C D Meyers Railroad Collection
In early 2018, Western Railway Preservation Society (WRPS) got involved with the heirs to the C D Meyers property and 3 foot gauge railroad. In order to sell the property located near Dallas OR, the railroad had to be salvaged.
The 1/4 mile of track wound around on a very hilly 5 acres. A shop and small 24 foot turntable was on one end, and a loop on the other. The grade was up to 6 percent, and the track radius as tight as 75 feet. Most was accessible only by rail. Two turnouts completed the railroad.
Included in the collection was a 2-ton home-built diesel critter running on a German Holder AM-2 tractor chassis. A 1908 Porter 9-ton compressed air mining engine also was included, as well as several home-built carts and a flat car. A very complete set of track tools, rail and parts, and other collectibles completed the collection.
Disassembly of the railroad began in late April 2018 and continued into early 2019.
Onsite rail equipment was extensively used during the tear-up. The collection has been staged for reuse at Powerland Heritage Park near Brooks OR.
Picture Gallery – Click for larger view.
Charlie Meyer’s home-built 2 ton diesel critter. The exceptionally well-built body is spring-equalized and sits on a Holder AM2 2 cylinder, 4 wheel drive tractor chassis. Volunteer Carl Haynes got it running in no time after sitting for a year. The little diesel was immediately put to use, hauling tools and pulling rail to staging areas. Lower loop was pulled up first. Lower loop tear-up commences. Some of the #60 rail was so bent it will be let go as scrap. Looking uphill at loop turnout. Track continues to left into a 75 foot radius, 6 degree right turn. A load of 60# rail arrives at Powerland Heritage Park. Thanks to Canby Builders Supply in Canby, OR for the use of their trucks and forklifts over these past few years. Small Meyers-built crane car and convertible flat/passenger car. Using the diesel critter to pull over 300 feet of loose rail from a storage spot near the engine shed and turntable. The 1908 Porter mining engine has been moved out of the engine shed. It runs, but needs a lot of work to get it looking like it should. It took a lot of effort to get the 8+ tons of engine over a tight switchback, and downhill to the loading area. The well-built 24 foot turntable is being prepped for lifting. The turntable was welded to small wheelsets and moved by rail to the loading area. How do you load an 8 ton engine on a trailer for moving? Very carefully…. The Porter and the diesel critter temporarily stored in the Logging Museum’s Heller Hall at their future home at Powerland Heritage Park at Brooks OR. March 2019, and the last of the track has been removed. Taken from the switchback turnout, looking towards the engine shed and turntable site. Last of the rail and ties recovered from the Meyers Railroad, and now stored at Powerland. The turntable ring rail resting against rail from both collections.
