Sawmill & Powerhouse

The JH Schiek Lumber Company Sawmill & Powerhouse

Note: This is not a 'How To', but a display of a completed 'Scratchbuilt Project' showing what can be done with some materials and time. It does not have to have been judged for AP Points.

(Click on the small images for the full size view.)

February 1, 2005

The sawmill took 101 points at the SER last spring and the powerhouse took 97 points. The sawmill ended up second and the power house first in their category. - Larry

The Sawmill
The sawmill is based on one that Jerry Strangarity did for the Eastern Loggers layout. It is built board by board using scale lumber. All of the machinery was reworked and the sawblades replace with etched stainless steel blades. The log jacker was built from parts from Rio Grande Models. The shotgun carriage was modifed to represent a steam operated one. All of the machinery represents belt driven equipment that was powered by an under the floor system. The cutoff saw was scratch built using information from a Jack Work article in Model Railroader.

The powerhouse
The powerhouse is also scratch built with board by board construction. It is based on several different powerhouses used by different sawmills in the eastern US. It has a Builders in Scale boiler that has been modified with Rio Grande Models doors. An SS Ltd water pump and steam engine are at the back of the
powerhouse. The drive line runs into a room next door and powers a dynamo for electircal power for the mill with excess power running to the company town.

Both models are shown on display bases in the model contest room

Larry Smith, MMR

If you wish to submit a photo for consideration, send the photo (no larger than 800x600 please) to TJ Klevar along with a description of how you built it, techniques you used, and any special tips you wish pass along.