The Back Shop announces a new On3/On30 kit, of a most unusual prototype: The W.W. Prather Lumber Company "one truck" log car.

No, we haven't lost our collective minds here at the 'Shop. "W.W. Prather" is the answer to the trivia question,

"What was Lake County's Only Railroad?" (Lake County being located in California, north of the San Francisco-Bay Area). The Prather railroad was also the second-to-the-last all-new 36-inch narrow gauge logging railroad constructed in the state of California.

In the Spring of 1924, Prather begain logging operations using using a small International tractor as a locomotive, and log cars consisting of eight former Northwestern Pacific narrow gauge passenger car trucks.

Operations were on level gradients, permitting this somewhat unbelieveable combination, and proving there is indeed a prototype for everything. Logs were bucked to 17 feet and were carefully balanced on the truck centerline. No chains or chocks were used; the single log, most in the five to six foot diameter range, was retained only by rocks or wedges of wood driven into the end bunks. Photos show log trains of four or five trucks, each with a single log, and all coupled with very long roosters.

Our model closely follows the full-size prototype: the entire bolster area has been gutted, including the spring plank and leaf springs, leaving only the transom pieces. The rail, end bunks and coupler pockets reflect what the Prather crews did to come up with a log truck.

The parts are investment-cast brass, plus wood for the roosters, a section of rail for the center "bunk," and Northwest Short Line wheesets. Instructions and comments are included.

Two trucks are included in each kit, along with two roosters.

$49.95 msrp for the kit in either track gauge.

To place an order, or for further information, please contact us at the numbers above.

.....Dave Braun, for The Back Shop