Reload (Camp 11) is the newest of the Olympic Peninsula Logging Company's timber reload sites.
History. Truck logging in the Gray Harbor area began in the mid-1930's. I was unable to find any statistics on the Northern Gray Harbor timber area. In the North River Watershed (south of the Chehelis River), the Saginaw Timber Company started to build an extensive series of roads but was unable to capitalize on the work. Estimates were that 75 to 80% of logs were still moved by locomotive.
By 1941, nearly 300 miles of forest road were created by bulldozer in the North River Watershed by the Clemons Logging Company. [1]
In the alternate history, the OPLC was moving to truck logging too. In 1936, 29 miles of truck roads was constructed on old RR grades, 7 miles was new construction. By 1950, 73 miles had been constructed with an additional 100 miles of protection road was maintained. The results were that a majority of steam locomotives supporting woods activities were retired and scrapped.
OPLC Camp 11 was built in 1950. Researching log reloading operations revealed most reloads consisted of a
single track alongside a single (lane) logging road, with a dedicated
locomotive placing/pulling logging cars (once a day).
Operations. I wanted this module to show a 1950's log reloading activity. Specifically I wanted to show:
Diesel logging trucks moving log loads from field collection points to the rail reload location. This would include the dirt road transfer point and a truck fuel point if possible.
- An electrified crane reloader, in this case a crane reloader similar to one used by the Schafer Logging Company. It used a electric overhead crane with lifting bars. When weight on the bars is released, the heavy
end tips up the bar to release the hook on the opposite end and the bar
slides free from beneath the load. Log transfer is completed in a
minute's time.
- The OPLC will run a logging shuttle between the company sawmill complex and the reload site two or three times a day. The log shuttle will include a 2-8-0 steam locomotive, 6 log cars and a caboose. Logging cars are a mix of skeleton cars and flat cars with side stakes. Additional cars that may be seen are
water cars for fire fighting operations, tank cars (diesel) for
truck refueling, and sand cars. See History of Flat Cars for additional information.
Design.
The right of way is owned and maintained by the OPLC and consists of a
logging outpost camp, an overhead crane unloader and a refueling
facility. As this is end of track, the OPLC will require an abbreviated steam locomotive service facility (water / sand) and a locomotive turning capability. A wye track would be the norm for this activity.
Operationally the OPLC would segregate logs into sawlot and high value logs. Those high value logs would be primarily used for veneer and plywood. They would be sold to plants located in Aberdeen Hoquium or Tacoma. The WWSL will support this activity by maintaining a spur track for holding interchange-capable logging flat cars for OPLC usage.
Track Diagram
Roadway.
- The logging car storage track is owned and maintained by the WWSL. The WWSL Main track ends at the far end of the turnout.
- Main track is owned by the OPLC and is of recent construction.
- Secondary track is a run around track connected to the Scale Track located on the Station 16 module.
- Auxillary tracks include the loading spur, supply track, wye. All non-main track is owned and maintained by OPLC and built to OPLC relaxed standards.
- Not associated with the reload operation is a single track located at
the rear of the module which is used by Station 16 - Coal Grove as the
Empty Yard Lead. It is screened from the Reload module by a treeline.
Scenery. - Backdrop is sparse treeline.
- Mid level space is broken terrain.
- Front space is level terrain.
Structures. Structures located at this station will be:
- Electric Powered Log Crane
- Section house
- MOW sheds (nice to have)
- Water column
- Sand House
- Wye
