richhotrainBut there are very few replies, and I am not sure why.
Cheers, the curious Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
All of these operations take place at the Millford open-pit quarry and there is a viewing area on the Dutch Settlement side of the quarry where the public can see all the action. I have not only toured the quarry, I have many videos from the viewing area.
This is how my HO scale gypsum quarry will operate. (1) The glacial till overburden will be removed by excavators, bulldozers and trucks. (2) The overburden will be stockpiled around the perimeter of the quarry. (3) Leveled areas will be drilled and blasted (going to animate this). (4) Dump trucks are loaded by front-end loaders and the blasted rock is hauled to the processing plant. (5) Crushing and screening take place at the plant. (6) Trucks haul away the plant tailings to the tailing dump. (7) The processed gypsum is stored in a surgepile where it is eventually loaded into hoppers by conveyors (will animate this). (8) The CMRX transports the rock to the CN main line where the cars are switched to CN trains.
So that's it, my layout is a modified Frary/Hayden layout from 47 years ago - old school.
I'll also make a few minor changes to their yard plan on page 41, but I will keep their B&M Main Line North and point it south and make it the CN Main Line to Windsor Junction, NS. The Frary and Hayden industrial rails will be owned by the Cheverie Mountain Railroad (CMRX) on my layout and I have a really good painter repainting a locomotive and some cars with the CMRX paint scheme that I am designing.
On page 43 of November 1970 RMC I'll build the rock cut on the right of their trackplan using the first photo from Walton that I took this morning. They don't have a flooded pit, but I like this one (second picture) at Walton and I can place it on the Frary/Hayden layout behind the rock bunker by moving the quarry wall back.
richhotrain In part, Dennis, I am trying to encourage you to have a dialog with us. There is obviously a lot of interest in what you are doing, as evidenced by the number of views. But there are very few replies, and I am not sure why. Perhaps some are intimidated by your posts since they are very technical. But, if the only posts are yours, these threads become a series of webinars. That may be what you want and that is fine, I guess. Are you not looking for comment, critique, questions? Rich
In part, Dennis, I am trying to encourage you to have a dialog with us. There is obviously a lot of interest in what you are doing, as evidenced by the number of views. But there are very few replies, and I am not sure why. Perhaps some are intimidated by your posts since they are very technical. But, if the only posts are yours, these threads become a series of webinars. That may be what you want and that is fine, I guess. Are you not looking for comment, critique, questions?
Rich
All right, I am using a variation of the quarry layout by Frary and Hayden in November 1970 Railroad Model Craftsman. What do you think of that one?
Alton Junction
richhotrain OldSchoolScratchbuilder richhotrain Why not forget the workstations and just start building your layout? By now, you know that the demonstrators will work. Rich I am doing scenery. I am not discussing my layout. I am under the impression that you are testing your eventual layout practices through the use of demonstrator workstations. So, my point is, why not just proceed with building the layout because what you are going to find is that what works in a static diorama may or may not work on a live layout. This forum is filled with those of us who have gained invaluable experience through the actual layout construction process. Just trying to be helpful. Rich
OldSchoolScratchbuilder richhotrain Why not forget the workstations and just start building your layout? By now, you know that the demonstrators will work. Rich I am doing scenery. I am not discussing my layout.
richhotrain Why not forget the workstations and just start building your layout? By now, you know that the demonstrators will work. Rich
Why not forget the workstations and just start building your layout?
By now, you know that the demonstrators will work.
I am under the impression that you are testing your eventual layout practices through the use of demonstrator workstations. So, my point is, why not just proceed with building the layout because what you are going to find is that what works in a static diorama may or may not work on a live layout. This forum is filled with those of us who have gained invaluable experience through the actual layout construction process. Just trying to be helpful.
This thread is all yours. Why dont you tell us everything you know about layouts. I'll start my own thread tomorrow.
Now we overlay the two sketches and I will point out where I'll be going this morning to take pictures to model the gypsum scenery. At the top of the map you will see Walton and Whale Creek with blue Windsor Group running between them and through the Walton River. There are at least three abandoned gypsum quarries that are public lands - you can see them along the Quarry Road in Google Earth. I have lots of local friends there and they know the history - I enjoy their stories.
So I'll be back later to set up a demonstrator workstation to begin.
Next, I have sketched out the geology for this entire region. I'll only point out the blue areas for now. This is the Windsor Group (early Carboniferous) and has lots of limestone, siltstone, gypsum, anhydrite, salt, and sandstone throughout.
First, a few words on the geology associated with my Nova Scotia gypsum quarry. I have drawn a sketch of the area of interest bounded by the Minas Basin to the northwest and the Avon River in the southwest. You can use Google Earth to find this area and you will even see the white gypsum areas I'll be talking about.
richhotrain Dennis, I have no real interest in geology, but every Spring I need a bag or two of gypsum to spread on my parkway to counteract the salt sprays thrown by the snow plows during the winter. So, do me a favor if you will and send me a bag or two next Spring.
Dennis, I have no real interest in geology, but every Spring I need a bag or two of gypsum to spread on my parkway to counteract the salt sprays thrown by the snow plows during the winter. So, do me a favor if you will and send me a bag or two next Spring.
Unfortunately Rich, it's illegal to send raw materials out of the province without a permit from the provincial government. But, if your walls have gyprock, most houses do, good chance the raw gypsum to make it came from Nova Scotia. The gypsum ships leaving Halifax Harbour are headed to the US eastern seaboard.
OldSchoolScratchbuilder Beginning today I will be building a small gypsum quarry on my demonstrator workstation using real gypsum from the actual quarry being modelled. If you don't like geology then this is not going to be of interest to you.
Beginning today I will be building a small gypsum quarry on my demonstrator workstation using real gypsum from the actual quarry being modelled. If you don't like geology then this is not going to be of interest to you.
doctorwayne There was quite a bit of gypsum here in southern Ontario, but most of it appears to have been mined rather than quarried.I can't say if I like geology or not, but I do like learning. Wayne
There was quite a bit of gypsum here in southern Ontario, but most of it appears to have been mined rather than quarried.I can't say if I like geology or not, but I do like learning.
Wayne
I've been to Bancroft, ON rockhounding and attending rock and mineral shows. Bancroft is located on the edge of the Canadian Shield and so lots of cool crystals and minerals are to be found there. I lived in Petawawa at the time.
Here in Nova Scotia we have a lot of gypsum near the surface so there are many quarries and open pit mines. Two years ago I had a personal tour of the largest open-pit mine in the world in Milford, about a 45 minute drive from my home. Even got to witness an explosives detonation of a wall of gypsum from a safe distance. Initially I'll be modelling something much smaller. Glad there is a bit of interest. Just got back from my third field trip this week so after an old man nap, I'll get started.
I worked for a company that had a sheetrock plant and gypsum quarry in Oklahoma - slightly different scenery than Nova Scotia. The gypsum was pretty close to the surface, blasted out, run through a rock crusher and transported by the smaller versions of those diesel-electric mega trucks. Truck maintenance facilities were on site.
Also been to a quarry near Eagle, CO. A wide and deep pit quarry in the mountains. Looked like they shaved off one foot of gypsum at a time. Just a few units of mining equipment located among the piles of gypsum and "boney".
Jim
Gypsum is one of the most abundant minerals in my area of interest for modelling ore trains in Nova Scotia. One gypsum quarry owned by National Gypsum is still in operation with their private custom hoppers transporting ore to ships in Bedford Basin, ten minutes from my home in Dartmouth.