Large Scale Central

Surry Parker log loader and vicinity

Jim, You did a great job on the taper. Once painted it will look good as ne… well, not new, but old … used … you know what I’m getting at (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)What are you planning to use for rivets?

Dan: HO track nails. I also have some pins but I think the nails are the right size…

Jim Rowson said:

Ric: That picture was for inspiration and I don’t have any backstory, sorry. The picture itself appeared in an online magazine article [link].

The loader appears to be from the Eagle Point Railroad [link] in Tennessee, an impressive 1/8" club, see their current track plan and an example image from their site below:

The layout is big enough that the little bit of clicking around I did could not find that specific stretch of track. Maybe somebody here on the site would know…

[edited to add the link to the original magazine article]

Morning Jim,

We are members there and normally participate in their Car Card/ Waybill Ops sessions running one of the passenger trains. Their Spring Ops was this last weekend, Palm Sundayand conflicted with a granddaughter’s confirmation or would have been there. not quite sure how that related to the EBT Transfer Tower in the background of your log loader picture.

Ric: That is so cool that you are a member of that club! Sounds like great fun.

As to how it relates to the log loader picture: that’s not my log loader. The photo was taken on the Eagle Point RR somewhere. I just found the picture on the web and provided context as to where it came from. So that EBT Transfer Tower must be on the Eagle Point RR. At least that’s my impression…

I can see why you are inspired by that loader Jim it looks GREAT and I’m sure your rendition of it will be amazing.

I built a steam donkey years ago with working winches and I used a beer bottle and a soup can for the boiler, such were my modelling skills. I had the rig setup on the RR with a high line and used it to bring in some vegetables.

Here is a video from 7 years ago that shows my hack job. LOL Look to the 3:50 mark when you have a few minutes to kill.

That’s a fun video, Todd! I like the hand cranks on the loader :-).

Jim Rowson said:

That’s a fun video, Todd! I like the hand cranks on the loader :-).

Thanks Jim I try to make fun videos where the train has a purpose. My biggest mistake on that steam donkey is that the hand cranks are not removable and they stick out too far to be placed on a flat car for a ride round the RR.

Jim Rowson said:

Dan: HO track nails. I also have some pins but I think the nails are the right size…

Jim before I got lazy I used bird shot, little big but looks good

And lo, the Boomer said: Atlas track nails shall make most excellent rivets…

And so there were rivets, and all were fulfilled…

And the flock turns its attention to the base, gears, pistons, etc. And it was good.

(pay no attention to the flaws as they are of no consequence at 10 feet)

You missed one (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)…somewhere, I’m sure (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)Looks good, Jim. That takes a lot of patience.

Is it done yet?(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

ok, some small amount of progress.

On the steam engine, got the base and pistons ready. I also have some of the gears, etc. ready and will be getting the take up reels, etc. done soonish:

I’ve also been prepping the site where this loader (and other related buildings) will go (sorry for the quality of these pics):

In the above pic, the log loader will go above the leftmost track. The rightmost track is one end of a wye and I don’t want to block it with the loader.

As part of doing this, I also added some more rockage above one end of the tunnel that goes beneath this log loading area (shot from the Durango side by someone who obviously can’t hold a camera straight):

Engine is coming along quite nicely, Jim. The layout is starting to have that weathered look to it, as if its been in place for a long while. Looking at all those rocks makes my back hurt (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Your engine is looking great, Jim!!

And thanks for the excellent site photos, you’ve created a perfect setting!

Dan: trust me, looking at the rocks is a lot easier than lifting the rocks…

Thanks, guys!

Jim Rowson said:

Dan: trust me, looking at the rocks is a lot easier than lifting the rocks…

Thanks, guys!

Must be sympathy pains, then (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Built the platform for the loader, and here’s a quick test to see if the dimensions are reasonable. So far it seems ok though a touch wide, maybe:

If you recall, the loader is raised up on 4 pilings. The mast will extend toward the left in this picture. Log cars will pass underneath the platform (the empties) and will be loaded off to the left.

Think it looks great, carry on!

Hey you’re getting finished lumber! Looks great!

How long to ‘yet’?(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Thanks guys. Miles yet, John. Miles. Lots o details…