroad.blogspot.com

And:

http://rapidcityrr.blogspot.com

A blog with modeling ideas and prototype information about my favorite regional railroad, the Rapid City Pie

Posted: Sun Nov 20th, 2016 07:01 am

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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

Posted: Mon Nov 21st, 2016 01:34 am

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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?

Posted: Mon Nov 21st, 2016 02:01 am

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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

Posted: Mon Nov 21st, 2016 04:55 pm

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Reg H
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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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oztrainz
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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
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Posted: Tue Nov 22nd, 2016 02:00 am

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jtrain
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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

Posted: Tue Nov 22nd, 2016 04:02 am

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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.

Posted: Tue Nov 22nd, 2016 04:09 am

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jtrain
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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

Posted: Tue Nov 22nd, 2016 07:32 am

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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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