RGM McGiffert log loader

The Rio Grande Models McGiffert log loader kit consists of lots of cast metal parts, wood strips, and corrugated metal.  The hardest part of kits like this is painting the cast metal parts with realistic colors and some amount of weathering.

The above photo shows the parts and instructions photo.  I plan to build this over the next few weeks,  I had planned to be at the narrow gauge convention in Hickory NC but had to cancel due to my wife's illness so will spend that time on this kit as well as continued scenery work on the layout, oh - and continued cleanup from the recent hurricane damage - mostly downed trees.

Logging area

Below is a portion of my logging area on the mountain.  The logging area is served by an HOn3 narrow gauge line which hauls the logs to the sawmill.  I have installed sound in the logging area using the Fantasonics logging operations sound CD.  It provides the sounds of sawing, chopping, trees falling and environmental sounds such as birds in the woods.  At this time the logging area is incomplete though mostly sceniced.  The one key thing missing is the means of moving the cut logs and loading them onto the railcars.  I plan to use the McGiffert log loader which I am about to build from the Rio Grande Models cast metal kit  I really like their kits and have built a number of them.

My logging area is reached by a steep line around the mountain culminating in a small switchback into the logging site.

Logging wood refuse

The photo below shows logging wood refuse - small branches and wood scraps from the logging operation.  All of these wood refuse scraps are from the birds - actually from their seed bag.  My wife loves birds and has bird houses and feeders around the yard.  One of the primary seeds used are black oil sunflower seeds which we buy in large bags.  Them birds are really hungry critters, especially in the winter.  When the sunflower seed is harvested pieces of the stalks which have been shredded end up in the bag along with the seeds.  As I loaded the feeder I noticed that many of these shreds of stalk looked suitable for use as logging refuse on the layout, and it is free (since we are buying the seeds anyway) and quite plentiful.

Another nice thing about the bird seed stalk scraps are that they look fine without any further coloring.  If the intent is to simulate well weathered refuse the stalk scraps can be soaked in an india ink and alcohol solution which gives it a grayed look.  

Maine Narrow Gauge Portland

I also visited the Maine Narrow Gauge RR Museum in Portland last week.  They are located right on the waterfront on the edge of the Portland downtown area.  When I arrived they were using a small diesel for train rides.  I had a nice discussion with the conductor about the rumor that the RR might be forced to relocate.  Apparently their railroad has a 15 year lease on the right of way but has a 90 day vacate clause, as the city is trying to find a buyer for the valuable real estate that the RR is sitting on.  The primary thing in the RR's favor is the bad economy.  Two of the possible sites where towns have expressed interest in having the RR are Gray which is just a short distance north of Portland and Bridgeton which is perhaps an hour away.  Bridgeton was once served by two 2 foot railroads back in the early 1900's  (the Bridgeton & Harrison and the Bridgeton & Saco River) but the location would likely result in a much lower visitation rate.  In any event the MNGRR is doing fairly well and has a reasonable sized shop area where they are displaying and restoring several NG passenger type cars including the parlor car "Rangeley" as well as a nice rail car.  They also have some small sheds where they are restoring several steam engines.

Above is the diesel and the tourist railcars, plus a caboose on the end of the train.

Above shows the inside of one of the restoration sheds.

A line of freight cars alongside the mainline.  This museum RR is doing a nice job of keeping the Maine 2 foot history alive.

This makes for two NG railroads very close together if you plan to visit the Portland Maine area.

Many years ago I traversed much of the area once covered by the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes RR.  There was a surprising amount of remnants of the RR still visible.  Phillips had a bunch of equipment in various states of restoration along with a cobbled up imitation of a steam loco which operated on a gasoline engine.  In Kingfield the roundhouse was still standing being used by an auto dealer to store cars.  In Rangeley the iconic stone station had been converted to a private residence, and after a tip from some residents I found the foundation of the roundhouse in the weeds of a then vacant lot.  There were more remnants, many of which I now have forgotten. 

One year I visited the late Dick Andrews who was living in Maine and he escorted me on a brief tour of Bridgeton and Bridgeton Junction.  We were standing in a field near Bridgeton Junction and Dick was providing great detail on the track and facilities that used to be there (nothing remained) and we were being devoured by mosquitos so I asked Dick if we could continue the discussion up on the roadway.  He was very intense about those railroads and a really nice guy.

The Maine Narrow Gauge railroads continue to be some of my favorites.

Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Narrow Gauge Visit

I have been in Maine for the last week and on Saturday I visited the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington narrow gauge railway museum.  I have been a member of this neat little museum railroad for many years but do not get to visit often.  They have one operating 2 foot gauge steam loco and a nice little operating rail car.  They have just a few miles of track but it is through nice scenery with some modest grades.  They operate from Sheepscot station in Alna (a few miles north of Portland) to the end of track and back.  As my nephew was fireman on the loco I got to ride on the loco behind the engineer, who is also the RR museum treasurer.  The museum staff is all volunteer.

Above is a photo of #10 returning to Sheepscot station after a round trip.  The loco is never turned but always runs at the head end of the train whichever way it is going.  There is a run-aroun d at each end.

Above is the railcar.  It has a built-in turntable underneath which is cranked down to allow the car to be turned around by pushing it.  Cranking it up is work.  Cranking it down is easy.

Above is the Sheepscot station with end of track to the right and the mainline to the left.  The station also house a gift shop as well as the ticket counter.  Below is the WW&F web site URL.

http://www.wwfry.org/

sawmill model

Below is a photo of my sawmill.  It is scratch built.  I relied on many photos of early 1900s sawmills, primarily from Pennsylvania which is the general locale of my 1939 era model railroad.  The lower level diamond shaped windows seemed to be typical of the locale and era.  I started by drawing a sketch, then assembling a crude cardboard mockup of the general layout I was looking for to get a sense of what size mill I wanted.  The initial mockup was too big so I cut it down a little and that seemed to suit me.  I long ago ceased drawing detailed plans because the models changed too much during construction as I revised my ideas.  I used commercial scribed siding, stripwood and commercial plastic windows.  I left the end with the log haul from the log pond open to allow some chance of seeing the detailed interior (saws, lumber tables, etc.)  I included overhead interior lights.  The structure on the roof is the saw sharpening loft.  To the right of the mill in the photo is a raised deck as the ground slopes down towards the log pond.  There are standard gauge tracks that run onto the deck from the rear of the mill.  The logs are delivered to the log pond by a narrow gauge railroad (the camera is sitting on the narrow gauge rails). To the right of the deck is a large lumber drying area with many lumber stacks.  The lumber drying area is on a lift-out section to give me access to that area as it is difficult to reach from the aisle.  Everything on that lift-out is well glued down.

I installed sawmill sound by Fantasonics based on a CD, and two speakers - one on each side of the mill near the log pond with each speaker pointing up and disguised to hide them.  The Fanasonics sounds are really good and have a lot of variety in each CD.  This one has sounds for the log haul, saw sounds, a mill whistle. bird sounds and more.  I keep the sound low so it does not carry over that much to other areas of the layout where I have other sounds by Fantasonics. Their web site is at  http://www.fantasonics.com/

To the left of the mill there is a small pump house with a water pipe extending down into the log pond. I have not yet poured the water into the pond as I am still adjusting the pond color and moving around the floating logs in the pond waiting until I find a look I like.  Once I pour the logs are fixed.  I will be using Envirotex Lite which I also used for my harbor.  I have used the Magic Water product but the Envirotex gives a harder surface finish.

More later.