Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) As a corollary, Jim, Chaffee used to be home to the Ruch Hoop Company. I've never confirmed, but I have always assumed that these were hoops for barrels. My guess has always been that the staves came from somewhere on the River Division, and Zalma seems as good of a candidate as any. Maybe Tim Cannon can confirm, but I think the Ruch Co. probably disappeared during the Depression, concurrent to the mass abandonment of branch lines. Best Regards,
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Chris, Don't discount the affect of the Volstead Act on the cooperage industry.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Winter freight leaving Zalma. Just a short little video. http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj182/jimjames63/c1fa66f3.mp4
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Great video Jim. Here's a YouTube link for anyone having difficulties with PB. Freight Leaving Zalma Branch Enjoy!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Jim, You must be getting sick of my ideas, but as I was walking back to the car today at school it hit me! At common points that the locomotive stops, in-between the rails, there always were piles of the locomotive's sand built up. These weren't neat little piles, but big piles, small piles, and in-between trails of sand. Kinda look like this: O==o=O===o=OO=o=O O: Big pile o: Little pile =: trails of sand Sand also built up on the edges of the rails if there was a real problem with the locomotive's sander valves not fully closing. Also, Please don't forget coal either. If there were any coaling stations, there would be coal on the ground. I'm sure your sick of my thoughts by now. Just sayin'.... Thanks for listening to me. Manny
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Very good point, Karl. Rather obtuse of me to not even consider prohibition! I need to dig a little further and get a better grip on when Ruch or its precedessors was shuttered for good. Best Regards,
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Fine Scale Miniatures is still in business and George turns out one kit a year about this time. Reference below: http://www.finescaleminiatures.com/
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) I wish FSM could buy the Westerfield company. Sorry. Getting off topic.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Westerfield has been sold and the whole line is set to be back in production in March 2012. All Frisco resin cars will be available. My friend who does the decals knows Mr. Westerfield personally and told me as we've discussed resin cars.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Just a shot of last night's project. Not very exciting but very important!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Nice outhouse. First time I've seen one with a fence protection. Nice work Jim.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) I got the idea from a photo of the depot and outhouse at Knobview, MO. I didn't make that name up.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) I started the swamp section this past weekend. It will include a unique section of a low trestle. I will be using a photo of an 1880s swamp crossing in Mingo for reference. This area I'm modeling was drained by 1921 by the diversion channel project and a steel bridge was put in place but I model the era leading right up to this. I will get a steamshovel model to model an early scene of the drainage project which ended right outside of Greenbrier(how handy for me). Anyhoo, in these photos you can see where I cut out some foam and smeared spackling compound for the swamp bottom. This area will look a lot different soon. Stay tuned.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) This should be very interesting as modeling swamps is very difficult. Looks interesting so far. Can't wait to see more.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Somewhere in the bowels of my Robinson family history files is a very old picture that my dad showed me and he says it illustrated how my great-grandfather (and many others) helped dig the Headwaters Diversion Channel that Jim refers to at Greenbrier. The channel was dug from Greenbrier, east to the Mississippi, using slip scrapers pulled behind mule teams. The soil dug out was piled on the south side of the " big ditch" (as many locals refer to it) to make a levee, protecting the land to the south from floodwaters coming out of the hills or from the Mississippi. A picture of a slip scraper is provided.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Here's the photo that inspired my steamshovel idea for some channel work. Looks like a variety of methods were used to get the job done.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Some of the ditches were dug by dredge boat with the workers and family members living on board. There was a logging line that used spool wheels on its equiptment. That would take some modeling.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Jim, have you seen the "magazine" on the history of the Little River Drainage District? My late grandfather was a long-time employee and my grandmother gave me the copy. The photo you've included looks familiar; if you don't have it, send me a PM and I will try to get you copies. My retired Uncle Doyle (also a district employee) used to have some maps that showed all of the different rail lines. However, I can't remember if they are actually in his possession or if he was just looking at them. Can't wait to see you put the Swamp in Swampeast Missouri. Best Regards,
