Re: Load binding chains

Load binders were seldom used in the big timber country West of the Selkirk/Cascade/Sierra ranges where "cheese blocks" were commonly used. When they were they generally encircled the entire load, like with a modern day logging truck, with no connection to the car. This was sometimes required where haul over a class I railroad was necessary. In later years as logs became smaller and less perfect The cheese blocks were replaced with bunk stakes, at first drop stakes somewhat like the cheese blocks but later with fixed stakes. On the East Side (Sumpter Valley country) where smaller logs prevailed, cheese blocks were rarely found. Here short fixed stakes (later drop stakes) prevailed, used with a peculiar kind of load binder known as a "gut wrapper". This binder was placed around the load when it was about 2/3 constructed and the remaining logs placed on top of it. There would be 2 to 4 of these per car, depending on the length of the logs relative to the car. The cars were mostly flats, with or without decks.

Of course in logging you are liable to see anything anywhere. Gut wrappers are still sometimes used for off highway truck haul.