LOADING AND UNLOADING CARS 329 



SPECIAL LOADING DEVICES 



A number of special devices are used for loading large logs on 

 cars, especially in the Pacific Coast region. 



The ^' Gin- pole.''' — This is a modification of the crosshaul, a 

 yarding engine being substituted for horses. A f-inch loading 

 cable passes through a block attached to a mast or gin-pole 

 about 20 feet long, which is set in the ground on the side of the 

 track opposite the landing, and is thoroughly braced with guy 

 ropes. 



The logs are loaded from a landing along the railroad to which 

 logs are brought by a yarding engine, road engine, or by a loco- 

 motive. Landings are built level with the car bunks and are 

 made from 40 to 300 feet long, but they usually are about 120 

 feet long to accommodate two 60-foot logs. They may consist 

 of a number of skids from 15 to 18 inches in diameter, placed 

 about 6 feet apart at right angles to the railroad track, and 

 supported on cribwork; or a large log may be placed on the 

 fore part of the landing parallel and next to the track and 

 from this the main skids supported on a cribwork run at right 

 angles. The rear of the landing may be at a lower level than the 

 part nearest the track. 



Where top loads are put on cars a "lead log" is placed parallel 

 to the tracks on the side opposite the landing. It projects 

 slightly above the top of the car bunks and in order that the 

 direction of pull may always be at right angles the loading cable 

 is made to pass through the lead blocks which are attached to 

 this log. Where a lead log is not used it is customary to set up- 

 right posts 20 feet apart along the track opposite the landing. 

 These are not as convenient as the former because their use 

 makes it necessary for the engineer of the road engine to always 

 leave the logs opposite them. 



The loading cable passes from the drum on the road engine, 

 or from a special loading engine through a block at the peak of 

 the gin-pole, then through the lead blocks, then across the car 

 and over and under the center or end of the log to be loaded. 

 The cable is then brought forward and the grab hook on the end 



