HI
I’m making a coal mine on my layout and want to give those guys working there a switcher.
Witch one should be the best one for them?
Its just for putting the coal trains together and to move the cars to fil them up.
greetzzz Rob
What scale do you model in? And are you going to have small 2 axle cars or more full sized coal cars that need to be switched?
If your looking for a WITCH switcher, I suggest something from the Harry Potter model Train collection, something green with a warty nose perhaps? [:D][:p][;)]
Hi
I model in n and going to use 90 ton 4 axel coal cars.
And sorry if my english is sometimes a bit wrong. (sorry I’m Dutch [:D] )
I do N also and use 70ton ore cars, as well as some Kato coalpoters (excellent model, BTW) I have a Life-Like SW-8, but it had some contact problems with it. They mostly went away after I ran it awhile, though I am still a little skeptical. Otherwise I do like that loco. Con-cor is coming out with an MP-15 soon, though for smaller loco’s my SW8 is good for me overall. I am getting myself an Atlas GP-39M (BNSF GP30), and my Atlas loco’s run great, so if your looking for maybe a little larger loco, I’d suggest an Atlas GP.
We are sorry if we pull your leg sometimes.
Let’s think of two different kinds of mine switcher
The most frequent I can think of is where there are several tracks serving a mine tipple where coal in various grades in loaded. In that case, the mine switcher wouldn’t necessarily “put coal trains together”, that is, does not put together trains to run on the main line. A mine switcher would probably be used where there were one or two tracks attached to the mainline where a railroad local train sets out/delivers empty cars for the mine and picks up loaded cars. The mine switcher would shift empties to the proper tipple for loading and put loads on the pickup track. A mine large enough to have its own switcher might generate trainload shipments, in which case the mine switcher would probably make up the “consist” for a train, but it is not actually a “train” in operating terms because it is not ready to go out on the mainline until the mainline’s engine and caboose are attached. A crew from the mainline railroad might run from a terminal with only engine and caboose (a “caboose hop”), tie onto the cut of cars and run to the destination or to the next division point.
Smaller mines that have one one or two tracks might be switched directly by the mainline railroad’s peddler, and the same peddler might switch several mines that are on one branch.
As for which locomotive, depends on your era and locale. I model in N and never been satisfied with the tiny Plymouth industrial switchers. An SW switcher or a GP would be good for the diesel era.