I was woundering who else out there is interested in modeling iron ore hauling railroads. I’m modeling a fictious road from Duluth-Superior to the southeast. My layout is a division in upper Michigan, around the Marquite area. I’m planning on an oredock, coal dock, and general merchandise dock in the port town. Of course a couple of mines and interchange with other roads. So that’s the general gist of my layout. How about you.
Right now I’m stuck drawing new plans for the layout. at present I’ve got a 26x12 foot modular layout. I’m trying to work the ore dock and port into the present design. I also have another side of an L shaped area to use for the mines and beyound. The entire L shaped area is 26x29x13.
I also am interested in iron ore hauling roads but over here in aus I think that our ore haulers are far more ahead of the american roads. I also have a freelance rr that mainly hauls iron ore which as you may know is called the Great Dividing Range Mining & Manufacturing Company. What will you call the freelanced rr you plan to model? You could call it the Duluth, Michigan & Lake Huron
Paul, have you seen that model of the Edmund Fitzgerald in the Walther’s catalog? It comes in 3 sections, and sells for almost $700. The whole thing is 8 and a half feet long in HO.
I’m learning a lot about the iron mines & furnaces in the Adirondacks as I plan the mining section of the new Muddy Creek Railroad. Gathering photos and track plans for the iron operations around Lyon Mountain in Northern New York. I need a fleet of N Scale ore cars like these: http://railroad.union.rpi.edu/rolling-stock/ore-cars/LC&M-ore-cars-builders.jpg They are available in HO scale by Westerfield. Any suggestions for N?
No plans for docks in the near future, just ore traffic from mine to the furnaces and processed iron south on the D&H. Could incorporate some ore docks if I modeled the mines around Port Henry on Lake Champlain, but the RPI club already does that. The facilities and rail yards require a huge amount of compression. If there is anyone familiar with the Lyon Mountain/ Republic Steel Mine, I have alot of rail-related operating questions.
That was interesting to hear about the ore boat model. It’s unfortunate that he chose to go directly to the “alledged” manufacturer. Had he gone through Walther’s, at least his money would have been safe. Walther’s should get their act together, and get it out of the catalog if it hasn’t been produced in all that time. It’s coming up on 3 years since that website has been updated.
This is the second wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. [:(][:O][banghead][4:-)][censored][#oops][swg]
Hi Gang; Thanks for all the replies. Keep them coming.
Mitchel; I read an articale on a ore road on the west part of the Australia that ran an ore train that was something like 300 plus cars. The most I’ve heard of in the Iron Range is 180. That Duluth, Michigan & Lake Huron name has a ring to it, but I’m already using the Duluth, Superior & Southeastern. I’ve got several locos and a bunch of cars already lettered for it.
Big Boy 4005; Yes I’ve heard about the Resin Fitz. In fact I told Jason, the owner, where to get drawings of the boat. I’ve tried to contact him for sometime now, haven’t had any luck. He and his wife seem like real nice people. The last I heard was from Dan at Walters. He said that Jason was having some personel problems. I’ve heard that the kit is fantastic. I hope that he can get things worked out.
Wayne; I haven’t heard of any N gauge ore cars except the Superior type cars from Atlas.Have you thought of doing a pattern and casting some? It wouldn’t be easy but can be done and is fun. If you need any help or what ever let me know. I didn’t know that there were any ore docks on Lake Champlain. Drop me a line and tell me more.
I have a little intrest in ore modelling. It is cooler than coal. But, have any oredock or jennties. Closest I’d get to the ore industry is one locomotive. I would LOVE a DMIR Yellowstone. Absolutely!
I model the PRR through Philadelphia and have a B&LE 40 car ore train taking ore from Fairless Hills US Steel to Pittsburgh US Steel mills. I pull it with C628’s if running the 60s and F3s if running earlier. Occasionally I will break out a set of Virginian EL-3A electrics and watch the siderods fly! Once in awhile I will run it with an I-1 2-10-0.
