Large Scale Central

Securing logs

General Discussion
#1

I was wondering how everyone secures logs to their flatcars. Im trying to figure a way to secure them so when I take the flats out the logs stay. I thought about very small eye hooks with chain. Ot taking a small nail and drilling a small holle to the side of the flat and then glueing nail so it sticks out just enough to wrap the chain around. What does everyone else do? Pictures would be great.

#2

Rubber bands?

#3

Wait
you want to take them on and off?

Dang, I guess I should not have glued my logs down.

I will see if I can find some pictures, but…
I read were a guy used chain, i bolts and the clasp from his wifes neckles. Would stack, wrap, and clasp as he put it. The i bolts I belive were on the side of the flat car and he feed the chain thought and back up then clasp them.

I’ll see if I can find it.

#4

I use chains and magnets:

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/RollingStock/LogSkeletons/IMG_5238.JPG)

There’s an explanation and more pictures over here: http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/9377/search/view/post_id/71985

#5

Bruce; more detail please! I think I get it but a sketch would help. Me, I rely on gravity and chocks on the cross beams. OK, I’ll go to the storage and get a couple of log cars and take some pictures. note that only on Mainline or other peoples RR did they tie (chain) down the load.

Paul

#6

Paul, did you check that other thread I linked to above? I thought it had enough detail, but what do I know? :wink:

My real intent of this was to make it easy to have empties or loads.

#7

Note that in the following pics, there are no chains, nor are there any provisions for any chains. the idea was to get the logs loaded on the flats and out of the woods cheaply and fast. Safety was not a concern, back then.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/stevef/loghauling19.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/stevef/loghauling22.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/stevef/loghauling271.jpg.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/stevef/loghauling52.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/stevef/loghauling54.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/stevef/loghauling4.jpg)

Also note that these logging locomotives were well maintained by their crews, and contrary to myth, did not have a lot of junk hanging off of them. Also not that these tracks are standard gauge, as the logs in the Pacific North West were just too darn big to be carried by anything smaller than standard gauge stuff. The only time they stopped was to get their photographs made, which, from the plethora of photos made in the woods, seems to have been every 5 minutes or so… :lol: :stuck_out_tongue: :smiley:

#8

Steve:

Thanks for posting a really nice set of logging pix!

Note that the first and fourth photos are of the same log and location, but the loaded cars occupying the track to the right have disappeared in the later photo. Looks like the logging work was continuing right around the picture taking. That’s an interesting thing when one considers the equipment and effort required in early photography.

As has been pointed out, most logging railroads relied on some type of clever wedge devices, gravity and the loader operator’s skill to keep logs on cars. Looking at Steve’s pix, that clearly applies to flatcars as well as log bunk type cars.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

#9

Dang, Jerry, you have a good eye. I hadn’t noticed the same log in both pictures.

#10
Steve Featherkile said:
[i][/i] Also note that these logging locomotives were well maintained by their crews, and contrary to myth, did not have a lot of junk hanging off of them.
I dunno - Look at the number plate of the loco in the second to last photo. Lots of cable & chain hanging there.
#11

Steve: where did you get those pictures from. I have been trying to search the web for pictures like that with negative results. Thanks for posting them. They are great logging photos

#12

Hi all,
My solution to the first question was to use a black elastic cord from Joannes Fabrics . I made a loop in each end and used a short piece of chain on each end to hook in the cheese blocks. Works great, the black elastic looks like wire rope and holds the load securely but allows the load to be removed with no problems. Modeling and prototype have different requirements.

Thoughts on the other question/statements

Most logging RR did not use any type of tiedown unless they were, or enterchanged with, a common carrier where the rules required the loads to be secured. Tieing down and untieing loads took a lot of time not to mention all the time it took to keep track of cables/chains and hooks and the cost of same would have put some gyppo outfits out of business.

THe pristeen condition of logging locomotives had more to do with era than anything else. in the picture Steve posted above the beautiful little American is clean and well maintained. We are most likely looking at a common carrier line circa 1890’s. Look at some of Kinsey’s picts taken in the later years, most of the equipment is not quite so shiny.

Just some thoughts.
Rick Marty

#13

Rick:

Thanks for the elastic cord suggestion. I don’t chain or cable my logs, but I intend to use it to represent wire rope on my construction equipment. Should be just the thing to tie a large generator to a flat car!

Jon:

Interesting catch seeing the cables hanging on the number plate. It looks like some kind of specialized rigging, kind of like a modern choker set or? I’m certain the pix it is too early for it to be cat logging using wire rope chokers. Not a good angle, but notice how that appears to be the only ‘stuff’ on the locomotive. Nothing in view on the pilot or walkways.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

#14

Shawn, here are some suggestions. I just googled “pacific northwest logging photographs” and got a lot of hits.

http://content-dev.lib.washington.edu/clarkkinseyweb/

Try this, url is too long

http://www.alberni.info/logger.html

This should keep you going for a while.

#15

Bruce thank you for the direction! Interesting system. Still like gravity! Steve thank you for giving credit for the pictures.
We all need to do that so the author gets his/her just due!
Shawn there are several good books about logging, nationwide coverage. Check out used book sites like Amazon and B&N, they can get you going in the correct direction.

Paul

#16

Shawn, check out www.osorail.com Tall Timber Short Lines mag, not bad. Now if you are serious about logging book I can make a list of what I have with all the info you would need to find them used.

Paul

#17
E. Paul Austin said:
Bruce thank you for the direction! Interesting system. Still like gravity! Steve thank you for giving credit for the pictures. We all need to do that so the author gets his/her just due! Shawn there are several good books about logging, nationwide coverage. Check out used book sites like Amazon and B&N, they can get you going in the correct direction.

Paul


:lol:

Paul,

I admit to being older than my children, but not old enough to have taken those photos.

:lol:

#18

Oh but I thought you were! 1) The Locomotive Portratits by Bohn and Petschhek from Darius and Tabitha May Kinsey/ Volume Three Publidther Black Dog & Leventhal of New York ISBN: 1-884822-65-7 no plane but great detail and human interest. 2) Kinsey Photographer same producers and publisher as above ISBN: 1-884822-22-3 not as much RR but so much more.

Paul

#19
Steve Featherkile said:
Shawn, here are some suggestions. I just googled "pacific northwest logging photographs" and got a lot of hits.

http://content-dev.lib.washington.edu/clarkkinseyweb/

Try this, url is too long

http://www.alberni.info/logger.html

This should keep you going for a while.


Thanks Steve that just ate half my Saturday, but very good reading.

#20
E. Paul Austin said:
Shawn, check out www.osorail.com Tall Timber Short Lines mag, not bad. Now if you are serious about logging book I can make a list of what I have with all the info you would need to find them used.

Paul


If you can do that when you get a chance that would be great. Thanks