I think everyone on this forum knows the history of early railroads in the USA, and logging railroads and temporary trackage. Cut the trees to length, lay them down, and spike the rail on top.

However, other than photos, most of us have never seen it up close and personal. Those of us who have "worked track" and know the ins and outs of same, and the rules, are not mentally programmed to accept the logging track "standard" of back in the day.

I ran across this video, and just thought I'd share it here for the track junkies. How does this relate to rail preservation? How many museums or tourist RRs have any track like this for demonstration or display? Operate on it?............the FRA would faint.

Don't be lulled by the "mainline" trackage, at about 0:26 they branch onto a temporary woods spur........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OOqPLOWiQg

How about a "pole railroad", where thinner logs are used as rails, and the locomotives have grooved wheels!

I have given both of these ideas some thought this summer. One Museum I help out at has a bare planter bed that I've thought I could build a section of logging railroad style track in. Rough cut ties, small rail, and no tie plates. The only thing that would operate on it would be a handcar, velocipede, or similar, but the museum doesn't have any of those currently.

I've wanted to ride a pole road for a few years now, but I think the only way that'll happen is if I build one first. I know where some pole road wheels are, along with a Fordson pole road "locomotive". If they could be acquired and a suitable location found, I'm sure that a straight stretch of pole road would not be too terribly difficult to build. I may have to build one in miniature for the time being, though apparently scale models of pole roads, rideable or not, are about as commonplace these days as the real thing.

Hi,

In the 1980s or 1990s, I heard the Galveston Live Steamers were planning to build/had built a section of 7.5" gauge track showing how the track construction over the years changed. Supposedly a section was to be strap rail (wood ties and rails with strap iron on top). I am not sure if they also had intended a pole rode - I think they wanted to but I am just not sure.

FWIW

Doug vV

Very interesting track work. Based on the lo0ngitudal logs under the ties it must be pretty boggy ground. The big problem with building this type of track for a display is that it rots fast.

If you look at the condition of the haulage road that parrallels the track in places, you can see why the railroad still has the advantage.

Track like this would have a very short life span and be high maintenance. It would be functional for one season, and then a big frost heave or wood rot would put it all out of alignment.

I often find quoting "Red Green" appropriate, "This is just temporary...... unless it works".

Regards, John.

With enough duck tape you can make anything work.

I miss that show. I don't know where to find it in Denmark.

p.s. I spoke too soon. Apparently they have a completely legit channel on YouTube.

And if that doesn't get the job done, there's always bailing wire.

Great video ... This is how they built logging railroad foundations ...

Not too long ago I was reading accounts of the Edward Hines Lumber Company logging railroads in eastern Oregon, specifically in the mountains around Seneca, Oregon. They built a good number of their log spurs directly up shoestring meadows/glades, making extensive use of the exact kind of subgrade shown in this video. The track crews would use an AH&D slide-back loader they had to lift the track structure up, allowing them to place poles cut from trackside under the ties to support the spurs. The track crews called the poles "long gravel". They would also use carloads of lumber shipped up from the big mill in Hines (near Burns) when the pole supply ran short. Even with this, it was not uncommon for the entire track structure and sometimes a good part of the wheels on their Shays and log flats to dip almost to entirely underneath the water during the spring snowmelt and runoff...

Thanks for posting the link to the video. I really enjoyed the radio playing in the cab there towards the end...

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

Rail directly on (pressure treated) ties and hand spiking this weekend on the 2' gauge WW&F during Fall Work Weekend

They do it twice a year in Alna, Maine. Anyone is welcome to attend and pitch in.

If 3' gauge is your favorite flavor, look up the good folks in Como, Colorado.

We used to have lots of logging railroads here in California. I am wondering if any logging lines still exist in the US? If they do, I assume it would be Diesel powered?

I suppose they are as dead as clear cutting lumber lots.

Ted Miles, narrow gauge fan.

PS I think the last narrow gauge logger was the West Side Lumber Company until 1959 or 1960.