Some time ago I compiled a list of elements I wanted to include in my future sawmill if I ever had enough space.

This is my list;

1. A large sawmill
2. Log dump
3. Sorting shed (green chain)
4. Dry Kilns
5. Boiler house.
6. Machine shop
7. Engine house
8. Open and enclosed lumber storage sheds.
9. Open air lumber drying yard.
10. Main office building.

Out of that list I have built or am building 7 of the 10 structures/elements and plan to complete this list with other additions.

Structures built or building to date,

• The sawmill. Built from a set of Russ Simpson plans of the West Side sawmill with some modifications -the boilerhouse is a separate structure, the location that adjoins the sawmill is taken up by the powerhouse. The scale floor area of the sawmill is 77 X 205 feet and is about 25% complete with the main wall framing done and the main floor joists under construction.  Board & batten siding is on hand as well as the flooring. Machinery will come from a Keystone double bandsaw mill I have. The powerhouse has 2 Corliss stationary steam engines driving 2 Allis Chalmers 500kw dynamos that supply electric power to the sawmill, planning mill and other buildings. 3 steam turbines also provide electric power. Rio Grande Models & Western Scale Models kits were used for the Corliss engines and dynamos while Plastruct motor - pump units represent the turbines (until I find something better).
• The log dump.   Still in it's early days yet, the log dump follows the West Side Lumber's dump in design, in that 2 spar poles beside the unloading track run a crotch line to unload log trains. An area representing the pond with logs, log boat, etc. is still to to be completed.
• The dry kilns. 3 kilns have been built, representing a more modern, corrugated structure while an older 5 kiln brick structure is in the process of being built.
• Boiler house. The walls have been built, window castings painted. The top clestory is being built then the roof and stacks go on. The walls are 3mm thick foamcore board with a corrugated card material glued to the surface.
• Machine shop. This structure is substantially complete, with just the rear wall and roof to be added. Thse are left off while the interior, complete with belt driven machinery, is finished and the belting added. Scratchbuilt using the Model Tech Studios heavy timber framing kit and roof trusses.
• Engine house. Also substantially complete, This structure was salvaged from the previous layout where it was the car shop, now to see duty as the engine house and repair shop. One of the door openings has been enlarged to enable tall donkeys on cars and other large items to enter for repairs (there is also an open air repair track adjacent the the engine house & machine shop). Originally a Muir Models kit for the West Side car shop, the side walls developed a bad warp over a few years so the ends were salvaged and new styrene sides added.
• Lumber storage sheds. Space restrictions on the new layout means these interesting structures are not much more than 'flats' against the back of the mill area, but at about 45 degrees to the back. The largest shed has a track going in through a loading door. This track goes through the backdrop, into what will eventually be a mountain. This enables boxcars to be spotted inside for loading. Built from foamcore board with bass & pine strip added and stained, it is an imposing structure. An additional lean-to along the left side provides storage for planning mill stock and an awning over a second loading track. Other 'flats' will be added as space permits.
• Resaw mill. This mill started as Moss Lake Mill 3 on my old portable layout. It will now be the resaw mill at the back of the main mill. This is a Walthers sawmill kit.
• Yard office. Not the railroad yard but rather the sawmill yard office where orders are filled and the lumber is all accounted for and kept track of. This is a Builders in Scale Dill's Market kit with an MDC Overton coach grounded at the rear as additional storage/office space.
• Warehouses. There are 2 warehouses on a spur, both structures recieve carloads of goods and supplies and forward them on as needed in the company supply cars. One warehouse handles preishables and foodstuffs, the other larger structure handles non-perishables, tools and parts. Both buildings are Campbells kits, the larger one is the Montgomery Feed & Seed with added platform and roofed over area. The smaller is Campbells Supply Co. without the office area.
• Fuel tanks. There is 4 fuel tanks alongside the fuel track. A large vertical tank holds bunker 'C' oil for the steam locos and woods donkeys, two elevated horizontal tanks hold diesel fuel for the diesel locos, log trucks and other diesel equipment. There's also a smaller horizontal tank for gas (petrol) for vehicles, some smaller, older, donkeys, chainsaws, etc. The large tank is from Rix, the twin diesel tanks from Campbells and the gas tank from Walthers.

The warehouses

The machine shop

The rear of the engine house. Also a car unit I have under construction.

The sand house. Recently completed, this scratchbuilt structure rests on logs and supplies the engines with dry sand.

It's built along the lines of an old camp car that's been re-used in this roll, hence the boarded up door and window (yes, it is actual scenery work there!!).

I tried some of Paper Creek Models products on the engine house floor. I'm quite happy with the result

The sawmill yard office & addition.

The big storage/loading shed.

The main sawmill framing.

The adjoining powerhouse.

The boilerhouse.

Recent photos of the engine service & shops area.

Yes, I've finally started on some scenery. The area closest to the camera is the 'back lot' or junk yard - no logging outfit should be without one!!

There's 2 old Macks and a REO tank truck (Jordan & woodland scenics) and some of my donkey engines. The engine at the end of the storage spur is a 2-8-0 from Model Power, the sort with the motorised tender. Behind it is a camp building on a pair of disconnects.

The machine shop has grown to almost double it's original size with the blacksmith's section now added. It has lots of Rio grande models belt driven machine tools and overhead line shafting. When it's complete, I hope to add a page featuring a 'virtual' tour of it and the engine shop.