Here's an interesting point:  What's your definition of 
temporary?  Railroad logging camps, at least in the western Great Lakes, 
could have a life span of 5 years, give or take.  This is based on 
informant interviews (conducted in 1970s-early 1980s)/ethnohistoric 
accounts/company documents.  This was considered long term, at least by 
accounts I've seen.  The remaining characteristics (size, layout, etc.) 
that you mention I agree with. I'm not sure how these characteristics would 
compare with railway logging camps in other regions, however.

         Tom

At 03:17 AM 7/22/2006 -0400, you wrote:
>A section camp will typically consist of a section foreman's house,
>bunkhouse, car shed, tool shed and any other additional outbuildings 
>deemed necessary
>for maintenance work.   These structures, especially the section foreman's
>house would have been associated with a localized landscape similar to a 
>farmstead
>as there was typically domestic production associated.   Logging camps,
>depending on the size would have had a more temporary imprint on the 
>landscape and
>usually would have served a larger population than the maximum of
>approximately eight individuals that would have been in a section camp 
>during the busy
>season (it could fluctuate greatly based on demand).   Logging camps would 
>have
>evidence of loading apparatus (platforms, A frames, Spar poles, etc), at 
>least
>a passing siding on the railroad (section camps often did not as there was no
>reason for them), and other infrastructural features to service active 
>logging
>and loading.   Section camps on the other hand are small yet permanent with
>none of these extra features.   I hope this very brief overview is of some 
>aid
>and it is nice to be talking about a subject so near and dear to my heart on
>histarch!   :-)
>
>Stathi
>
>
>
>______________________________________________________
>
>Efstathios I. Pappas, MS
>Doctoral Student
>Department of Anthropology/096
>University of Nevada, Reno
>Reno, NV 89557
>(775) 323-5730

W. Thomas Langhorne, Jr., Ph.D.                         [log in to unmask]
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