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Some "before" photos of the sawmill coming soon to the Old King Coal Mining Company to manufacture mine timbers for both OKC and the three mines on the York Fork branch.  Mine timbers were used to hold up the roofs in the mine tunnels, as seen here:

 

 mine timbers 2

mine timbers

 

So here is the sawmill for producing both the rough-hewn and semi-finished timbers in process:

 

 

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I'll post photos of the finished sawmill when complete and in place.

 

 

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Images (10)
  • mine timbers 2
  • mine timbers
  • 20141112_105118
  • 20141112_105205
  • 20141112_105225
  • 20141112_123633
  • 20141112_123701
  • 20141112_123732
  • 20141112_123748
  • 20141112_123806
Last edited by Will Allen III
Original Post

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Thanks for the kind comments.  The roof trusses (all 37) were built using a jig and precutting all the pieces.  They were then glued to the JTT V groove roofing on one side.  The other side was then added.

 

The mill machinery is BTS except for the saw which is scratchbuilt.  BTS does not offer a circular saw.

 

The sides and roof were completed today and the floor covered in sawdust and bark.  I also made some logs to place on the carriage from holly branches from Will's yard.

 

The mill should be in operation next week but I got sidetracked on planting some more Zstuff signals today.

 

George Lasley

The mine props cut from the family farm were just that, lengths cut specific to fit the mine ceiling height, then shipped on a truck usually stacked cross-way.  Ceiling timber was longer and usually shipped as a single load. There wasn't a lot of ceiling timber cut.   The lumber cut from the farm was hardwood, usually oak. Short lengths, to match the coal seam, cheap lumber, but strong. Usually much smaller trees, than cut for prime lumber.   There wasn't a lot of saw mill work for this lumber. IMO.   The first picture is very interesting.  Second picture shows the mine props, as I remember them leaving the farm, complete with the bark.   A mine ceiling height of 5 ft would have been big in Western Pennsylvania. 3 ft. to 4 ft. and, smaller more the norm.  My guess is most miners worked on their knees. 

Pictured is probably a room. Most shafts would be supported by the coal not mined.  Rooms were larger, more coal was taken, requiring the props.   Long wall mining takes all the coal, allowing the ceiling to collapse.  There have been attempts to long wall mine coal left from previous shaft and room mining with limited success.

 

I could be wrong and often.  

That being said, I really like the sawmill idea.  

Mike CT 

Last edited by Mike CT
Won't make the tight curves and confined spaces on the Duckunder without total disassembly! 

But thanks!

Will


William A. Allen III
919.349.6566  Mobile
  

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

<div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <alerts@hoop.la> </div><div>Date:11/14/2014 20:32 (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Will Allen III <will@allenheuer.com> </div><div>Subject: Reply By dk122trains: Duckunder Terminal Railway: sawmill for producing ... </div><div>
Coal mine history is fascinating and infinitely varied! Thanks for a vivid memory.

Best,

Will


William A. Allen III
919.349.6566  Mobile
  

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

<div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <alerts@hoop.la> </div><div>Date:11/14/2014 20:52 (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Will Allen III <will@allenheuer.com> </div><div>Subject: Reply By Mike CT: Duckunder Terminal Railway: sawmill for producing ... </div><div>
Thank you, Joe. This layout is about 50-60% the size of my original, and yet it's a lot more fun and interesting to me!

Come visit when in Raleigh. 

Will

William A. Allen III
919.349.6566  Mobile
  

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

<div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <alerts@hoop.la> </div><div>Date:11/14/2014 22:28 (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Will Allen III <will@allenheuer.com> </div><div>Subject: Reply By Engineer-Joe: Duckunder Terminal Railway: sawmill for producing ... </div><div>

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