Doc Tom,
You need to get up to Cass, also. They’ve got one of the loaders sitting on the flat cars with side rails and the connecting rails that allows the crane to travel from one flat car to another. Also, it is in better shape and is a static display where you can get good access. I’ll try to find some pictures.
So, the tunnel on the road to Clingman’s(sp?) Dome is not part of the right of way?
Found the pictures -
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/Picture%20018.jpg)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/Picture%20019.jpg)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/Picture%20020.jpg)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/Picture%20021.jpg)
Yes, I leave coffee cups everywhere.
I know that you can get a nice souvenir by leaving a penny or a quarter on the tracks. What do you end up with from a coffee cup ?
Shawn said:
Tom looks like a great trip. The Smokies are a great place. Hows the RR going?
Hi Shawn, Yes the Smokies are a great place with lots of inspiration for modeling a logging outfit. It was very nice temperature wise (70-72 degrees) during these dog days of summer. I have been able to get the crews somewhat motivated and some work goes on this summer on the Little River Rail Road in the back yard. The line surveyors wanted me to send you a couple of shots that shows that mathematics does work even in the wilds of Tennessee. The Nelson Gap curved trestle will pass over the “Big Bridge” at the Little River Gorge. The 1.5% gradual rise on the curved trestle allowed it to clear the new “Big Bridge” below. The “Big Bridge” is on a 1.5% downhill grade into a prong (branch) of the Little River. Work continues… Doc Tom
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04426.jpg)
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04428.jpg)
Jon Radder said:Spilt coffee and a broken travel mug.
I know that you can get a nice souvenir by leaving a penny or a quarter on the tracks. What do you end up with from a coffee cup ?
Ric Golding said:
Doc Tom, You need to get up to Cass, also. They’ve got one of the loaders sitting on the flat cars with side rails and the connecting rails that allows the crane to travel from one flat car to another. Also, it is in better shape and is a static display where you can get good access. I’ll try to find some pictures. So, the tunnel on the road to Clingman’s(sp?) Dome is not part of the right of way?
Hi Ric, Thanks for the very good pictures of the log loader. It is in much better shape than the one at Townsend. I have been to Cass and had a blast. I did not see this loader up close…probably spent all my time drooling over the multiple Shays. Regarding tunnels on the LRRR, I took this photo on the road up the East Prong of The Little River following the old road bed.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04375.jpg)
I discussed this tunnel with the very knowledgeable staff at the Museum and they reported that the tunnels were put in by the National Park Service after the rails were pulled. At the site of the pictured tunnel the road bed diverged in a tight curve around the mountain that the later day tunnel bored through. I will research this further with others on the Little River RR Historical Association. This research is part of the fun of modeling a prototypical RR. Thanks for your interest. Doc TOM
Doc Tom,
That’s the one I was talking about. Sounds like you found the location of the correct right of way.
When we were there the National Park Service people were fairly ignorant of the history of the railroad. That was really quite disappointing, it was kind of “selective history”. They were really quite proud of themselves. The Little River RR Historical Association has done a great job in spite of the government.
Those are always the fun ones to ask a question and see if they make up an answer!
It’s great when you find a parks employee who is interested in what they are talking about.
Hi Ric, Doug,Jon,Shawn,David, Steve,Fred, and gang, The question regarding the lack of tunnels on the Little River Rail Road in the very mountainous Smokies sure sparked a few comments. So, I did my home work and emailed Rick Turner, president of the Little River Rail Road Historical Association. He was quite helpful. Here is the email discussion: “Hi Rick, Thank you for responding to my notes on the Little River Rail Road. I am on a large scale modelers forum called Large Scale Central (LSC). We have had some interesting discussions about the LRRR on this forum. Recently several members have been wondering if there were any tunnels on the LRRR. I told them I did not think there were any…hadn’t seen any in pictures. The tunnels that are on the old road bed now appear to have been put in by the National Park Service. Can you shed any light on this tunnel question? Where there ever tunnels on the Little River Rail Road?? By the way, I encouraged everyone on the LSC site to pay a visit to the museum in Townsend. Doc Tom Hi Tom, LRRR had no tunnels. The tunnel on Laurel Creek Road (going to Cades Cove) was built after logging ops. LRRR thought it cheaper to build bridges than dig a tunnel so they crossed the stream just before the tunnel and came back over after. Newfound Gap Road and its two tunnels was built long after logging ended. Rick” So I got the info that will keep me from building tunnels in the garden…oh lazy me. I guess I have to stick with cuts and bridges like the prototype.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/0103WorkersElk.jpg)
Doc Tom and the Little River RR crew.
Tom
That makes it easier now you dont have to build tunnels and haul all that dirt to a tunnel. My two books logging RR of the Blue Ridge and Smokies does not have anything on the Little River. I was hopping the second one I got would have something especially since it sounds like a great RR to read about.
Since you have mentioned that the little River RR had no tunnels it got me to think about those books and flipping through the pages it seemed the railroads mentioned in the books did not have tunnels as well. I would image most logging RR did not have tunnels since those operations only lasted until the trees were all cut. With the exception of the main lines .
Shawn said:
Tom That makes it easier now you dont have to build tunnels and haul all that dirt to a tunnel. My two books logging RR of the Blue Ridge and Smokies does not have anything on the Little River. I was hopping the second one I got would have something especially since it sounds like a great RR to read about. Since you have mentioned that the little River RR had no tunnels it got me to think about those books and flipping through the pages it seemed the railroads mentioned in the books did not have tunnels as well. I would image most logging RR did not have tunnels since those operations only lasted until the trees were all cut. With the exception of the main lines .
Hi Shawn, I would agree most logging rr’s were rather temporary affairs and tunnel making was probably too ex$pen$ive. I am sure there were exceptions somewhere though. Besides the logging shows had plenty of milled lumber and the raw product to build bridges around anything they could not move with black powder.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/3495BldgLogPiers.jpg)
Thanks for your interest. Doc Tom
Tom you should look into the two books I mentioned. I think you would enjoy them very much.
Shawn said:I will try to get copies. Thanks, Tom
Tom you should look into the two books I mentioned. I think you would enjoy them very much.
Bear country. The racket and the pounding of the Little River RR crews building the cribbing at the wash out has upset momma black bear. She decided to see just what the fuss is all about.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04433.jpg)
The hard working crew is taken aback by this snorting and fast moving behemoth just beneath their feet.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04435.jpg)
They wonder where the heck the Shay went that could get them out of this jam.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04437.jpg)
Things are not always quiet and still deep in the Smoky Mountains.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04438.jpg)
Doc Tom
Lovely cameo Tom, quite what we expect from you. Animals don’t care much for disturbance: neither do many humans either. lol
Living in a country where bears are usually only found in zoos it is easy to forget that in many parts of the States they roam around freely. I have a couple of places on the RR where a couple of bears could be located; thanks for the inspiration. All I need do now is keep my eyes peeled for some bears at the local open air sales.
Alan Lott said:
Lovely cameo Tom, quite what we expect from you. Animals don’t care much for disturbance: neither do many humans either. lol Living in a country where bears are usually only found in zoos it is easy to forget that in many parts of the States they roam around freely. I have a couple of places on the RR where a couple of bears could be located; thanks for the inspiration. All I need do now is keep my eyes peeled for some bears at the local open air sales.
Hi Alan, Thanks for the feedback. The Smoky Mountains National Park here in Tennessee still has a considerable number of Black Bears.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/SmokyMountainsNationalParkBear.jpg)
I bought the bears in the piccies from the local craft store Hobby Lobby for $2-$3 each. I am not sure if there are similar stores in England??? Doc Tom
Tom Grabenstein said:
Bear country. The racket and the pounding of the Little River RR crews building the cribbing at the wash out has upset momma black bear. She decided to see just what the fuss is all about.(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04433.jpg)
The hard working crew is taken aback by this snorting and fast moving behemoth just beneath their feet.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04435.jpg)
They wonder where the heck the Shay went that could get them out of this jam.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04437.jpg)
Things are not always quiet and still deep in the Smoky Mountains.
(http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/gg412/DrGrab/DSC04438.jpg)
Doc Tom
Good stuff Doc! 
Nice Doc. We got our share of bears here in NJ. The moms are having 3-4 cubs because the food supply is so good. Who wuld ever think NJ has bears. They like to raid Ralphs cabin on the KMRR.
Nice pictures, Doc.
Shawn, if you’d just run those pesky bears over with the train, there’d be no more cabin raids :lol:
Ralph
Looking good Doc. I spent part of the day Sunday with Jonathan Bliese in Chino who was doing some repairs on my rc/battery stuff. It’s great having him within driving distance. I wish I had his skill.
We have friends a who had a bear try to break into their house twice last week. Them bears are active this year.
