June 11th- Leming

Post date: Jun 12, 2015 10:28:24 PM

As we continue north and exit the only tunnel on the Sue Line (below), we enter the town of Leming.

This town was named for John "Fat Jack" Leming who was a former art director for the Dallas Morning News. Sadly "Fat Jack" passed away April 25, 2008. "Fat Jack" and his son Tom Leming operated the Cape Able and Port Entous railroad in a garage in back of the home in Dallas, Texas.

Many people never figured out that Cape Able was Capable and that Port Entous was Portenous.

On the Sue Line, the town of Leming has industries. On the south west end of town was the infamous Leming Gas Works (below). The industry was a gist from the late Cliff Robinson also from Dallas, Texas.

The name of the industry is self-explanatory as the tanks all hold "natural gas".

The vertical tanks were cigar holders and the horizontal tanks were wooden dowels.

A Kit bashed office (above) was added to the original industry.

Along the same spur is a team track (above) for general freight loading and unloading.

Along the east side of Leming is the Willis Lumber Company (above).

There is the main lumber shed and office (above, right),

A work shop and team track (above, center),

and a storage shed (above, left).

This industry is named for Jim Willis, a member of the Sue Line Crew,

an architect,

a carpenter,

a restaurant owner,

a motorcycle rider, and

a steam locomotive engineer,

and a great friend.

Just west and north of Willis Lumber Company is the Leming depot (above).

Some of the LED lighting by Dillon Stokes and David Colvin and be seen

in the depot freight house and open platform.

The north and east end of Leming is the home of James Grain.

This structure was designed and build by former Sue Line member Randy James.

James Grain is a major revenue producer for the Sue Line.

Another significant feature of Leming is the presence of non-railroad

serviced structures. One of the is R. C. Taylor Grocery (above).

This structure was named in honor of my maternal grandfather-

Roy C. Taylor who owned a grocery store and dance hall in

Lansing, Arkansas.

Also present between Willis Lumber Company and James Grain are five

"company houses" (above) which were scratch build by a good friend,

Scott Wallace of Farmer's Branch, Texas.

These house show everyday activities such a children playing.

On evening before a weekly operating session, I came out and found

about 20 police cars and a police helicopter in this area.

These vehicles belonged to my youngest son, Joseph Edward Kamm.

When I asked him why he had added these vehicles to the layout,

he replied "Drug Raid".

The next week they were all gone.

As we leave the north end of Leming, we cross

a small bridge with a creek that leads to a lake (above).

Join us next week as we take a look at Robert's Crossing and RCX.