Questions about Lionel Log Loader

Another question:

4) Has anyone used "natural" wood logs with it instead of the Lionel provided "logs?"  I ask because one year my wife collected fat twigs from out tree and cleaned them up to give me more realistic looking log loads.  So I'm wondering how picky the log loader is with slightly out of straight and nonuniform logs.

To answer a couple of questions, Yes the logs will roll right off the spring loaded type of log cars without stakes. The home-made logs won't work either because they need to be perfectly round to roll down the log loader ramp.

The log loader is not a good accessory for use with the logging train. Save your money. Chuck's response is right on.  The logs and the cars needed for the loader are basically dowels and in order for them to stay on the cars, stakes are needed. 

Neither of the log loaders would work well with your log cars. Cars must have stacks. 

hay

Sinclair   A

Is this the one your referring to?

This was on my old layout and my Grandson wouldn't leave it alone. Had a good time with it.  I do agree it is a younger kids toy, but a fun one for them.

This  can be set up to work with track on both sides. A train dumps on one side and gets reloaded on the other side.

I made many extra logs out of regular old dowel sticks and stained them. Worked fine. Home depot stuff.

I also have the set your talking about.

The cars I used were coal dumping cars (like last picture). Grand son didn't know the difference. Fun of it was his issue at 6 7 years old. They worked pretty good with a occasionally over load.

This thing has been boxed up under the layout for about 3 plus years at least.

e-mail me if this is what your talking about.

Larry

Well, that's a pity, that means Lionel doesn't even know what works with their own stuff?  I started looking at it because it was shown in the 2014v2 catalog, and it said it'd work great with my style log cars.  I'm not a big accessory person, but I do find they help keep the kids engaged for longer.  And if I can do that, then the wife lets me grow the collection...

I just noticed that the drawing on the log loader box show's a die cast log car that is electric with stakes.

Those cars can dump the logs into the Log Loader. But when the logs roll from the bin into the cars they will probably roll off.

I'm glad your wife is interested. Try her "logs." They may work. If not, some judicious sanding or cutting should make them round enough to roll.

Maybe you could put a pair of toothpicks or small planks on the far side of those log cars to keep the logs in place during loading.

Tinker with it and ask you wife for advice. She will appreciate that.

The only Log Loader that may present a problem is the 364. Logs have to be short enough to fit under the light as they move from the belt behind the bin to the belt that brings them to the top. Then they have to "ride" to a black wedge that pushes them off. I always had one log that tilted off the belt at the top and got stuck up there. It didn't harm the belt or the loader but it looked silly.

Oh man my daughter and I had a blast with that Log Loader when she was a kid. Would pull a train up and dump the logs into the bin on the loader. Had another train on a siding on the other side of the loader. Would dump the logs into another log car and pull it down the siding up to the Lionel Saw Mill dump the logs at the Saw Mill and it would turn the logs into boards. I should ask her if she want's to go downstairs and run some logging cars. Being that she is 22 now I think I would get the old eye role. Anyway I say get that Log Loader and enjoy it while the kids are still young!