General Discussion (Model Railroader)

jbinkley60 wrote:

My next challenge is to figure out what to put in front of the coal loaders on the layout.  the area in front of the hill between the tunnel tracks and the coal loader tracks is around 8" x 32" in size.  All the way to the left will be the beginning of a small town. I am up for suggestion on what to put in this area.  It can't be too tall because that area faces the front of the layout and would block everything behind.  I am thinking of a parking lot for the workers at the coal mine and then a road leading towards the town for the workers and trucks coming from the mine.  A parking lot is low but just doesn't seem like the best usage of space.  Suggestions anyone ?

That's a perfect spot for a row of small company houses and a company store!  They can all be one story do they don't block the view.  Since you're doing modern operations, you can leave the houses abandoned or paint them different colors to look like they're now privately-owned.

Who makes a reasonably priced comany house?

I could kit bash a Plasticville house or scatch build one also but a kit would work best for me."Mine " is finished and ready to pack away until ready to be placed.

I will add lites to it then.

In HO, City Classics makes 2-story company houses.  I've seen Tony Koester's article on taking Grandt Line and Rix houses and converting them to company houses as well (don't ask me which issue, but I think it was part of his Coal Fork Extension series in the late 90s/early 2000s).  Those would be 1 floor.  In N scale there are the Grandt Line houses, but that's about it.  AMB makes a laser kit for a company house if you're into wood.  They offer it in N and HO.

Ryan,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I can't find any labels from our ballast, we're looking for the invoice/packing slip now. We know it's there someplace.

The coal we use for our loads is called Unit Train Coal. I looked at the Scenic Express catalog on line real quick, but didn't see it. We bought all our stuff direct from Smith & Sons.

I'll let you know if we find the info on the ballast.

Mike

MIKE0659 wrote:

Ryan, Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I can't find any labels from our ballast, we're looking for the invoice/packing slip now. We know it's there someplace. The coal we use for our loads is called Unit Train Coal. I looked at the Scenic Express catalog on line real quick, but didn't see it. We bought all our stuff direct from Smith & Sons. I'll let you know if we find the info on the ballast. Mike

Mike,

I am leaning toward the smaller size fine grain Gray Limestone #50 ballast by Smith & Sons.

Thanks for checking the ballast and the coal items for me!

Ryan

Who makes a reasonably priced comany house?

I could kit bash a Plasticville house or scatch build one also but a kit would work best for me."Mine " is finished and ready to pack away until ready to be placed.

I will add lites to it then.

go to Walther.com and check out this #152-798 for a nice company house, this a laser cut wood kit and it is on sale right now for $8.98.

bill

Do you think those company houses would be appropriate for the current time period ? 

this is great I had no idea we have so meny people with these kits

keep them rolling in

I have to find time to add mine

Ken 

Budliner wrote:

this is great I had no idea we have so meny people with these kits keep them rolling in I have to find time to add mine   Ken

I built a Drayton and found the windows to be an issue but that is directly due to my inexperience and will probably buy several more of these to go with the mine.

One of the best things about it was the stick on parts, cuts down on the odors greatly when spouse is very sensitive to chemical smells at the bench.

Jeff: Nice job on the mine. I  just got a New River kit and am going to get the Glacer Gravel to help it along. Im' going to do an iron mine.

Instead of company houses how about support buildings? A machine shop, wharehouse. office building, or a power house. There are usually a host of buildings around a mine.

Have fun.

Paul W. Beverung wrote:

Jeff: Nice job on the mine. I  just got a New River kit and am going to get the Glacer Gravel to help it along. Im' going to do an iron mine. Instead of company houses how about support buildings? A machine shop, wharehouse. office building, or a power house. There are usually a host of buildings around a mine. Have fun.

Have any part numbers or manufacturers who make them ?  It might end up being a good idea.

Here's a kitbash in N I did following Jim Kelly's HO Turtle Creek Central series in MR.

Paul W. Beverung wrote:

I know that you've probably heard this before but check the Walthers catalogue. That's what I do. You could also use DPM modules and Walthers and cook something up yourself. Another shop that you could add is a maintance shop for cars and trucks. Lots of clutter there. I'm at work so I don't have my catalogue to look at but I'll take a look when I get home.

Duhhh.  I thought you might have something specific in mind..  My error.