How to model coal mines?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Can anyone tell me how to model coal mines? I know Kalmbach has a book all about the coal mines but with money tight i was hopeing for online guides. Also if someone can give me an ariel veiw of their coal mine that would help give me a general idea.

Thank you and happy railroading!

2

First, draw a bulls-eye on your target. Coal mines come in a large variety of designs depending on region, era, kind of coal being mined… An Eastern Pennsylvania anthracite operation and a Powder River humongupit/floodloader are both coal mines, but bear absolutely no resemblance to each other.

Then, having decided on where and when, Google for prototype information. Unless you really want to build a model of someone else’s model, with its selective compression and probable inaccuracies, let the prototype be your guide. Just make sure it’s a prototype that fits in with your other modeling. (One well known ‘old coal mine’ kit is based on a prototype mine in far western Canada. It’s utterly unlike anything I have ever seen in photos of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.)

Photos of my collieries wouldn’t help you much. They were located in Japan.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

3

As Chuck mentioned coal mining operations vary depending on what part of the country your modeling but if your talking Pennsylvania I would check these guys out at the Reading Modeler. The Reading is coal country and these guys do it right. If you want to see an excellent example of a coal hauling railroad with several mining operations chekc out Jim Hertzog’s Schamokin Divison. Jim is an expert on all things coal mining and coal hauling railroads

http://www.readingmodeler.com/index.php

4

BTS has a neat model of a coal tipple, including a rotary device to unload narrow-gauge mine cars.

http://www.btsrr.com/bts7240.htm

Mark

5

Search for “HABS-HAER” (Historic Americcan Building Survey-Historic American Engineering Record).

At that site search for “Kaymoor Mine”. That should give you tons of info.

Then you can search the HABS-HAER site for “coal mines”. You will get literally thousands of pictures and hundreds of drawings, maps and diagrams of prototype mines.

6

Well, this is probably a waste of time, seeing that the original poster posted his question 3 weeks ago and hasn’t been back to interact with the people who have responded to him, but what the heck - here is a link to a web page with some information on modeling Appalachian Coal Railroading:

http://www.appalachianrailroadmodeling.com/articles.html

Smile,
Stein

7

This tipple reminds one of Tony Koester’s “Coal Fork tipple” in his Building a coal hauling railroad – A worthwhile purchase to learn more about the “whole picture” of a coal railroad.

If you are on Model Railroaders weekly email, these PDF-downloads are given a fair-sized discount, a few times a year.

8

Thanks, Stein, for that reference. It will probably help me when I get round to modelling a coal hauler.

Regards,

Dennis

9

Hoboon: It seems that no two coal mine tipples were alike, even with the same company! Use photos to give you an idea what they looked like.