I ran across some pictures I thought some of you would like to see. J Neils Lumber Co in Libby Montana was the lumber mill in the area. These pictures show a log landing at Warland MT along the old GN mainline (now under Lake Koocanusa) The trucks brought the logs to the landing, unloaded, and then transferred to flat cars for a trip down the mainline to Libby and the mill. I would assume the GN would dispatch an engine out of Libby to bring empties up and loads down.There was not much information about the pictures.
Whenever someone asks me why I model what I do, I tell them that my grandfather (Stanley Reedy) was an engineer on a logging railroad, until the trucks took over. Then he stayed at the mill, bringing the logs to the pond with J Neils #6, then the evil diesels showed up. (Just joking) I'm sure the switcher was a lot easier to operate than the ol shay. My grandfather, Stanley Reedy, on the boring side of #6. By the mill pond, the claybanks in the background. I grew up less than a 1/2 mile from this spot.
Her replacement. I purchased the b/w photos from the Heritage Museum in Libby. If your ever in the area, drop by, they have a nice collection of equipment and displays. Thanks for reading.
Twomule, that's some fascinating history you have there, and thanks for sharing it all with us. Got more? :tb-biggrin:
Neat stuff! Several thoughts here- I wonder where the GN locals were based at that time? Whitefish, of course. And west of that town, where else? I really like that log loader. Would make a neat model. Any hints on history of that little diesel? Hard to believe there's so little business left between Whitefish, and over toward the Washington border. BTW- In case anyone wonders, the name origin of Koocanusa is interesting. It's a contraction of three names: Kootenai (for the Kootenai River), Canada and USA. Boxcab E50
Fitz The only pictures I have left are of what I took at the Heritage Museum of some various mine equipment. I can post them if interested but no more b/w pics. Boxcab I asked this question awhile ago on another board, the info I received was "Champion International in Libby, formerly St Regis Forest Products, has two locomotives. No. 7 is a GE 45 tonner. No. 10 is a GE 70 ton, built 3/51. Ex St Regis Forest Products, formerly Condon, Kinzua & Southern #104." This information was deemed from "Comprehensive Guide to Industrial Locomotives" by Jay Reed first edition. Would it be unusual to have an engine based in Libby, alot of lumber products coming in as well as going out, plus back in those days the Zonelite mine was bringing product down and processing it beside the railroad tracks, about a 100 yards west of the depot. There was also a small bulk oil facility that received tank cars ( a very small number). Yes it seems strange to go home again and the mill is basically gone. No more logging in Libby is akin to saying "No more Christmas in December", it doesn't seem real. I know the plant in Milltown closed last summer. Seems our lumber isn't good enough so we import it from Canada. Sad state of affairs. A repost of the Libby GN depot. The bulk oil facilty can be seen between the depot and the water tank, the switch off of the main into the J Neils Lumber Co. was just beyond the water tank.
I just found some history on the little engine this morning. http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr006.htm Unfortunately, my last couple of trips through Libby have been on Amtrak. So we passed through in darkness. As my wife's relatives are gone, we never seem to head that way any more. Boxcab E50
Twomule, thanks for the memories, nice to know I'm not the only one with a logging side of the family. I'd be interested to know about the mill, did they always use a log pond or was it "decked" at some point? Also when did #6 retire permanently. Feather River Railway, (Georgia Pacific), provides the impetus for my Siwini Railway. Except my Grandfather was a logger, not a railroader. Got any pics of the mill and such? Again thank you for a much needed attitude check.
twomule, Thanks for posting these shots! I especially love the B/W of the donkey engine on the flatcar, as someone with my particular username and avatar. Keep posting anything else you have on logging. I'd love to see it! Adam :thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
Boxcab I see it was sold to St Regis (J Neils) in 1977. My facts are wrong then, obviously #6 was retired long before 1977, and I believe my grandfather was close to retirement if not already retired in 77, so that would not be the engine from my memories. I see J Neils also had a GE 45 tonner from my previous post, possibly that is what I remember. I wonder how I could dig up info on it?
Bobby It was filled in with earth sometime in the late 60's early 70's after the purchase of a very large unloader that could pick up an entire truck load of logs at once. I remember the pond and the small boats that pushed the logs around, pretty cool. As far as when #6 was officially retired, again I don't have an exact date, it was before I was born (1963). I'm currently trying to dig up more information as I go. Adam, thank you much, I will post more when I dig them up. That loader was something to operate I assume.
It must be out there, somewhere. I didn't look any further on Don's site. And there are surely others to check. Boxcab E50
shaylocomotives.com shows #6 (construction# 2938) as privately owned in Escanaba MI. Wonder if it's still there?
Wow! great find ! "Under Restoration" , that's always a good thing to see, "George R. Kadelak Collection", time to do a websearch
Boxcab It (SN 1643) was moved from the mill gate to the Heritage Museum. I will upload pictures of it when I get home. They are trying to keep it preserved, they want to do the right things like build a cover over it, money is hard to come by in Libby. Edit, I had 1 picture of it on photobucket
I will try to ask some of the old heads at work about the locals, but they might have had some based out of Troy MT, it was a crew change point years ago. Kevin
