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Ron Hume - Appropriate gauge for in-mine workings in HO?

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  • Member since
    June 2016
  • 81 posts
Ron Hume - Appropriate gauge for in-mine workings in HO?
Posted by Ron Hume on Friday, July 1, 2016 10:31 PM

I'm looking to incorporate a tiny gold mine line to run one ton ore trucks on a HO layout. Can you tell me what scale would be appropriate please?

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 11:22 AM

Gauge is what you're looking for. 2' would be about the widest. Common gauges less than that are 18" and 12" as well as 15" and a bunch of variants.

Relatively cheap and available, Grandt makes the Wentamuck Mine (#5902):

https://www.walthers.com/wentamuck-mine-kit-4-1-2-x-9-quot-11-2-x-22-5cm

It comes with an ore car and quite a little bit of 18" gauge mine track. Here's one of my installs using this kit, plus some track added from extra kits. I can't recall, but the track, etc may be available seprately from Grandt.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 7:20 PM

Ron Hume,

You might find this site interesting...to say the least. With a Gold Mine, You surely could afford it..LOL:

http://www.comstockcarshops.com/MINING%20PRODUCTS.htm

Have Fun! 

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

  • Member since
    May 2007
  • From: North Myrtle Beach, SC
  • 995 posts
Posted by Beach Bill on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 1:04 PM

I concur that around 2-foot gauge is about right.  I use several Wood Mine Cars from Scale Structures Limited - kit #650-1131.   These are white metal kits and can be painted to look quite weathered and beaten up.  I am not sure if these are still available.  These are a bit under 2 foot in gauge, and I have found that "Z" scale track supports them nicely.  If I bury the ties of the z-scale track into ballast or cinders, the ties aren't noticable, and this then allows me to bend that z-scale flex track into rather tight curves as needed.  I just simulate kick switches, as these mine cars don't roll..

Bill

With reasonable men, I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost. William Lloyd Garrison

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