Update for all you logging railroad fans

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Limey
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Joined: December 19th, 2012, 2:34 pm

Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by Limey » December 20th, 2013, 7:21 pm

Sometime back I posted a picture of collapsed trestle pieces from the Dee Logging Railroad. We wanted to get to the Old Camp which is on the back side of where the trestle remains are. In June we went on a bushwhack which had to be aborted because it was too hot for me and I got overheated. Had to turn back about 3/4 mile from our goal. Very frustrating but I was getting close to the danger point so common sense took over and we turned back. Here are a few pics from that trip and then I will post from today's adventure.
Old camp fail 002 (1024x575).jpg
Going Up
Old camp fail 003 (1024x575).jpg
I think we're in the right area here.
Old camp fail 012 (1024x575).jpg
Old camp fail 013 (1024x575).jpg
Then we found this, it was about 200ft above and 150ft away from the old rail bed.
Old camp fail 009 (1024x575).jpg
Old camp fail 010 (1024x575).jpg
Old camp fail 011 (1024x575).jpg
Obviously some kind of blade, the top metal supports looked like train track. Maybe it was a snow plow for the railroad? but it was too far away I think. Any ideas anyone? Will post again in a while after I resize todays pics.

Marilyn

Limey
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Joined: December 19th, 2012, 2:34 pm

Re: Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by Limey » December 20th, 2013, 8:14 pm

Okay, on the way back from Lost Lake last week we noticed that the logging road that runs below the trestle remains appeared to have been worked on, so today we went to check it out. They must be getting ready to log up there because they've fixed the slide area, pushing trestle parts over the edge in the process, and have punched a new road in further along. We found where the old rail bed was and where it joins in with the current road. Not able to get pictures of that. Here are the pictures we took. They aren't that clear because it was raining pretty hard and very windy.
Dee logging trestles 003 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 004 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 005 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 006 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 007 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 008 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 009 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 010 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 011 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 012 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 013 (1024x768).jpg
Dee logging trestles 014 (1024x682).jpg
Dee logging trestles 015 (1024x682).jpg
Dee logging trestles 016 (1024x682).jpg
Dee logging trestles 017 (1024x682).jpg

Limey
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Re: Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by Limey » December 20th, 2013, 8:18 pm

Used up all my space. We will be going back to climb up to the old railbed and follow it over to the back side. Have to get to old camp before they start logging and burying any artifacts that might be up there. Will keep you posted on what we find. It sure is fun :D

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BrianEdwards
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Re: Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by BrianEdwards » December 20th, 2013, 11:17 pm

Great finds, again! Some of the trestle bunks still look like bunks laying there.

Regarding the metal object, I looked into it a bit. Although it's shaped like a plow, I was skeptical at first. A locomotive plow should have a coupler pocket, or so I thought! After some digging, I found a photo of a steam locomotive that has the plow under the coupler.

Either way, it's very plausible that its indeed an authentic plow. Just finding an artifact in the woods is cool, let alone a potential railroad piece. Cool find
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Limey
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Re: Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by Limey » December 25th, 2013, 7:11 pm

The continuing saga. Christmas Eve we went back up to follow the old rail bed.This is where it joins into the current logging road
railroad trestle exploration 028 (1024x575).jpg
Had my doubts but this really is the old rail bed.
railroad trestle exploration 023 (1024x575).jpg
railroad trestle exploration 021 (1024x575).jpg
Finally came to trestle remnants.
railroad trestle exploration 002 (1024x575).jpg
railroad trestle exploration 003 (1024x575).jpg
It soon became apparent that landslides and rockfalls are what took out the trestle. We crossed one short section of very unstable ground, slip sliding away, oh well.I'll finish out with just pictures.
railroad trestle exploration 006 (1024x575).jpg
railroad trestle exploration 007 (1024x575).jpg
railroad trestle exploration 009 (1024x575).jpg
railroad trestle exploration 010 (1024x575).jpg
railroad trestle exploration 013 (1024x575).jpg
railroad trestle exploration 016 (1024x575).jpg
railroad trestle exploration 017 (1024x575).jpg
Just after the last picture we cliffed out so next trip we come in from the other side. Stay tuned!

pablo
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Re: Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by pablo » December 25th, 2013, 8:01 pm

Hey Limey,

Really interesting report you've got going here, neat stuff. I'm not familiar with the area so here's a map for context, I see Old Camp so you guys must be poking around the bend in the tracks near there.

A link about Dee and map attached.

http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/entry ... munity_of/

Thx,

--Paul
Dee.jpg
The future's uncertain and the end is always near.

Limey
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Re: Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by Limey » December 25th, 2013, 9:09 pm

Thanks Pablo. Actually we're on the stretch that runs on the West Fork side of the ridge leading up to the switchback. We haven't made it to the switchback yet because the trestle spanned the gap between two rock outcroppings and that's where we cliffed out. We have a good plan for coming from the other direction. We scoped it out today and will probably go out again tomorrow. Photos don't do it justice, I don't know how many times I said "how the hell did they build that there". We're definitely addicted. Now of course we are in a race against the logging company. Not sure what they are going to log up there but it will certainly cut off our access to the area.


Marilyn

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Splintercat
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Re: Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by Splintercat » December 25th, 2013, 9:32 pm

Great photos and report, Marilyn! Oddly enough, I finally found a copy of "Switchback to Timber" that I could afford (online) this morning, and ordered it - can't wait to get my hands on it! But seeing your photos really brings it all home in terms of the time (and era) that has passed.
They must be getting ready to log up there because they've fixed the slide area, pushing trestle parts over the edge in the process, and have punched a new road in further along.
Sadly, there's nothing to be done about this. Most people think the badly logged area along the West Fork is a USFS logging show, but in fact, it's mostly Longview Fibre holdings, and since they were acquired by a Canadian equity firm a few years ago, they have been quite obviously liquidating their standing timber. The only upside is that completely logging over the area (once again) might enable the USFS to acquire the land -- it won't have any other value for private investors for a very long time. It's just too bad that the natural environment (and historical traces) in the area have to pay the price.

In the meantime, thanks for doing your part in documenting what's up there -- before it's gone!

Tom

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Don Nelsen
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Re: Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by Don Nelsen » December 26th, 2013, 11:16 am

Marilyn,

Thanks for the great pics and TR! Neat how the trestles have survived so much better that those on the other side of the mountains. I've got to get up there myself and check it out.

dn
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

Limey
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Re: Update for all you logging railroad fans

Post by Limey » December 26th, 2013, 6:35 pm

Tom, I knew Longview Fiber owned a lot of land around here, in fact it is scary how much they do own. Didn't know about being bought out though. If they liquidate everything they own it is going to be really ugly around here. I could rant on for hours about clear cutting, but I wont.Glad to hear you're getting a copy of Switchback to Timber. The cheapest one I've found was $55, still out of my price range.

Don, it is well worth going up there. I just hope we can get it all scoped out including the old camp before we lose access. Maybe after we get all the routes worked out we can have a trestle trek for interested parties. :)

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