Coal Mine Scene
I guess by now I have considered at least 5 different location on my new double deck layout plan to place a coal mine scene. And for the most part I have been planning on utilizing the Walther's kit, New River Mining. In order to have some run-thru tipple loading tracks you need a fair amount of real estate. I was running out of available real estate, particularly as I began to consider several 'corner locations'.
This was one of my recent considerations, before I revised the track plan for that upper deck for a third time,...in that upper left corner, but not fully in the corner (that yellow tab of paper).
You might see that I had at that time a custom crossover turnout planned for that corner as well. It was not going to be a good decision to have that mine interfering with that crossover turnout underneath.
So my first decision was to greatly simplify ANY type of trackage that might be placed below ANY structure in that corner of the room. I chose to eliminate that double crossover and replace to with just 2 plain mainline tracks enter/leaving that back wall leading to the helix. Then place multiple rerailers in there to further reduce the risk of miss-happenings in that section of track.OLD crossoverNEW trackage
Now I could really place a structure (my coal mine) over this trackage. BUT I have to accommodate a 2 level platform for the coal mine,...I need to have a portion of the building sit a little higher than the tipple portion
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
So then I set about cutting out some foamboard (combintion of Gatorboard and PVC foamed board) to eventually build the mining structure onto (it's base), but still have it liftable off the layout to work on in the future, and to gain access to the tracks below.
Installed wood supports to set the removable foamboard base onto,..
weighted down for gluing, and glued support strip along the wall,.....
The foamboard base itself,...
Set in place showing tipple tracks at a lower level than some of the 'building portion' of the mine structure. It will require removing approx 1+3/16" of height of the 'building portion'.
There is now ample room for the trains to pass under this structure, yet still be accessable if absolutely necessary.
This coal mine will be sitting in a carved out portion of a rocky mountainside, and the trains passing under it will enter that mountain structure so as to not appear to go directly under the mine.
Now I need to figure out HOW to make it look like a whole string of coal cars are waiting in line to be loaded under the tipple?? *Does anyone have some photo examples of how this could be painted onto the backdrop there behind the tipple??
Two Removable Sections over Mainlines coming in from Helix
So just above you see the removable base plate for the coal mine itself.
I then needed to create a protective cover over the remaining portion of those mainlines. This will be some sort of rocky mountain material built upon this removable cover. You will notice that it is a bump up from the cover behind it, due to the rising grade of the mainlines under it.
Brian. I think when you build the mountain and place the mine, it will greatly reduce your problem.
The problem is not the corner itself, but the track that punches through the backdrop that is very close to the corner mine scene. If you want to place a tunnel portal there, then you will have to have a violent cut into the mountain to accomodate the three tracks and cars.
A large cut in the mountain just to the side of a tunnel portal might look strange, so how you transition from the tunnel to the tracks is going to be your main problem, IMO.
Also, you could reduce the footprint of the mine scene so it fits better by using a different kit other than the New River Mine.
Walthers makes a couple of coal loaders that are designed to load hoppers in a location that is away from the superstructure coal crusher (which is what the New River mine really is, IMO). You could also get by with using only one track, not three.
Google search "Walthers coal flood loader" produced these images.
https://www.google.com/search?q=walthers+coal+flood+loader&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=OCeGbSjHDAqbhM%253A%252Ci0_sKXREjWqfSM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kS2tBP7sH-ZoP66-zzcLc_INxylAg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjbvrKiwsblAhWxuFkKHdUuAt8Q9QEwAXoECAcQHg#imgrc=OCeGbSjHDAqbhM:
Flood loaders are filled via conveyor that originates at the crusher (which could be modeled off layout). So the conveyor could just go off to the left and rest just atop a hillside you build on the left side.
- Douglas
I see where you are coming from with the single track flood loader only. But what if?
What if the coal mine tipple and its tracks are located down in a small valley/cut between the mountains on either side,...somewhat like this one was done...
...or like this very roughed in paper mountain
Or perhaps those tracks behind the tipple could be curving off to one side?
Remember also that those tracks and cars painted on the backdrop are not going to have to be extremely well developed as much of that picture will be obscured by the tipple itself.
I think that will be fine. Your scene may be better than the other you posted.
There is more space there than what I had thought by looking at the bare space.
And your other issue about the backdrop: Like a mirror, you will have to find a solution for blending the picture into the rest of the backdrop. I assume the mountains will hide the sides but you'll have to find somehting along the top unless you take the picture all the way up. Any seam will tend to show, if you care about that.
I think curving the tracks helps the straight-on angle. And it makes more sense to curve them given the angle of the tunnel.
Overall, I think the smaller flood loader would be a better fit. It would be easier to curve just one track in a realistic manner. JMO.
There is an older lady artist here in the park that has been telling me she would be glad to help me on my layout. I've just put her off as I have yet to develop all my scenes to a final form. She is also somewhat limited in her maneuverability, so the painting would have to be done on a medium that could then be applied to the walls of the sheld, then camoflague the edges.