I apologize for being away from the thread for so long. There are some family health problems to deal with. There are some absoultely great replies to this thread which will take some time to go through and digest. Thanks again!
Greg Whitehead
Ironically, I live in the only county in Tennessee with no railroad tracks.
A buddy who served on the Great Lakes boats verified that each of the chutes was powered with a small electric motor (they were also counterbalanced so the motors were fairly low hp).
Dave Nelson
The beauty of wood, concrete and steel —
https://www.shorpy.com/node/25442?size=_original#caption
and some ore cars:
https://www.shorpy.com/node/25443?size=_original#caption
Regards, Ed
DOH! I'm sorry, Ed, but I never even noticed those wires when I first looked at the photo.
Perhaps when the facility was built (or whenever it was motorised) it made sense to leave the wires separate, as a failed one would be a lot easier to service, rather than work on ones stuffed into conduit with other wires.
I wonder, too, about the electrical power needed to raise those chutes. I'd guess, based on the chutes' length, that the motors have a geared advantage, and may not be all that large, much in the same manner that a crane equipped with sheaves and pulleys can use a relatively small motor to lift large weights.
Wayne
I am guessing ore cars would be in trains of nothing but other ore cars, or were these cars sometimes seen in manifest freight trains?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Hi, Wayne.
Yes, the lights I can understand. What I'm curious about are the multiple lines running into the lower dock from the right. If they are for operating the winches for the chutes I would think a heavier feeders would be run to a motor control center, then to the various winch motors. Wouldn't they have been bundled into conduit(s)?
Wire by Edmund, on Flickr
The above video explains another curiocity I've had. Notice the hopper door operator on his "trolley" at 9:00 where he engages the door actuating hardware and opens the hopper on the ore jennies. Quite interesting. I've seen the criss-crossed rods, actuating chains and ratchets on the cars. Now I know what makes them work.
lot 2553 - 1 028 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
Hopper_actuator by Edmund, on Flickr
gmpullmanCan anyone explain why all the wires?
Well, Ed, it looks like there are lights on the wires, so I would guess that ore dumping (and ore loading into the lake boats) goes on 24 hours a day, just like in the steel industry.I'd guess that it's also much safer for the employees.
More on ore:
https://www.shorpy.com/node/25437?size=_original#caption
And this can also be tied in to the thread on the A.I.M. concrete loader:
https://www.shorpy.com/node/25430?size=_original#caption
Can anyone explain why all the wires?
Timely post. I have some seven ore jimmy kits which I was thinking of building up for an ore jimmy train. I was going to invent a mine and mining company for my Boston & Maine layout. In real life the B&M never enjoyed an on line mine and the traffic it produces, but, I'll invent one. I have spent the last couple of days going thru my model rail mags looking for pictures, or even better a constuction article. No such luck. Flipping thru 3-4 years worth of mags, no ore jimmies. Lots of reefers, cabeese, box cars, tank cars, passenger cars, but no ore jimmies. I was very happy to see the John Barringer collection of photos in this thread. Excellent shots from all angles. I will use the photos for a little extra detailing. I thought I would paint them all box car red (actually Krylon red auto primer) and say they are owned by the mining company and letter them accordingly. I will make loads for them. It's going to be fantasy modeling, but heh, it's a hobby.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
I bought three twelve packs of Walthers ore cars close to twenty years ago. There is a gold line on the box under the Walthers name.
They are lettered for CN, and have a build date of 11-57. I don't know if these are the same cars, but sure are not the same run. I added steel wheels and are happy with them.
SlowmodemMy next project is getting the cars and parts for the bridge for the ore dock in Marquette for the CLF RR or the LS&I. Lots and lots of ore cars.
Hi, Slowmodem.
I might be able to help you build your collection of Walthers ore Jennies, if you don't mind them lettered for Bessemer and Lake Erie
I'll send you a PM with details. (click the "Messages" icon by your screen name)
Lot 2513006 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Hi folks, I've only been in this since I took my grandson to a train show before last Christmas and he ate it up. So now Grandpa gets to build a railroad in the garage. Hopefully I'm not the only one around here that's told that story.
I model mainly L&N for my two grandfathers that worked there, and I model the DT&I because my wife's grandfather worked there. And I deal with NS because I help unload all the cars that bring coal to the plant. Ironically, I live in the only county in TN with zero trains. tracks cars, etc. (with the exception of my modeo railroad!)
But back to the question: I ordered a lot of locomotioves and cars from eBay. Some of it is good, some is........a learning experience. I look closer at each entry now and realize what things can mean and ralize there is differences in paint in details (and shipping!). But I am totally satisfied with my Walthers Mainline cars and engines. There are some other nice ones out there, but for the price I'm sticking with Walthers If they have what I want. I especially like the cars with the FRED that comes with them. They work great.
I've got buildings and containers and lifts and stuff to put together, but I'm waiting for my grandson to come down from Indianapolis for a visit so we can do some of it together.
My next project is getting the cars and parts for the bridge for the ore dock in Marquette for the CLF RR or the LS&I. Lots and lots of ore cars. I've got two of the BN engines and a few of the ore cars, but there are two sets of 12 on ebay that would fit right in. And Walthers says the dock is backordered,but in transit. There are some wonderful videos of these trains on youtube. And just down from there is a short line called E&LS RR that carries tons of logs north and south with lots of videos on youtube. Explor what's out there and hopefully you'll find a RR that suits your needs. Good luck!
Check my progress on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLw9L35qVJ9wKdMa6bWYqiQ
QUOTE: Originally posted by wjstix The MDC Upper Michigan cars are a little higher and a little narrower than the Walthers Minnesota cars, which is correct for the prototype cars. CNW bought some used DMIR Minnesota cars about 15-20 years ago. As far as I know, these would be the only MN cars that were used in Yooperland. I looked at the NEB&W link, I doubt the railroads built their ore docks first, and then decided to build ore cars to fit the docks !! I'm sure they bought ore cars first. FWIW I bought the first version of the NEBW book with all the historical facts etc. and found many rather obvious mistakes in there, so I would take anything from there (especially relating to things outside of their region) with a grain of salt. [;)] BN used GP-38's (or GP-38-2's?? I'd have to check Pat Dorin's book) extensively on their ore trains going from the Mesabi Range to the ore docks at Allouez, WI in the seventies and eighties. Unlike many ore lines, BN generally used their newest power on the ore trains. I've been thinking of getting a couple of the Atlas Trainman engines for my BN ore trains.
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
QUOTE: Originally posted by jrbernier The 'width' has nothing to do with the 'dock' The 'length' of the ore pocket is 24'. The t coupled length of an ore car is 24'. They dump between the rails, so the width is not an issue(it's only inches in difference on the two tyoes).. All of the Great Lakes cars were 24' on center, and most were 70t capacity. You can still see DM&IR ore dock operation in Duluth and maybe Two Harbors. The BNSF(ex-GN) ore dock in Superior is used to load ships, but the ore is dumped on land now and a conveyor moves it to the ore pockets on the dock. I am not sure if the LS&I is still moving ore, but the CN(ex-C&NW) dock at Escanaba also is a ground unloader and a conveyor to a 'loader' built on the outline of the old ore dock. Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin