spindoctor wrote:This thread is great! Came across it researching for ideas as I'm considering re-entering the hobby after 25 years or so. My grandfather and great-grandfather worked in coal mines and dispatch yards near Fairmont and Grant Town, WVa. I now know what kit I'll be buying for my first project if I get back into this again.If anyone else is interested, I have found a website with some great photos of coal mines, coal mining and coal towns of that area:http://community-2.webtv.net/DizHarris/SHINBRIERALMOST/page4.htmlFor example, here's a great photo for some weathering ideas:http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase_new/norfolksouthern/full/nw1462.jpg
In looking at my New River mining company, I'd like to spruce it up by adding things on the outside. I am thinking of things like crates, dumpsters, trash cans and such. What have others put around it to add more realism ? Also has anyone seen a set of miner figures ?
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
I just did what you might call a 'kit-merge' between my New River mine and an earlier-style Walthers flood loader, to solve a major operating dilemma.
On my point-to-point coal trains, I had to split the train in two sections to load all the hoppers, and do some convoluted switching moves just to get the train pointed the right direction. I wanted a flood loader where I could load all the cars in a single train: Shove them in, pull them out - then do a 'runaround' on the passing siding. I already had the flood loader - it was being used as an oversized coke bunker on my blast furnace highline. So I repainted it to match the New River mine, then surgically removed the original 'tipple' section which left me with the tall part, and voila:
To see a 'before' image of the mine, go to:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/CSX_road_slug/Nov2006_layout_mods/coal_mine_orig1.jpg
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
CSX_road_slug wrote: I just did what you might call a 'kit-merge' between my New River mine and an earlier-style Walthers flood loader, to solve a major operating dilemma. On my point-to-point coal trains, I had to split the train in two sections to load all the hoppers, and do some convoluted switching moves just to get the train pointed the right direction. I wanted a flood loader where I could load all the cars in a single train: Shove them in, pull them out - then do a 'runaround' on the passing siding. I already had the flood loader - it was being used as an oversized coke bunker on my blast furnace highline. So I repainted it to match the New River mine, then surgically removed the original 'tipple' section which left me with the tall part, and voila: To see a 'before' image of the mine, go to: http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/CSX_road_slug/Nov2006_layout_mods/coal_mine_orig1.jpg
What an amazing solution. That is truly thinking outside of the box.
]] Applause.
wow once again I see a great job csx thats cool
all the minning co. in this thread are awsome
man I think I may open mine out of the box
I did want to make the boston sand and gravel co but after I see these great models and the work you all put in to them wow weeeeeeeee
I may just toss mine out I dont think I can ever compair to these
thanks to all that posted you made this the greatest thread I ever started
I did see a new minning co in the mag for like $250 but with the work done here its still not as nice ...
Ken
Budliner wrote: wow once again I see a great job csx thats cool all the minning co. in this thread are awsome man I think I may open mine out of the box I did want to make the boston sand and gravel co but after I see these great models and the work you all put in to them wow weeeeeeeee I may just toss mine out I dont think I can ever compair to these thanks to all that posted you made this the greatest thread I ever started I did see a new minning co in the mag for like $250 but with the work done here its still not as nice ... Ken
CSX what color Green did you paint that mine?
Agreed on the awesome thread. If every industry kit had such a thread dedicated to it, I think alot of us would be really "full" on the wealth of meat and potatoes information.
csx road slug
that looks amazing.......
I was looking at the dimensions for the New River Mining Co on Walthers website. It says it is 12.5" X 9". Is this correct because on some of your pictures it looks bigger. I'm trying to see if I have room for it.
Thanks,
Aaron
hi
zeis96 wrote: I was looking at the dimensions for the New River Mining Co on Walthers website. It says it is 12.5" X 9". Is this correct because on some of your pictures it looks bigger. I'm trying to see if I have room for it. Thanks,Aaron
Not just that but the total area served by the complex. You see, you need empty hoppers at top where they can be drifted into position to load any of three (OR 5 or whatever number of tipples) you will need a run around for the mine turn engine, usually a Mallet or similar and room to stash loaded hoppers out of the way.
Luckily you can creatively stick a steam era mine on it;s own branch and into a corner somewhere without too much trouble.
I have one of these kits for the mine but it is unopened at this time. Last Chance Mine #9 needs real estate first and am working on that.
Safety Valve
Can you clear one thing up for me? Are you saying 12.5 x 9 is the coal mine alone or does it include the area for the hoppers and mine engine?
Can anyone suggest a 40's-50's era mine that would fit a 16" x 19" area?
Thanks again,
I see the mine area as including the necessary tracks.
Dont worry about me, try to find room for the actual mine building itself and then try to run tracks to and from it with your space.
Safety valve is spot on, the New River Mine model is just part of the over all mine complex. This structure would have housed the crushing equipment and the area for sorting the coal by size as well as removal of any waste material or slag. There would have been other structures in the mine complex including power plant, ventilation equipment, storage sheds, places for the miners to store equipment and personal effects, offices, water towers etc. The NRM as it comes out of the box is depicted as a slope mine with the coal being moved to the structure up the angled conveyor structure. Many mines (depending on the region you are modelling) were in fact shaft mines and would have had a mine head hoist superstructure.
This is a more general view of my mine depiction. To model the whole thing would be just too much space so compromise is always in order.
Simon,
Looking at your picture, looks like what I am shooting for. I actually came across your website while looking for coal mine info. Do you happen to have a track plan I could see?
Hi Aaron,
I am afraid I really don't have a formal track plan. I kind of designed the track layout on the fly as I went along. The layout is around the walls design in a relatively small space. I planned my main lines around the room, built the bench-work and then decided where to put the industries like the mine. Each area was then planned with paper turnout templates right onto the foam-board bench-work base. I know this is not the formal, proper way to design a layout, but it worked for me. I notice you are in Illinois as well, not too far from Quincy. In your sig line you mention modelling a disaster; are you planning to model one of the many Illinois mine disasters?
I'm an hour away from Quincy. I know they have a club (www.qsme.org) I've been trying to plan a time to go see it. As for the disaster it depends on my skills. Beings this is my first layout I'll expect the worst and hope for the best.
My favorite railroad topic.... coal mines & coal trains ! Here's a pic of my Blue Rock # 3 mine... under construction.
outdoorsfellar wrote: My favorite railroad topic.... coal mines & coal trains ! Here's a pic of my Blue Rock # 3 mine... under construction.
blue rock rocks
thanks for the photos
This is my try at the New River Mining Company:
I have tried to convert it into a sawmill as this would suit my danish layout better.
The crane is scratch build and the original slackbin has been turned upside down and made into a woodchip container.
More pictures can be seen at my website: http://www.123hjemmeside.dk/modelbanen. Look under "kitbashing"
That is a EFFECTIVE CONVERSION!!!!
wowowowwoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I cant beleve I have not even opened the box on mine
there are the most incredible job's you people have done
thanks for posting for all of us to see
I love these
dk4000
that conversion looks great..... that crane, is it scratchbuilt or is it from something else?
Hello to Denmark
great job
I keep saying I will start my new river kit
but As you well know, inspiration can vanish as quickly as it comes.
I know what I am picking up from K-10 trains this week, New River and Glacier Gravel . I have been putting them off for a while, not now!
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Hi 304live,
The crane is completely scratchbuilt from styrene profiles/sheets and some bits and small pieces left over from various kits. You can see the building process at my homepage : www.123hjemmeside.dk/modelbanen. Look under kitbashing
Brgds Peter
What a great thread.. same kit, so many different results. It really shows how every modeler puts their own stamp on their work.
Chris