Lombard Log Hauler

[loggah]

Here is a photo of my Lombard Log Hauler. Built in 1925 in Waterville, ME, I have owned it since 1977.

It was used up on the Allagash, in Northern Maine, working out of Churchill Depot. This tractor was once owned by Ed LaCroix Madewaska Company, and it hauled long sled trains loaded with pulp wood for Great Northern Paper Company. It's in complete and original condition, and runs great. I believe it is the only original one in existence.

In this photo, it has a set of wheels on the front, but it also has skis for winter use.

Just thought some here might be interested in one of my old pieces of iron.

 

Don

[snowstorm]

there was one at the winsor fair this summer. may have been a bit smalled than yours. king edward was also the one that brought the two trains to eagle lake. they are still there.

[shinnlinger]

Are you putting it on skis for the winter????
Love it!!!!  Might wander over for a look see if you are running it anytime soon.

Dave

[JDeere]

That is a beautiful piece of iron. I would love to see it someday. I think there is also one at the lumbermen's museum in Patten, Maine.

[loggah]

It is if you can afford the gasoline!!!! 1090 cubic inch 6 cylinder Wisconsin model P.T. engine  5 3/4" bore ,7" stroke. When these were used they burned about 8 gallons per hour. the one in Winslow probably belonged to Paul Breton and could have been their model T lombard it is a 6 ton machine. My model LW is a bit over 9 1/2 tons. Don

[cutter88]

that is a very cool pic there is one like that in an old musiem about 5 min from my yard but im not sure what kind it is

[loggah]

There several Lombards in Museums in Maine,Ashland,Pattern, and the Maine state museum in Augusta,also some in private ownership.I believe  mine is the only one with the correct engine in operating condition,there is one that has been repowered with a international truck engine and auxiliary transmission. Don

[loggah]

Cutter, It is probably a Linn log hauler ,or tractor,a bunch were used in Canada. Linn used to work for Lombard then he Moved to Morris New York and started his own factory to manufacture Linn tractors. Don

[snowstorm]

there is also one in waterville. on the rite after crossing the bridge from winslow

[loggah]

Oh, Ya i forgot about that one!! That one was a Lacroix machine also , It was one that the Waterville Maine high school was to rebuild years ago in their shop but never did ,it was one of three machines ,The Bretons in Vasselboro put it together for a static display in exchange for the rest of the Lombard parts machines. Don

[snowstorm]

the trains are between eagle and chamberlian lake in northern maine. lacroix brought them from quebec . they are big steam trains that ran on oil. i dont recall how many miles of track but it wasnt a lot. there is also a sream donkey engine that ran a tramway between the two lakes to move wood. its only about a 1/4 mile between the lakes. when they were done with logging that area they decided that it was too expensive to move the trains so they were left in the train shed. many years a go someone from the maine forest service thought it would be a good idear to burn the building with the trains inside. last time i was there was at least 20 yrs ago. you can ride your snowmobile rite to them.

[thecfarm]

Now that belongs in this thread too,
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,13313.0.html

That is quite the machine.

[loggah]

Snowstorm, Those Locomotives were hauled in from Lac Frontiere Quebec with Lombard tractors. A friend of mine from Windham worked with a railroad group and boy scouts jacking them back up and reballasting the tracks so they sit level on the rails. The park service in their wisdom also burnt down the log hauler shed at Churchill Depot at the same time, fortunately a logger in the area pulled the lombards out of the shed before the building was torched. Don

[barbender]

That is a neat machine, Loggah! Those were used in Northern Mn as well, but I've never seen one left around. I'd love to see one in person.

[shinnlinger]

Peaked my interest...  http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/history/allagash/rr.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombard_Steam_Log_Hauler

[Meadows Miller]

Gday

I like it your a lucky bloke to own one Mate  ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D 8) 8) 8) 8)

Regards Chris

[sprucebunny]

Very cool machine  8)

[loggah]

Chris, I actually own another complete chassis,just havent got the engine in it yet. I put another machine together back in the 70,s it was originally supposed to go to a museum in Northern N.H. the museum didn't happen and now the machine is in the state snowmobile museum at bear brook in Allentown,its occasionally seen on N.H. television shows.  Don

[jocco]

I think there is one at lennords mills in Maine also not sure the size and modle. ;D

[barbender]

Careful, Sprucebunny saw the tracks on that thing and there is probably some serious coveting going on :D

[loggah]

Jocco. The one at Leonards mills is a early steam lombard, they had a new boiler made and a friend of mine was restoring it ,Bill Lynch, he died suddenly last fall and i don't know what the status is on the steamer it now. there is a Steam Lombard fully restored at the White mountain central R.R. in Lincoln N.H.where they also have three geared logging steam locomotives. I worked with the crew up there gathering up parts from 6 derelict steamers in the Maine woods to finally complete the one . It took 16 years of scrounging and manufacturing parts to complete it.  ;D Don

[lumberjack48]

barbender, some type of locomotive went down in a swamp between Funkly and Alvwood in Nore Township in the early 1900's. We were always going to go look for it but never did. I don't know how deep it sank, some of these sink holes seem to have no bottom.

[loggah]

In 1905 Lombard licensed Phoenix manufacturing co of Eau Claire Wisconsin to manufacture  steam log haulers, they made about 100 machines,and had to pay Lombard a royalty of $1000 on each machine produced.  They were used all over the upper midwest, Canada, 3 even going to Russia,and 2 to Finland, It could have been one of these left in the swamp when the winter haul road gave out. Don

[Piston]

That is a really cool looking machine and thanks for posting!
Do you have any pictures of it in the winter, with the skiis on it?

[lumberjack48]

Heres a lombard locomotive