Mining mights

[Anonymous]

Need advice about mining stock and engines, where and who to get them from. I don't think I am looking for heavy 2-4-0 (or other they had?) or am I? Have in mind to make a opening in the moutain where a small train of cars will come out and dump, then speed back in. Is that possiable? I would like to do this mining place jam up for my grandfather even though he will not see but from above.

Aslo would like to ask the Elders here if they think using his "MRG" first, middle and last name would be bad idea for the mining camp/place? I have never seen a old mining camp up close but only in GR when they had something about a persons RR.

Thank you,

William  

[cacole]

For a mine inside a mountain, a steam engine is the last thing you would ever want to consider.  Steam engines were used in open pin coal mines in southern Illinois when I was growing up, but any underground mine that was not open to the air used special narrow-gauge electric engines that were very small compared to a standard locomotive.

Bachmann makes a set of ore and mine cars in G scale (items 98500, 92502, 92503, and 92504) but I have never seen a model of an electric mine locomotive.

[Anonymous]

When you thihnk about it Cacole is quite right and if it is an American mine you want then i don't know if there is an answer, but of all the things i know a lot about mining is not one of them. If you were to go for a European mine i would suggest that you look into Rack type stuff.

I know the Welsh used small tank locos a lot in slate mines but in fact i really don't think tyhey went undeground at all. Th Chunnel has a very long tunnel which i guess would be similar to a mine and you can only run electric trains through it not even diesel s i guess steam is out.

Rgds ian

[Rastun]

William,

Do a Google search on Gn15.  Ozark Miniatures has a few items in that scale. If you want to stay with the 45mm track look into Hartland Locomotive Works mining equipment.

[vsmith]

In G, lots!

Loco's:

LGB 0-4-0 Porter and several industrial critters; Bachmann 0-4-0 Porters and 2-6-0 Indy; Aristo 2-4-2 Rogers and diesel Critter; HLW Mack, Mining Tram and 0-4-0; and MDC Hustlers if you still find them.

Cars:

HLW 'minicar' ore sidedump cars and gondolas; Bachmann ore cars; and LGB side dump ore cars.

Just use an LGB or Aristo auto reverser unit for the mine line.

[vsmith]

.... but I have never seen a model of an electric mine locomotive.

[Curmudgeon]

As said, remove "steam" and add "electric" (or jack......I mean donkey) and whenever you use the word "mining", remove references to "speed".

 

We've got this 8-mile tunnel just up the hill from me......all it gets is dismals....and the occasional steam.

 

The 2+ mile Stampede tunnel had only steam until they dismalized.

Last thing you want is something other than your lungs sucking oxygen out of your workspace and replacing it with CO and smoke.

 

Probably ok in oz, and all the elements on the periodic chart are upside down.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all the info!

William

[Ray Dunakin]

There are other alternatives besides electric. Some mines used compressed air locos. These operated like a regular steam loco, but had no firebox and had a tank in place of the boiler. The tank held compressed air, and could be refilled from a pipe at stations within the mine. They were generally very small locos, but I've seen pics of some as large as an 0-8-0.

Similarly, there were also mining locos that used steam supplied by a stationary boiler.

Both types were used not only in mines but in any situation where an open flame (or electrical spark) would be dangerous.

Do a google search for "fireless locomotive".