Steam Forestry Locomotive, Rovaniemi, Finland - Old Tractors on Waymarking.com

This is a very unusual machine. It was used for hauling logs from the Nuorti logging site, near Tulppio in the Savukoski area to the Kemijoki river, from where they were floated during the spring floods.

Two of these machines were imported from the USA by Richard Hugo Sandberg (or "Samperi" as he was nicknamed) the powerful and charismatic forestry manager at the Kemi Paper Company. This locomotive is at the Rovaniemi Metsämuseo (forestry museum). The other is preserved at Tulppio. Link to more info (suomeksi/in Finnish)

The locomotives enabled logging to take place in forest areas that were not served by tributaries of the Kemijoki river which was the main transport route for timber.

The first locomotive was delivered in 1913, and the second in 1914. The locomotives were imported to Finland via the Harbour at Hankko, then transported to Rovaniemi by rail, and thence by horse sledge to Nuorti where they were assembled.

They were designed to run on coal, but were converted to wood fuel for use in Finland. They ran on frozen roads rather than rails.

The project was less successful than was hoped. It cost more than expected, and the high centre of gravity of the machines meant that they were easily toppled. Logging at Nuorti ended in 1916 due to the first world war.

The above information was gathered at the Rovaniemi Forestry Museum

Engine Type: Steam Wheel Type: Steel Make: Phoenix Manufacturing Co. Philadelphia, USA Model: Not listed

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