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Where was this? I have heard of these logging railroads that didn't put down metal
rail, but used logs and double flanged wheels, on cars AND locomotives. Probably read
about them in Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette, but don't think I've ever seen
any model of car or engines, even scratchbuilt, and can bet there are no commercial
models in any scale. Would be interesting figuring out how to power them...maybe
cast the logs in brass and they would run 2 rail? Assume you could chemically
color the brass to a "woody/bark" color without insulating the electrical connection.
Need to keep the branches and knots trimmed back so as to not break that connection.
I'd guess about any prototype loco would soon wear out the logs forcing frequent
replacement, and that derailments were not unheard of...
I have heard of these log railed railways, but as I recall, the ones that I read about either used teams of horses, or steam donkeys to pull the cars. I dont recall reading of any that used locomotives, but I sure wont say that it didn't happen.
The log-railways that I have read about were of shorter lengths that just didn't make it practical to use locomotives. with the short distances animal and steam powered winchs were adequate.
Doug
I think they were used to haul logs out of the woods
I took the pictures in the Fort Humbolt Park in Northern California, they had a lot of donkey engines and a couple of wood burners that they gave rides behind.
The first few Climax locomotives were built to operate on log pole railroads. Operating weight was listed as around 7-8 tons.
