An in depth look at their physical plants, machinery and how logs become lumber illustrated by photographs from the clinician's collection. Your presenter has studied Foresty at Oregon State, grew up in the industry and has worked as a machine operator for MIchigan California Lumber Co. and Sierra Pacific Lumber Co.
Wooden boxes were the only and preferred package for shipping produce from fields and most orchards to retail outlets from the 19th century until the 1960's. Nearly a third of all pine timber cut in our nation, excluding that for paper, was used in this manner. This clinic uses photographs from the presenter's collection and experience as a machine operator in a Califonia box factory for illustration.
The earliest attempted crossing of the Sierras by rail terminated in this town in late 1887. By 1900 two large saw mills - one of which later built a connecting branchline - along with a box factory, fruit packing sheds , a foundry, and farms were all shipping products, while mines, businesses and farms were importing machinery, fuel, and supplies. From 1915-1953 traffic expanded up to two trains daily of 20-30 cars each in late summer and during WW II. Presenter illustrates with photos and maps.
My friends and I made several trips to the Westside Lumber Company before and after the mill closed. Finally we built our own powered railcar and travelled the entire length of the line from Tuolumne to Camp 45 and Camp 40. We took over 1000 photos.
Jeff and Pam Johnston model the Sugar Pine Lumber Co. / Minarets & Western Rwy. circa September 1927. In this clinic Jeff presents a look at what it takes to be a prototype modeler of a relatively obscure company. Historic photo and blueprint research, location visits, use of existing models, plus kitbashing and scratch building are all part of the run package.
In 1918, the US Army embarked on a project to secure aircraft grade spruce for the production of military aircraft. This clinic focuses on one of the Division's more ambitious projects, the construction of 39 miles of mainline railroad, 70 miles of logging spurs and two sawmills in Clallam County, west of Port Angeles, Washington.
Logging railroads were the mainstay of railroading in the Pacific Northwest for many years. Many thousands of miles of logging lines snaked their way into the dense timber. This is a quick overview (occasionally truthful) of the railroads, the train crews and the men who harvested the timber.