Steam & Excursion > Here We See A Fine Testament To The Power Of Steam!

Sure, this is a very old photo. In fact it was taken at the turn of the century. Besides it's age I feel it is noteworthy for what it depicts.

The small steam pot that is pulling the huge logs was owned and operated by R. A. Cavanaugh Logging Company of Coos County, Oregon. Each of these old growth logs weighs as much if not more than the small locomotive itself. Can you imagine how small the steam cylinders were on this tiny steam pot? Even so, the power of the steam in those small cylinders was more than enough to pull this train of huge logs on the rough track out of the cutting area and on to the mill.

It is no wonder that the advent of steam into the early logging industry was so quickly accepted and was so popular.

Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/14 04:05 by LoggerHogger.

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That is amazing...both the train and the fine quality of the picture. Was than an 1830s vintage engine??? Home built? Can't say recall seeing something like that. But I'm an easterner.

Once they got it moving I wonder how they stopped it?

trainsfireengine Wrote:
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> Once they got it moving I wonder how they stopped
> it?

Those brakemen aren't just for show. They would set the brakes on the truck, sometimes running alongside, sometimes set before descent.

I could care less about how OLD your photos are as it is such a pleasure to have you post anything at all. Most are or never have been seen by most of us so keep up the GOOD work as I always look forward to anything you post. That being said, how in the H.... did that little thing have enough traction to even start one car? Amazing.

BAB Wrote:
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> I could care less about how OLD your photos are as
> it is such a pleasure to have you post anything at
> all. Most are or never have been seen by most of
> us so keep up the GOOD work as I always look
> forward to anything you post. That being said, how
> in the H.... did that little thing have enough
> traction to even start one car? Amazing.

Low gearing, slack action, possibly rough iron wheels and rail

Bet you are right about the rough tires and rail, slack action, bet there was a lot due to the way they ran cars. All in all its still something to see that small of a unit pulling a load of more than one car.

Holy moly, another amazing post!

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

Looks like they are drawbar connected..
Roger B

Without a doubt, one of the more amazing photos you've shared with us, Martin! Pretty darn fascinating!

Lee Hower - Sacramento

What it also demonstrates is the efficiency of steel wheels on steel rails, regardless of the rough track and equipment used.

Great photo and topic!!

I was wondering when this image would finally make the rounds. Looks like it ended up being fairly good quality.

Taylor

Posted from iPhone

Yes Taylor it was in good shape. The photo was not labeled but the motive power and cars were so distinctive I had no trouble identifying the owner. As it turns out I have several other shots of this engine and the operation.

Martin

Martin, the older the better for me!

I'm going to guess that the main thing that makes this scene possible is that the track is essentially flat where this locomotive operates, or slightly downhill in the loaded direction. You can pull a vast amount of weight with a tiny engine on level track as long as you can get started.

Secondly, I am guessing that contraption is an early flatcar style shay, although if the photo really is ~1900 it would be a bit late in the game to still be in operation, although surviving as a plant switcher would make sense.

Here is an example of an early shay with a flatcar type frame and vertical boiler.

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

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LoggerHogger Wrote:
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> Yes Taylor it was in good shape. The photo was
> not labeled but the motive power and cars were so
> distinctive I had no trouble identifying the
> owner. As it turns out I have several other shots
> of this engine and the operation.
>
> Martin

Would be great to see some closer images of the locomotive from different angles.

Cheers,

-Mike

Mike Massee
Tehachapi, CA
Photography, Railroading and more..

Mike,

She is not a Shay but is an early geared type engine. She is home made and was built for slow speed and for some grades.

Martin

How does LoggerHogger find all these amazing photos?????!

That's not a steam pot, its more of a tea kettle! I mean, if that thing were any smaller, it would qualify as a live steamer. Lol. I wonder if they had to stop and get a helper anywhere? :)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/14 17:31 by tacobell.

Drawbar or whatever the connections are, they look pretty flimsy if those log cars got rolling downhill. Can you imagine the momentum in one of those giant logs and how hard it would be to stop it? BTW, great historic shot, Martin.

I have only nit to pick here.....but please ladies and gentlemen, it is incorrect to refer to a steam locomotive as a "unit". AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA