By Bob Homer

Author  Bio I had a train set as a child and later built an HO gauge (4' X 8') layout that included a slot car track for my oldest son when he was about 10 or 11. Eventually I became fascinated with the Large Scale train models and ended up modeling 1:20.3 logging and associated era cars.

I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1936 and raised on a cattle ranch in Big Piney, Wyoming. I graduated from the Wasatch Academy in Mt Pleasant, Utah and joined the US Navy. In the Navy, I trained in the electrical and nuclear fields and achieved qualifications as a reactor plant operator and technician. I retired from the Navy in 1974.

I worked for 27 years as boiler inspector for the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. The company provided services to several Northwest pulp, paper and wood products companies.

Early in my Boiler Inspection career I provided services to the "Largest White Pine Sawmill" in the US built in the early 1900's. This was a Potlatch Forest Industries mill in Potlatch, Idaho. Before my time this mill was driven by a single Corliss Steam Engine. It eventually came to my attention that this engine had been relocated to Spokane, WA where it can be observed today. Railroads were and are an integral part of moving logs to the mills and then lumber to the consumer. My interest in logging started with steam locomotives and tractors then progressed through steam engines and in particular the steam donkey, a workhorse of Northwest logging. I became interested in the logging industry when moonlighting as a janitor in State Labor and Industries Office where the cause and effects of logging accidents were posted. I had the pleasure of inspecting several steam locomotives and steam tractors during my career.

I had a train set as a child and later built an HO gauge (4' X 8') layout that included a slot car track for my oldest son when he was about 10 or 11. Eventually I became fascinated with the Large Scale train models and ended up modeling 1:20.3 logging and associated era cars. During this period I discovered die cast offerings and collected models of most of the farming machinery that I was familiar with when I was growing up.

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