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
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!
Frank
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
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?