lets see everyones coal mines and coal operations.

It is funny that you posted this, I have been thinking about doing a bank of coke ovens, in addition to my WW2 troop trains.  I would like to see what folks propose.

Here's my largest coal loader, built from black foamcore board with corrugated siding made from aluminum foil.  The mine supply building is also foamcore with Evergreen styrene board and batten siding.  Click on the photo for a larger version.

BTS kit. Slideshow of build. Click on the link.

Here is my Coal Dump - I have added bridge girders around the siding since I took this picture.  The next steps will to have a ladder going up from the ground level and a platform built around the track for workers to dump the coal:

HRSPLA

I have a long way to go on my Fantasy Layout with a 5 by 9 area I want to (someday) be a coal and lumber area.

Like everyone else it seems like I always run out of space when I come up with a idea So, I go back to the drawing board.

I have the Menard's Power and Light building and trying to figure out a way to do away with the lumber idea and modify the Menards building to fit into a coal theme. lol  It's a very nice building.

Still got to Winter to plan.

I still look for pictures and posts about the subject. Glad you started  one . It's a good refresher.

Nice pictures Bob and Mike.

Still having fun.

Larry

I have one small mine, from that widely sold kit, the York. Pa. kitbuilder's coal bunker, kitbashed to do double duty as a loco fueling source, too, and a large, scratch built "wooden"unloading track, enclosed, up on "stone" foundation, with its access ramp....all posted on here in pictures in the past.

Here is ours

I have one small mine, from that widely sold kit, the York. Pa. kitbuilder's coal bunker, kitbashed to do double duty as a loco fueling source, too, and a large, scratch built "wooden"unloading track, enclosed, up on "stone" foundation, with its access ramp....all posted on here in pictures in the past.

Here is a tipple that my friend Sam built.

hrspla posted:

Trying to get ideas for mine. Thanks.

Ditto.  Good idea.  I've seen a couple on YouTube that look interesting & do-able.  Would love to see more purposed pics w/explanations of what things are, why they are where they are, etc. 

Nice John. Very well done.

Larry

Very large modular construction Scratchbuilt Coal Tipple.  All the sections "bolt" together. Made from styrofoam board.  All roof pieces can be removed for addition of interior details and lighting. All floors are separate components.

Scott Smith

I started with a small abandoned mine...

David Minarik posted:

Here is a tipple that my friend Sam built.

 

That whole scene and landscape - OMG. Perfection.

FrankM.

HRSPLA, I'm glad you included "coal operations" in your thread invitation, which allows me a chance to share various shots of my coal-sand-water "service yard," as I have imagined such a place to possibly be. This bit of miniature "acreage" has long been a favorite of mine in Moon Township; I'm not sure why, but it just is.

FrankM

Very nice photos in here gents

C&O Allie posted:

Here is my Coal Dump - I have added bridge girders around the siding since I took this picture.  The next steps will to have a ladder going up from the ground level and a platform built around the track for workers to dump the coal:

I did some more work this week - the main thing I have left is to make the coal chute:

C&O Allie posted:

C&O Allie posted:

Here is my Coal Dump - I have added bridge girders around the siding since I took this picture.  The next steps will to have a ladder going up from the ground level and a platform built around the track for workers to dump the coal:

I did some more work this week - the main thing I have left is to make the coal chute:

 

C&O Allie Where did you get the girder material for your bridges? It looks like it curves. Does the girder curve?

Yes, they do curve. I got them from Scenic Express (Link).  I use them all over the layout. 

The structure section.  Where did you the structure from ?

Good luck.

Thanks. John

My e-mail is  kb2agpjohn@aol.com

WwWebFlyer posted:

This is the first I've ever seen a neighborhood such as this done, and done so nicely, too. Authentic! It seems, to me, to have been inspired by somewhere you saw in real-life; am I right?

FrankM.

Until the late 60's, many North East area towns had one of these...

NYC,SUBWAY TRANSIT SIGNAL posted:

The structure section.  Where did you the structure from ?

Good luck.

Thanks. John

My e-mail is  kb2agpjohn@aol.com

 

I made the columns out of a 1x4 I cut to offset and painted with textured spray paint to look like cement.  I used 1/2 plywood for the track base.  The walkway around is 1/8" strip wood I got from the hobby store scribed to look like 2x4x12 planks and sprayed with Tamiya red brown paint.  I got the ladder with cage on eBay and I got the railing from River Leaf Models.  The chute underneath is the packaging from a chisel I bought painted dark gray to look like steel.

The switch tower is Atlas O.

C. Simon mentions coke ovens.  There are several kits for different types out there....Yorke made one with vertical walls, and there are the dome types.  There is a large group of prototype one where you turn off for Marble and the old Crystal River RR on the road to Aspen in Colorado, but are not some still surviving in Pa. or W. Va.?  Maybe southern Ohio with the old iron furnaces?  I have heard of but not seen others in Colorado, but would like to visit some in the east.

Scratchbuilt coal dealer. Loads in empties out operation. I use removeable coal loads. First pic is a under construction. Plywood base was installed on the layout.

 Added a small office and some Ertl trucks.

First there was Hogwarts & now a bit of a cheat a Ho scale mine on top of the On30 mountain.

Moonson posted:

WwWebFlyer posted:

This is the first I've ever seen a neighborhood such as this done, and done so nicely, too. Authentic! It seems, to me, to have been inspired by somewhere you saw in real-life; am I right?

FrankM.

Thanks for the praise Frank.

Even though I have a western theme, I was inspired by the West Virginia coal industry. I did travel thru WV, but didn't model any particular area. My houses are similar to some photos on the web. The tipple is a composite of various designs in the book "Chesapeake & Ohio in the Coal Fields." The pool hall and cafe are similar to a web photo from WY. All scratch structures are smaller than scale and the hoppers are 027. Being small gives some perspective to the scene.

I do like that "coal camp" depiction by "Flyer"....to get to Thurmond, the famous "ghost town" on the C&O and the New River in W. Va., you have to drive a country road that takes you past a row of similar houses.  And that is just one group of what I would guess is many in the state....eastern Ky. has some, too.  I have been oblivious to them as just part of the scenery,  and should have taken closer looks and shot photos...

Colorado Hirailer, what got me interested in Coke Ovens was some footage I found on youtube. There is a man who goes around finding things that are out of use, or abandoned, or altered in some way from their original use. His site is stuffthatsgone.com. He has several in depth videos of Coke Ovens in all stages of disrepair. Hope that helps. I think you may enjoy them.

I have before mentioned on here the restored coal camp of Barthel, outside Steams, Ky., this last has a train ride.  I just found Barthel open once, though, on one trip, the train trip runs through it.  It was restored by an elderly man who grew up there.  His plan was to rent the restored houses out to vacationers.  I do not know if he managed to rent any of them out.  The mine adit is there in the hillside not far from the tracks, but the tipple was not restored and in ruins.