Bob Clarke built the Ironhead Timber Company in his home in San Antonio. Bob is now deceased and today was the last viewing of his On30 layout. Everything on this layout is scratchbuilt except the 3-4 brass shay engines. The layout is DC with PFM sound. Layout size is about 10 x 18 feet with HO scale engines used as a forced perspective. I sure am sorry I didn't get better photos. This layout has been published several times over the years. Some of you may recognize it. It was also open for the recent Lone Star Region convention in San Antonio Overall scenes: Machine shop: Gives you a perspective of the scale and the size of the trees: Hope I can post some more later.
More ITC Here are some more ITC photos. How's this for a little backdrop painting and scenery? One of only two engines I saw on the layout. It is a brass model. Here's a little detail work. I have more. Will try to post later.
More ITC Log crane. I don't think that is the correct name for a crane made on site out of logs. Bob Clarke did extensive research on logging operations to recreate these scenes accurately. Some fairly nice back drop work here. The shay on the ridge is HO scale. The other track is On30 guage. Lumberjack cutting a tree. Good scene; bad photo.
Thanks for the great shots... I have seen this layout in various publications and am always awed by it. What will happen to the layout now? John
Dismantled Jon: I am not sure. I think it will just be dismantled. Bob Clarke was a member of the SAMRA HO club. That club has some of Bob's buildings that he had used on earlier HO scale layouts. I presume that Bob's wife will have the final approval of anything that happens to the layout.
I like a particular detail in that top picture. Where the track at lower right is obviously in mud. Boxcab E50
I believe it was called a jib crane. My last serious contact with logging and mills, was just over 25 years ago. Such a device hadn't been used for a long time. Boxcab E50
It would be great if SAMRA could take it on as a tribute. Shame to see such beautiful work dismantled. John
Hmmm. Now I can't recall which issue. The ITC was in Great model Railroads. Anyone remember which year? Boxcab E50
The genuine article The article your asking for is a Great Model Railroads issue, pages 72-76, published by Model Railroad in 1994. Hope this helps.
A great bunch of photos of a fine logging model. We have a member here named Paul Templar, (altho I have not seen any posts by Paul for some time) who also does wonderful work on his Badger Creek Railroad. I think you may still access his website at: http://www.badger-creek.co.uk/ The last I remember is Paul was going to switch to On30. Anyone know if he has done anything with that?
Wow. Really nice work. I would say he really enjoyed his time on the planet. Sad to think this may be dismantled. All that painstaking work just cut up into sections. Thanks for the pics.
Last thing I'd heard, he's dismantled that layout. But no idea what he's doing now. Back to HO? mg: Boxcab E50
i am just getting back into this wonderful hobby after 20 years. I got the chance to met Bob Clarke and his railroad progress in the early 90's. He inspired me to start completely over and build a HO layout that was really taking shape until I had to move. I bought a bandsaw from Bob and it reminds me of him and his layout every time I use it. I also was lucky to be able to help Lorial Joinner on the Great Southern on Monday nights and Bob also built some of his buildings. Both of these guys are now gone, what a loose to this hobby. Al Boose was also a Master Model Builder who did a lot of work on the great Southern and help me with some hand layed turnouts and bridge abutments. I am not sure if Al is still around as it has been a long time.
Welcome Frank, and thank you for digging this thread up again. I never knew it was here on TB. Best of wishes on your upcoming railroad adventures. Jim
Indeed. I'm new around these parts too and so never saw this thread. What a fantastic layout. Love the use of a smaller scale for perspective. Cheers, Jeff.
