English Logging Co.

[evan123]

I can never really stay dedicated to the same project until I recently picked up a new book called "Logging Railroads in Skagit County" by Dennis Blake Thompson.

I read through a good chunk of the beginning of the book, talking about the initial logging operations. Both the successful and unsuccessful. One of the more successful logging operations was the Edward English Logging company based out of Mt. Vernon (If I read correctly).

I didn't really want to fully scale up and replicate the full extent of the operation, but I started out with Camp #1.

Looking at a to-scale redrawn picture of Camp #1 in the book, I quickly rolled through all the possible buildings I could use and actually found myself looking at a close representation, not entirely to scale but I did what I could.

I had also rebuilt camp #7, but I think I might delete and save it for when I am really ready to expand the layout.

So far the logging site #1 has been nearly completed. The mountains need to be textured. The saw mill has been finished almost, and most of the ballast has been laid throughout the track.

Here is Camp #1:

Various angles of the logging site and respective surroundings:

The Local Saw Mill:

As of now I have 2 shays running the operation, however once I take out camp #7 the one shay will be working the full route roughly 5 to 6 boards long.. Anyways,

Hope you enjoyed it, i'll keep it posted. And hopefully I don't get bored of it!

-Evan

 

[Tanvaras]

Nice shots of your work in progress Evan. I myself have been looking at layouts of real world tracks and deciding on what one too have a go at. There are so many good places too make, but I looking at something real simple too start with and go from there. I look forward too seeing more of your project as it comes along.

Cheers

Trent

 

[Sabertooth]

Logging routes in my opinion are the hardest ones to accurately replicate because any aerial photographs that might have existed or do exist often times don't help ( cuz of all the trees often blocking the track )

Also the fact that track was torn up quite frequently on many logging railroads

Lookin good

 

[cascaderailroad]

English countryside ?

Your mountains have to be reduced in height drasticly, for they are well over 3 times taller than what they should be. Gently sloping mountain sides look more realistic.

 

[evan123]

Your mountains have to be reduced in height drasticly, for they are well over 3 times taller than what they should be. Gently sloping mountain sides look more realistic.

Alright thank you. I'll work on it and post screenshots soon.

 

[evan123]

Alright, the layout is basically down. Maybe a few tweaks here and there, but the route, stock & all is ready. I finished texturing the mountains, added a turntable near the engine house, and an extra siding in the small switching yard.

Screenies:

Images of some parts of the map:

Various action shots of the shay in action:

More improvements to be made probably.

 

[evan123]

Hello once again everyone, it has been a while since I have posted any updates on the semi-replicated English Logging Co operation. Since my last post here I have nearly completed the route, however I am constantly tweaking minor things here and there to give it a bit more of an "edge".

Currently there are 3 logging sites, 2 camps & several locomotives to get the work done. In addition to that, there is a switching yard providing multiple selections of rolling stock to haul the logs off the mountains.

Each logging site sits on its own "mountain". With an intricate system of trestles & inclines, it will keep you relatively engaged throughout the operation maintaining good speed and control.

I'll first show some screenshots of Camp #2's logging site. Located at the far end of the route. This logging site is a high production site that has lots of logs needed to be hauled off the mountain. Approximately 4 boards of incline, and roughly 80% of the incline is on trestle. 3 log rollers, a Decker NG3 are housed at the summit, and Camp#2 sits near by.

The operation has a log dump, 2 saw mills, and a sorting yard. Camp #1 & 2 have turn tables and coal/water towers. Some engine houses store water & coal, but it is more ideal to get the coal & water from the camps.

Here is the layout:

And no for a bit of the Camp #2 scene:

Camp #2 sits upon a small out cropping near the large ravine to its right. 2 engine houses, coal & water tower, turn table, and housing for the crew & familes.

Heisler #1 sits at the top of logging site #3 getting ready for the days work.

Logging site #3's work camp & various log movers, including the local rolling stock.

Logging site #3's turn about. Depending on how the engineer wanted to head down the inclines, a turn about was provided to allow trains a point to turn around before heading down.

One step up to the Logging Site #3's work house storing Shay #2 awaits orders. This house sits at the bottom of a small incline, half way between the site & the main camp #2.

Heisler #2 starts the day out steaming out of camp #2 about to head up the lncline up to Logging Site #3.

Steaming up the last incline into Site #3

Heisler #1 works the loading yard


Once logs have been loading on to the respective rolling stock, the train steams off and begins its dangerous and fast ride down the incline. or decline. whichever you want to call it.

Hope you all have enjoyed it so far. I will post more soon, hopefully.

Cheers.

-Evan

 

[Kirra]

This track makes your map poor ((( . And what's width of gauge on your map?
1000mm?

 

[whistlehead]

Maybe you shouldn't keep telling everyone their stuff is poor, eh? If they like it how it is, they like it how it is.

Also, it looks like 36in/3ft gauge to me.

Very good work! Had you discovered the straighten track tool yet?

Chris

 

[Tanvaras]

Looking real good Evan. Going to upload to DLS? would like to take your layout for a spin once you are done.

Cheers

Trent.

 

[Kirra]

Maybe you shouldn't keep telling everyone their stuff is poor, eh? If they like it how it is, they like it how it is.
Chris

I think that critics help us to make our work beter. And I said that need to use another track and to add grass. It will make THIS map beter. And I think that need to add bushes and some trees too

 

[whistlehead]

I agree on the shrubs and bushes front.

And criticism can be useful, just TOO much of it gets annoying.

 

[Euphod]

And criticism can be useful, just TOO much of it gets annoying.

Well said. Too much can be interrupted in volume and/or frequency. When I read the same comments made by the same member in several different posts; I start to think the member is a "know it all", and therefore someone I wouldn't take advice from...even if he or she was correct.
Spiteful? Yes...but that's the kind of guy I am...:hehe:

 

[applegathc]

Well said. Too much can be interrupted in volume and/or frequency. When I read the same comments made by the same member in several different posts; I start to think the member is a "know it all", and therefore someone I wouldn't take advice from...even if he or she was correct.
Spiteful? Yes...but that's the kind of guy I am...:hehe:

To gloss on previous points... Indeed criticism can be useful sometimes... but Kirra, I see you telling a lot of people how to make there layout "Beautiful". Don't get me wrong we love tips and constructive critisicm, but from what I see of it you seem to directly telling them to do it rather then giving a friendly tip. It's ok we all learn overtime. So by all means give us tips...but please do it in a little bit of a friendlier manner, thank you.

cam:wave:

 

[whistlehead]

To gloss on previous points... Indeed criticism can be useful sometimes... but Kirra, I see you telling a lot of people how to make there layout "Beautiful". Don't get me wrong we love tips and constructive critisicm, but from what I see of it you seem to directly telling them to do it rather then giving a friendly tip. It's ok we all learn overtime. So by all means give us tips...but please do it in a little bit of a friendlier manner, thank you.

cam:wave:

Exactly how I see it.

 

[zues]

Alright, the layout is basically down. Maybe a few tweaks here and there, but the route, stock & all is ready. I finished texturing the mountains, added a turntable near the engine house, and an extra siding in the small switching yard.

Screenies:





Various action shots of the shay in action:

More improvements to be made probably.

With the loader you should lay some track under it to make it look like its sitting on track.

 

[whistlehead]

the loader is supposed to be mobile, moving around the tracks, not static.

 

[evan123]

Hi everyone, thank you for all of the help. And I should be uploading to DLS once I think it is "worthy"

Will post more soon.


-Evan