Oregon Logging

Early Locomotives

Art & Words by
HOWARD B. TAYLOR

These were manufactured on the west coast and several alike were used. An upright, single compressor was used for power. The power transmission was by gears. The rails were poles. Wheels used were known as spool wheels. These had a concave shape which fit over the poles with a double flange grip. A light play was permitted in the axle to allow a variance in rail gauge. It was less than six inches usually. It worked. It also worked from side to side with the delicate touch of a battering ram. The log crib trestle is interesting. It causes one to wonder that, after using all those logs in construction, there were any left for the mill. They were hemlock which were usually waste logs then.