Details on a Mid 1950s era coal mine

[wdcrvr]

I have just built the Walthers Diamond coal mine building.  I have weathered it and altered a few widows to e in an open position.  I am looking for ideas as to additions to the basic building that would be appropriate for the mid 50s era.  Would a large air conditioning unit setting on a frame on a sloped roof be acceptable?  What kind of vents might be appropriate?  Anyone have any other ideas I would really appreciate it.  I want to give the structure some character, especially since it is rather large and right at the beginning of my layout.  Also, what other types of structures might be in its immediate vicinity?  Storage shed, workshop,  etd?  Thanks again for all the support I get from this forum.

Jim

[gmpullman]

I added a Tichy catwalk and stairway:

Coalwood by Edmund, on Flickr

Also some heftier diagonal bracing (I had lost the original, smaller ones) and a caged ladder.

Girder2 by Edmund, on Flickr

The pieces I added came from a Micro Engineering bridge kit.

And I added a flood light and lamp over the door plus lights under the chute area:

Coalwood_night2 by Edmund, on Flickr

Air conditioner, even for the Boss Man's office would be unlikely. If anything, a Swamp Cooler, maybe. I plan to add some larger conduits and junction boxes on the outside, someday...

Good Luck, Ed

[wdcrvr]

What's a swamp cooler and what would it look like?

[dehusman]

Coal mines and breakers weren't air conditioned.

There could be tool houses, pump houses for water, a scale house and scale, power house, a machine/blacksmith shop, garage for trucks, boiler house for steam, compressor house and tanks for compressed air, locker room for the workers, office for the mine managers and clerical staff.

[gmpullman]

wdcrvr

What's a swamp cooler and what would it look like?

A big box with louvers on all sides. It is an evaporative cooler.

Cheers, Ed

 

[BEAUSABRE]

Don't forget the mine tranway! See the last bit of this video showing the Wanamie (PA) Mine in the Sixties (my first fantrip in 69). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmXUCM46FBg and earlier footage from the early Fifties when Truman siezed the mines as essential for national defense https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aheRN4aOUI

[OT Dean]

dehusman

Coal mines and breakers weren't air conditioned.

There could be tool houses, pump houses for water, a scale house and scale, power house, a machine/blacksmith shop, garage for trucks, boiler house for steam, compressor house and tanks for compressed air, locker room for the workers, office for the mine managers and clerical staff.

 

Exactly right.  All those photos of mines on model railroads of the past were woefully inadequate--and we didn't know it until Jack Work's "How to build a coal mine" in MR back in 1959.  A mine without all the ancillary structures is like a railroad yard without the necessary clutter of buildings large and small.  Look at it this way: it's a fine way to fill your time--and everyone will know where to find you!  Stay safe, everybody.

Deano