Hi all,
I’m in the process of designing the mine tipple/entrance for my HOn3 Bradford Coal Co, and I’m thinking of using N scale track to represent the mine tracks emerging from the belly of the mountain. Given that this scales out to about 2" in HO scale, I was wondering if this would be the correct gauge for a mine tramway?
Happy new year to all!
Thanks in advance,
tbdanny
Let’s start with gauge. In HO (3.5mm = 1ft)"
N track (9mm) = 2ft 6.8" = 30"
Z track (6.5mm) = 1ft 10.2" = 22"
N gauge (9mm) is usually used in HO scale to represent 2ft narrow gauge prototypes, as it had the smallest practical mechanisms at the time.
From what I have seen and read mine tram gauges included: 12", 15", 18", 20", 22", 24", 30", 36", 49", and 56.5" (standard gauge). The smallest gauges would be human drawn carts. The 18" - 24" worked well for mule-drawn trams. 24" and larger were usually powered tow vehicles. Air or electric would be preferred for the tow vehicles in the mines to avoid combustion gases in the mine.
Using a smaller gauge’s track is rarely realistic, especially in HO. The ties are too small and way too closely spaced. Rail size is huge in comparison to what was used in the mines. The best you can do is to find some code 40 N track, and remove at least every other tie (just like the On30 guys do with HO track). Bury the ties in dirt so their short length isn’t as obvious. This would represent a heavy mine tram, and would be similar to the 2ft mining line (Gilpin Tram) in Colorado that serviced many mines as a quasi-common carrier. The Gilpin Tram used tiny Shays to service the mines from its interchange with the nearby 3ft gauge common carrier. The Gilpin serviced hard rock mines, not coal mines.
For a smaller gauge tramway, code 40 is the smallest rail with a real rail cross section, and scales out to approximately 40lb rail. It can be spiked with scale spikes (Proto87 Stores) and still pass RP25 model flanges. This is totally realistic for a lot of 19th Century (and sometimes later) 3ft gauge track. Code 40 flex track was at one time made in HO gauge, and is currently made in HOn3 and N gauges.
To model smaller rail, some of the small scale guys use .025" and .030" wide bar stock stood on its edge. I’ve even heard of using 0.0
You might want to think about the mine cars first and then select the gauge that will work with your mine cars. For example, those newly re-released “Microtrains” are HOn30 and separate sets of dump cars are available without having to buy a whole powered set. Those are 30" gauge and operate on “N” track… and Peco offers track in HOn30 (AKA HOn2 1/2 ) that has properly spaced ties.
I used Scale Structures Limited (SS Ltd) wood mine cars, kit #650-1131 and these have wheels set right at 2’ guage in HO. These can set on “Z” track, and with the ties sunk rather deep in ballast and the rail heavily weathered/rusty, the close spacing of those ties isn’t too noticible. The alternate method of attaching very small rail in these situations (where it is for appearance and not for the running of trains with electrical conductivity needed) is to put a little bead of Walthers “Goo” on the bottom of the rail, put it in place, and then touch the top of the rail with a soldering iron. The heat transmits through the rail and “cooks” the glue to make a very durable bond.
Perhaps your mine will be in a position where no one will see those actual mine tracks, but it surely can add to the scene if there is a mine car back there loaded with coal and perhaps being pushed into position, or another old mine car off the track back there in “junk” status. If you want such a look, then decide on the mine car first and build the track to suit what you choose.
Bill
Bill and Fred,
Thank-you for all the advice. The particular installation in question is the loading area over the HOn3 track - two suspended mine tracks, on which the carts will be wheeled out and dumped.
I have already picked out the cars that I will use. One of the blokes at my club models the turn of the 19th/20th century in N scale, and has assembled some 4-wheeled ore hoppers that would be perfect for mine carts.
Based on what I’ve read here, I’ll probably be hand-laying the track with styrene strips on wood ties, and positioning a couple of the cars ‘dumping’ their loads.
Thanks again,
tbanny