Fifty years ago cattle loading ramps were common on the smaller western railroads. But not anymore!
Does anyone have any information or pictures of those ramps that serviced the cattle cars? I need to build one for a siding.
Thanks for any help
Doug Arnold
Dirty and Dusty Railway
Doug,
The rail loading chutes really were no different from those used for trucks.
Look through these and you should find what you’re looking for.
Ralph
[b]Here’s the stockyards on the POC…
Along the mainline
The ramp is about a 20 degree angle.
Note that the fencing is double sheathed on the ramp area. That is because there are holding pens on either side. Livestock is very hard on fencing and any type of obstruction will be hit by crowded cattle and damaged. Thus it is always sheathed to the side (inside) where the animals are or as in this case both sides.
Except for major stockyards most pens have just one loading ramp. A locomotive is used to move the string of stockcars to the ramp one by one for loading. Also a loading ramp is often used without any pens at all. Usually a V or wedge shaped fence is used to funnel the livestock to the ramp. One thing I never got around to putting on my ramps were 2x2 or so sized piecec across the floor of the ramps to prevent the animals from slipping and falling when the ramp was wet. I did put crude light posts by each ramp to represent homemade ones for night loading. Most country ramps didn’t seem to have any lights other than maybe temporary or the lights from a truck or other vehicle. There was also another type of ramp used on some Colorado ramps. A dock like structure was adjacent to the track at the end of the ramp(s). Gates were opened at an angle between the pen and the car to funnel the livestock into the car and were closed to stop the rest of the animals once the car was loaded. These photos were taken in 2006. While the scene has changed somewhat with lots of “weeds” (moss) the pens have held up these last 6 years with almost no repairs needed. I wish everything held up so well. They were constructed with prepainted & weathered cedar and brad nailed (not pin nailed) together without glue except for some minor details. Incidentally the above ramp design is based on a Santa Fe prototype used in the valley in central California.[/b]
Doug, have built one of these for my railroad where i didnt have much space.t is based on D&RGW practice to load either sheep or cattle.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgsnh/stockpen1.jpg)
the top ramp is a swing gate that gets out of the way for cattle loading
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgsnh/stockpen2.jpg)
I have designed this in 3d solidworks with the intent of suppling PDF files to for others to build there own. please let me know if you wish to buuld this “complicated version”
Al,
That’s a very nice model and is the dock type I was referring to as “another type” above. Sure glad you posted the photos.
There used to be quite a few of them along the old RR line that ran from Avondale up to Coatesville through the old King Ranch. I’ll take a ride up through there and see if any of them are still around and get some pictures for you. Most of them were pie shaped and had a large shelter at the top end.
Whate are the overall dimensions of yours, Richard? (Approximate footprint is plenty good!)
Additionally … is there a gate to the outside on that pen anywhere, or is the only way in or out by train?
Matthew (OV)
As a history major I’m really enjoying this.
I also posted a note on the DRGW list and the spng list, both on Yahoo.
The response from all the lists has been incredible. I even got pdfs of measurements on the DRGW list.
I was going to build one loading facility but I think I’ll be following Richard’s example and building more than one!
Between Richard’s and Al’s great work a new “industry” is coming to the D&D! I could also build a double-decker ramp for sheep but I also will have to build the stock cars to go with them!
If you don’t want to scratch build your own, BridgeMasters makes a nice cattle loading ramp and fence sets. That’s what I use:
(http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/4429/dulcestockpens.jpg)
Matthew (OV) said:
Whate are the overall dimensions of yours, Richard? (Approximate footprint is plenty good!)Additionally … is there a gate to the outside on that pen anywhere, or is the only way in or out by train?
Matthew (OV)
Without measuring, the pen area (4 pens) is about 40" long by 12" deep plus the projection of the ramps towards the track.
The gates (8) are all along the back. Note the high structures at rear in the 4th photo I posted. This would allow livestock to be moved into the outside pens and from there through to the middle pens or any of the loading ramps. My gates are nonoperating for greater strength as I could see no reason to have them operate for my purposes.[/b]
Richard Smith said:
[b]Here’s the stockyards on the POC…Along the mainline
The ramp is about a 20 degree angle.
Note that the fencing is double sheathed on the ramp area. That is because there are holding pens on either side. Livestock is very hard on fencing and any type of obstruction will be hit by crowded cattle and damaged. Thus it is always sheathed to the side (inside) where the animals are or as in this case both sides.
Except for major stockyards most pens have just one loading ramp. A locomotive is used to move the string of stockcars to the ramp one by one for loading. Also a loading ramp is often used without any pens at all. Usually a V or wedge shaped fence is used to funnel the livestock to the ramp. One thing I never got around to putting on my ramps were 2x2 or so sized piecec across the floor of the ramps to prevent the animals from slipping and falling when the ramp was wet. I did put crude light posts by each ramp to represent homemade ones for night loading. Most country ramps didn’t seem to have any lights other than maybe temporary or the lights from a truck or other vehicle. There was also another type of ramp used on some Colorado ramps. A dock like structure was adjacent to the track at the end of the ramp(s). Gates were opened at an angle between the pen and the car to funnel the livestock into the car and were closed to stop the rest of the animals once the car was loaded. These photos were taken in 2006. While the scene has changed somewhat with lots of “weeds” (moss) the pens have held up these last 6 years with almost no repairs needed. I wish everything held up so well. They were constructed with prepainted & weathered cedar and brad nailed (not pin nailed) together without glue except for some minor details. Incidentally the above ramp design is based on a Santa Fe prototype used in the valley in central California.[/b]
Richard, Your RR is always a pleasure to view. Nick
Mr. Smith, would it possible to see a track plan of the POC? I have seen maney pictures (with Bruce C.) of your RR and I am very impressed! I wish I had to room to ‘spread out’ as it appears you have done. And now I’ll get off my ____ and get some work done on the loading deck for Valley station, that is next to Goodson Brothers Warehouse. Pictures when I get the deck cleaned off and the building installed.
E. Paul Austin said:
Mr. Smith, would it possible to see a track plan of the POC? I have seen maney pictures (with Bruce C.) of your RR and I am very impressed! I wish I had to room to ‘spread out’ as it appears you have done. And now I’ll get off my ____ and get some work done on the loading deck for Valley station, that is next to Goodson Brothers Warehouse. Pictures when I get the deck cleaned off and the building installed.
Mr. Austin, 
You are in luck since I only completed the final trackwork recently and made up a schematic type track plan. For size reference the three sections are each between 70 and 80 feet long for a total length of 220 or so feet. The railroad is of course point to point. Some details are subject to change as they are being built but the track itself is firm.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/richard_smith/2012/POC-TrackDiagram-4a.sig.jpg)
Richard Smith said:
Some details are subject to change as they are being built but the track itself is firm.[/b](http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/richard_smith/2012/POC-TrackDiagram-4a.sig.jpg)
There was a time when you had discussed a “third leg” going someplace (lumber operation?) from a wye in the middle … have you abandoned that notion? I look forward to stories involving the new sections … Matthew (OV)
Richard; Thank you, I use a loop to loop with spring switchs and no where as many sidings (industries) as you have.
Paul
You are most welcome Paul. Taken any photos of your line lately?
Matthew,
You have a good memory. I better watch what I say around here. 
The proposed third leg would have been a logging branch that cut off at Bandon where the track goes into the tunnel where it says “Coquille Jct.”(pronounced Ko-keel). Instead I installed two car storage sheds back there and the log train simply appears from one of them and through the tunnel. Much easier access-wise too.
Besides there was considerable extra maintenance that would be required for very little benefit. Some years I only get 5 months of operating and maintenance time because of rain and storm in the winter so each suitable day is precious. The advantage of building and scenicking as I go is that I can measure what’s going to be required in maintenance and know when to stop. I do have suitable space for additional RR but the present line can easily provide a solo run of up to 2 hours or more if I want and could easily accommodate 4 operators for multi train ops. I’ve never had 4 operators at once so how much capacity do I need?
Heh. Well, at least you can expand instead of tearing down and replacing should you ever feel the inclination!
That other project is still a “go” too … just delayed severely by a series of calamaties dating back to CHRISTMAS. Sheesh.
Best,
Matthew (OV)
Just from a “cowboy’s” point of view, the bridgeworks model is not accurate. You could never get cattle up those ramps. First they hate going up them, so you have to put them in a lane to get them pointed in the right direction and then “run” them up the ramp. You would need to build a small lane in the Bridgeworks pens to get them to be accurate.
Richards is very prototypical and accurate for what they are. His description of the double boards is right on. You put the fencing on the inside so when the cow leans against it, it doesnt pop off the nails and thus the cow can get out. Cattle are very hard on ramps because, like I said before, they hate going up ramps.
I was born and raised on a cattle ranch and still help out when needed. I see Richards and think, “yep thats a great setup.” I look at the Bridgeworks one and think, “oh boy, we are gonna have some fun today.” Not to be too critical of the Bridgeworks model, but just to say you need to modify it to be more believable.
Richard to help me figure out your construction (and maybe duplicate) what are the actual dimensions of the wood you used for the posts and cross boards. On a little smaller scale with maybe just 2 pens, this is just what I was looking for.
Jim
Doug Arnold said:
Fifty years ago cattle loading ramps were common on the smaller western railroads. But not anymore! Does anyone have any information or pictures of those ramps that serviced the cattle cars? I need to build one for a siding. Thanks for any help Doug Arnold Dirty and Dusty Railway
Hiya Doug! I lost this thread and couldn’t find it again to save my life. I took a couple of slightly different curves in making my cattle ramp. All the same it is based on D&RGW plans. I wanted to show it to you. So a couple of days ago I posted my stuff on a new thread, under Modelling, and called ‘Cattle Ramp’. Now I’ve found you again. I hope you enjoy it. Meanwhile here’s a preview:
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/choochoo_chaboogie/_forumfiles/Cattlepen001.jpg)
