Does anyone have any suggestion of a good MOW consist for a small logging railroad? I'm modeling an N scale freelance railroad set in the 20s to 30s Appalachia mountains. The locomotive roster is just two shays and a 2-6-4 tank engine.
I would start with Tichy Trains 120 ton Brownhoist crane since it is small, and some of their work cars. I also would think about a four wheel bobber caboose or two and if you can find them a short Overton combine or passenger car for getting to loggers to the woods. For hauling logs I would suggest staying with 40 foot flatcars with stakes. Throw in a couple of old wood boxcars for storage or supply hauling. You also would want to get at least one or two steam donkey engines that come as kits for loading and hauling logs out of the woods.
I overlooked the M of W aspect. For a logging line there was always the laying of new track and taking up old from areas that had been logged out. And I would suggest a few short flatcars with lengths of rail usually used and rusted and a flat of two with rough hewn ties. Also a few flats with sides or worn out low sided drop bottom gondolas that would be of the composite construction for hauling dirt for fill and rough gravel ballast. Old 36 foot wood and worn out boxcars for supplies. Again Tichy Trains that was formerly Dimi trains is a staring source of the older box cars and low side composite gondolas.
I would suggest ramshackle, beaten, second and third-hand equipment. Logging railroads tended to use the cheapest equipment available. The more abused looking, the better. On a side note, there's just not much available in N scale in particular for this prototype. I cannot speak to HO scale, but they have always had better selection. You might have to kitbash to get the cars you need. If you have photos of the prototype you've chosen, you can work from those. Sharp curves and steep grades ruled logging railroads, so short cars are probably best.
