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SURRY  PARKER  LOG  LOADER

This photograph was published in the “Short Line & Narrow Gauge Gazette” May/June 2003

Mr. Parker invented and patented this style of log loader in the early 1890’s. It featured a swing arm and corner jacks that kept the loader stable and level when set up. It was moved on a long flat car and would be placed over a railroad siding where logs were brought in from the bush. Empty log cars were pushed under the loader, and as each was loaded, the next one was pulled into place, until the entire train was loaded with logs. This type of loader became very popular with the small logging operations, especially those who used the “cut-out and get-out” style of logging. 

The plans for this loader were published in the “Short Line & Narrow Gauge Gazette” (May/June 2003 and July/August 2009) and were drawn by Thomas Yorke.

I had built one of these models when the 2003 plans were published but never really finished it. The model was only of layout standard and did not have the jack system but sat on a fixed platform.

This time I wanted to build it to competition standard as I was attending the 2009 25th Anniversary N.M.R.A. Convention in Sydney. Because of time constraints I had to fly there, so needed a small, but highly complex model to enter into the competition. This model would suit perfectly.

The model used the published plans and was scratch built in 1/4 inch to the foot scale. It required dozens of simulated metal parts, including pulley wheels, braces, plates with nuts, as well as the parts for the lifting jacks. All these were scratch built from styrene, white metal castings, brass wire and ‘Grandt Line’ nut and washer detail parts. Many of these can be seen at left. 

There are also many commercial detail parts on the model, mostly white metal, with all being undercoated and painted. The lifting jacks, which operate, are 8BA long bolts, washers and nuts. These can be seen below left. 

At left is the heart of the loader. The two drum winch is a white metal kit (#316) by ‘Crow River Products’, while the steam cylinders are two white metal kits (#311), again by ‘Crow River Products’. All these needed to be modified so they would fit together as one unit.  

The steam boiler and the water tank are resin castings, with the masters being scratch built using styrene and

The model took about 100 hours of modelling time to complete & uses Mt. Albert Lumber through out. The roof is brass corrugated sheet, and gently curved. It will eventually be incorporated into a large logging scene.

 then rubber moulds made. The chimney is a brass tube, while the spark arrester was scratch built using two thin slivers of brass tube and brass mesh soldered together. These items were then undercoated, painted, weathered and lightly rusted.
Below are some photographs of the completed model.
The log skeleton cars are featured in another article. Click HERE to go to that article.
I was asked for detail photos of the loader for those planning to build their own. I hope you can't see to many faults up this close!