Re: Boiler design question

I would pretty much agree with that Jeff. It is possible they used the #3 for switching the mill, much like the SV at South Baker, but I have not seen anything to confirm that. It does look like Eccles never intended to operate in Idaho, and it is likely they were in cahoots with Hallack & Howard from the start. The Eccles family was involved in an amazing number of lumbering operations. The inclusive dates are accurate, but Eccles only logged for a few weeks in 1926, and then began the process of selling out to H&H. As H&H spent the winter and spring rebuilding the mill, and did not begin laying track untill until Sept. 1927, it is not likely they did much logging that year. It sounds like winter logging was not done in that country. Thusly, late spring to early fall 1928 was the only season they logged intensively with the railroad. I can't say about the 1936-39 period. They might have had a reload in the woods for the final haul to the mill, or it might have just been a switching operation. If it was a reload it must have been a relatively small tract or the rails would have lasted longer.

Anyway, the exact number of miles we have put on the #3 is difficult to determine due to the variable length of track, but I would estimate it at over 6000. This would approximately equal the miles H&H put on in 1928, assuming a 7 month season and 6 day work week. I do not know the length of Eccles trackage in Oregon but I doubt it exceeded 12 miles. So I guess it would be more accurate to say we have put on about as many miles as either of the previous owners.

I don't know what any of this has to do with boiler design.

Jim