What do modern railroads use to carry logs? I know about older style cars but what do they use nowadays? I have yet to see any pictures of a modern log car. speaking of which are there any companys that produce a decent HO model? Thanks
Many use long flat cars with end-bulkheads. The logs are cut to sized and stacked transversely to the major axis of the flat.
Cars like this (for instance), with or without bulkheadshttp://www.theboykos.com/nbrr/blog/uploaded_images/615119-Miramichi-20070528-SLB-1-728438.jpg - logs loaded length-wise, and chained/banded in place. Bob C.
Log Flats The Portland & Western uses former BCRail log bunk flats. Kind of like a skeleton flat but newer. Most are still in BCRail paint with P&W reporting marks. Hopefully the photo helps. It isn't the best photo but shows the log cars
The log cars I see have all been in the U.P of Michigan-so it is all pulp wood. Not heavy (as wood goes) but bulky. I see everything from the high end flat cars, to gondolas with added vertical steel posts. All are 50'-60'. Logs are cut to fit the short dimension of the car. The gondolas are more prevalent because their small size is suited for the branch line weight limits, and they can be used to carry non-log items at other times. Never have seen an actual skeleton or post log car like they have out west. For models, there are several makes of high end flat cars ready to run. The gondolas will need to be kitbashed. But as they are always beat up and ugly, and non-conforming in design, you can have fun with some cheap 50' gondolas and some styrene. What ever you chose, if you model pulpwood harvesting/milling you will need a few woodchip cars, which Walthers makes. Or, you can make your own like the Milwaukee Road and GN did out of 40'-50' gondolas and box cars.
Some flatcars, used by the POTB http://www.trainweb.org/potb/carroster/web_potb0011.jpg http://www.trainweb.org/potb/carroster/web_potb0012.jpg POTB Car roster tschuess / bye Harald
Here is an example of a log flat as used on the Portland & Western: Obviously an empty, but you can see how the braces that hold the logs on the car look.
It's been awhile since I've been there, but all the pulpwood I saw on the ex-CNW line headed to the Meade plant in Escanaba was in general service gondolas with stakes (sometimes wooden stakes) as Mark said. Sounds like that's changed since then.
