(first posted 6/28/2015. I drove by here on the way to Nevada two weeks ago, and saw the damage a forest fire had made to the park, but fortunately the logging museum was spared)
A CC commenter first told me about the annual Living History Day on Father’s day at Collier State Park, in South-Central Oregona few years back . I forgot my camera the last time we went, but now that I’m using my phone, that doesn’t happen anymore. And the best way to capture the sound and sights of some of the steam-powered equipment is with video, so I made a few of them along with some stills.
This first one is of the big Aultman Taylor steam tractor pulling visitors around the loop in the center of the event.
The event is not very big, so we decided to make a full day out of the 2.5 hour trip each way over the Cascades to the east side. And instead of the obvious way, we took back-road Forest service roads over one of the main ridges into the Umpqua River valley, which has numerous waterfalls, a hot spring, and splendid scenery the whole way. It takes one up to the low slopes of the former Mt. Mazama, now world-famous Crater Lake, which we have been to numerous other times.
I’m not all that keen to spend a whole summer Sunday on a car shows or such, but if it can be combined with a day in the mountains and a couple of hikes, I’m all over it.
Collier Memorial State Park sits directly next to Spring Creek, an exceptionally pristine little river whose water is perfectly clear, as it emerges out of the ground (hence the name) just two miles upstream. This is not uncommon in these parts, as lava flows bury creeks and rivers, which eventually/usually find their way back into the light of day. The walk along its banks is splendid, and the water color is similar to that in the clearest Caribbean reefs.
The Collier family from nearby Klamath Falls owned a large lumber operation, and accumulated much of the equipment, which was donated along with the land for the park and museum.
The really big steam engine was not in operation, sadly.
But this “little” steam tractor was, along with the big one. I rather liked this one, which has more exposed gears, pistons, cranks, chains, belts, and other moving parts than one could possibly hope for; a veritable symphony of mechanical activity on the go.
Another steam engine was driving a belt-driven saw blade. The noise in the background is an antique chain saw.
Before there were chain saws, there were gasoline powered cross-cut saws, which must have been quite the godsend to the loggers. The amount of human energy saved was immense.
Other old equipment also was out on the little circuit, like this vintage Caterpillar Thirty, which is its horsepower rating.
Here’s some more of these. Track-laying tractors were originally designed and built by Holt, which later became Caterpillar.
I love the logo.
Lots of old logging trucks, like this big GMC with a 6-71 “Jimmy” two-stroke diesel under the hood.
A couple of other old trucks along with that Jimmy.
There were several Mack ACs, the truck that established the Mack reputation for toughness in the most demanding situations.
The AC was powered by a 377 cubic inch (6.2L) four. The radiator sat behind the engine, just like in very early Renaults.
Here’s one of these Mack engines on its side. The aluminum crankcase is quite evident. This type of construction, with a two piece aluminum crankcase, and cast iron cylinder barrels bolted to it, often with integral head (no head gasket to leak), was quite common in the early decades of the automobile and truck. In the 1920s, as cast iron casting technology improved, monobloc engines with detachable heads became increasingly dominant.
Here’s one more. The radiator behind the engine is very clear here. These trucks were highly regarded, and many were in use well into the fifties.
That reputation carried into the later models, like this iconic B series from the later 50s, early 60s.
There was a Plymouth here too, but not the one we usually think of. Plymouth built small gas and later diesel-powered switch and yard engines. This has to be one of the smallest ones they ever built; this is sitting on tiny narrow-gauge rails, and an adult next to it is decidedly taller. A toy engine. We did a CC on a “big” 1937 Plymouth switcher here.
An 1884 Baldwin locomotive is resting under cover here.
As is a whole slew of early lumbering equipment. But I saw them last time, so we’ll head out, and off for a hike up Spring Creek.
On the way out, the tireless Aultman Taylor makes another round carrying visitors. It must have been toasty operating that steam equipment in the summer heat.
Great post, Paul. I love early equipment like this powered by gasoline, diesel or steam but especially steam. The big GMC appears to have a driven front axle making it VERY rare indeed. The General did not manufacture their own front drive axles when this truck was new, so I suspect it was made by NAPCO (Northwestern Auto Parts Company) who would later provide similar components for GM pickups.
Also unusual are what appear to be a pair of Westinghouse air springs prominently displayed in front of the grille. These are a throwback to a much earlier time and make me wonder if the whole truck isn’t really a hodgepodge of various parts ingeniously assembled by the logging company. A cool old beast regardless of it’s pedigree.
The super low cab on the Plymouth diesel leads me to believe that it started life as a mining engine rather than in a logging camp. And the ports on the side of the AC crankcase were provided for visual inspection of the main bearings.
Nice finds! That’s a pretty awesome collection of old machinery. That gas powered crosscut saw is really something else…look like there are infinite opportunities to lose a couple fingers if you aren’t 100% on your game.
Paul, those loco’s reminded me that youre something of a rail fan. Ever been here, or heard of it?
http://www.orhf.org/oregon-rail-heritage-center/
Some really cool stuff there, I took my dad there when the parental units were in town and we both got to geek out on some trainy goodness. They were doing some live maintenance when we were there, and had some of the boiler shielding stripped away on a couple engines so you can see what all goes on in them. Good stuff!
Those powered crosscut saws were called dragsaws. My father had a couple of them, and they were ornery enough to keep running and usable that he eagerly bought one of the first big McCulloch chain saws that came on the market. After that the dragsaws sat unused. It’s cool to watch one working though. Other than at another event at Matlock a few years ago, I hadn’t seen one in use since I was a little kid.
Great stuff, and an interesting digression from the usual CC fare.
I’ll be at the Cambridgeshire Steam Rally in late July (all being well) and although the focus is on agricultural and haulage steam, steam is steam and it’s just as fascinating.
Hhopefully, I’ll be able to share some material later.
Very interesting stuff Paul. It’s great to see them actually working!
That really big steam engine that you say is not in operation is the kind that I operate. I volunteer to operate a boiler and a stationary steam engine at an antique equipment show.
A friend has one of those cross cut saws there used to be many about but all got scrapped with the advent of the chainsaw, though two good men on a M tooth crosscut are faster than a petrol chainsaw as was proved to many Canadian lumberjacks back in the days to their astonishment.
I am a complete fool for antique power equipment, and old steam traction engines are the coolest. There is something mesmerizing about being able to watch so many moving parts.
My uncle had a steam roller with rubber rings on the rollers, a steam tractor and 2 Stanleys. On stanley was stock, the other was modified. He got a warning on the PA turnpike for 110. He used the tractor to steam tobacco beds.
Way cool ! .
.
I too love watching of machinery work , I remember all the Farmers & loggers when I was a kid , had missing fingers , toes , limbs etc. .
.
-Nate
My grandfather was killed in a logging accident in 1932. He was 34 years old. This machinery is much better admired from our perspective than from that of the people who had to use it.
Well ;
I had to use a lot of it too ;
We’d say ‘know how to tell a rich Farmer ? ‘ . he has any equipments made after WWII .
This was in the 1960’s. we were still using John Deere ‘A’ & ‘B’ tractors and horse pulled hay rakes, manure spreaders and graders etcetera all hooked to a ’53 or ’37 Jhonny Popper .
The older guys would always be sure to earn us about being careful .
I have plenty of scars from those days .
-Nate
Great Place I love that old steam equipment and early heavy duty trucks.
For those in the Chicago area there is a “Parade of Power” in Manhatten Il. every summer that features early steam tractors and other older farm equipment. Plus they had a small saw mill running off a steam tractor PTO. Small farm town fun.
Wow, what a very cool collection of old equipment. Steam tractors still seem so odd to me, like a miniaturized version of a locomotive, but how cool to see them operate. And that gas-powered saw is such an oddity–didn’t even know those existed.
I had an experience with a much larger example of a steam engine recently. Have to try to get that written up…
That stylized Caterpillar logo is beyond funky.
Nice article, Paul. I worked for the CDF long ago and have long had an interest in logging equipment and railroads.
There was an AC Mack still in service at a boatyard in China Basin in San Francisco up into at least 2012 or so and it was in very nice condition. That whole area has been extensively redeveloped as a tech center and campus for UCSF and the Chase Center where the Warriors now play. There are still some boat yards down there but I don’t know what has become of the Mack.