Google Earth Contest #80

[Scott Stutzman]

http://trainboard.com/contest/contest80a.jpg

http://trainboard.com/contest/contest80b.jpg

:)

[Wolfgang Dudler]

A loop at the prototype. I'm looking for the solution. Must be something like a big industry, a pit or open mine???

Wolfgang

[Hytec]

I suspect there is an open pit mine northeast of the loading area. I doubt if it's a shaft mine, because I don't see any elevator machinery. The piles of what I assume to be ore appear to be medium gray, thus eliminating the following ores....coal (not black, or shiny), ilmenite (again not black), bauxite (not red), or boron ( not white). It could be copper, but I don't think it's grey....? The landscape, shadows, locomotives, and cars lead me to think the southwest US. I think there is a fair amount of open pit mining in central and northern Arizona, but not sure.

[RRfan]

power river NE

[Stourbridge Lion]

It's a Coal Mine and I think RRfan is in the right area but exactly where on the map is this place?

:tb-err: :tb-err: :tb-err: :tb-err:

[HemiAdda2d]

Not PRB, at least not on the Orin Line. The mines there are different, even with multiple loading loops at several mines.

As arid is this area is, this one makes me think Utah.

[RRfan]

antelope coal mine
black thunder mine

[Adam Woods]

antelope coal mine
black thunder mine

Way way way to small of an operation at the load out to be Antelope or Thunder, also the Orin line runs basicly north and south.

Adam

[Otto Yard]

Way way way to small of an operation at the load out to be Antelope or Thunder, also the Orin line runs basicly north and south.

Adam
Thunder claims to be the 'largest open pit coal mine in the world' at 5 square miles.
Once you get to Reno Jct. there is some change of direction on the way to Gillette.

[r_i_straw]

Very similar to the size of operations in Carbon County Utah around Price.

[RRfan]

its the biggest serface mine in the US

[TPWMAN]

I've tracked all the way from billings to casper,wy nothing matches.I think right region but not in the powder river basin.

[TPWMAN]

I give up.It's not in the PRB.

[TPWMAN]

its the biggest serface mine in the US
No it's not.






Mine Name Location Tonnage Operating Company
1. Black Thunder Wyoming 92.5 Arch Coal, Inc.
2. North Antelope/Rochelle Wyoming 88.5 Peabody Energy Subsidiary
3. Jacobs Ranch Wyoming 40.0 Rio Tinto Energy America (Kennecott)
4. Cordero Rojo Wyoming 39.8 Rio Tinto Energy America (Kennecott)
5. Antelope Wyoming 33.9 Rio Tinto Energy America (Kennecott)
6. Caballo Wyoming 32.8 Peabody Energy Subsidiary
7. Eagle Butte Wyoming 25.4 Foundation Coal West, Inc.
8. Belle Ayr Wyoming 24.6 Foundation Coal West, Inc.
9. Buckskin Wyoming 22.8 Buckskin Mining Co. (Kiewit)
10. Rawhide Wyoming 17.1 Peabody Energy Subsidiary
11. Freedom North Dakota 15.2 Coteau Properties Co. (North American)
12. Spring Creek Montana 14.5 Rio Tinto Energy America (Kennecott)
13. Rosebud Montana 12.4 Western Energy Co. (Westmoreland)
14. Martin Lake Texas 12.1 TXU Mining Co.
15. Navajo New Mexico 8.4 BHP Billiton
16. Falkirk North Dakota 8.2 The Falkirk Mining Co. (North American)
17. Kayenta Arizona 8.0 Peabody Energy Subsidiary

[Adam Woods]

Gee, I've been in 8 of the top 17 in within spiting distance of 2 more. I find that kinda cool. But if I never go back to North Antelope it will be to soon.

Back on topic. I am 99.9% sure it is not any of the top ten on the above list. I also was thinking Utah but I can't find it. Then again, I'm not to good at this, but it sure is fun.

Adam

[r_i_straw]

I have been trying to find the ones in Arizona on the Navajo reservation like Black Mesa but no luck so far.

[wurlitzer153]

For a while I was thinking the Minnesota iron range because some of that area has similar coloring (and it looks more like taconite than coal), but had no luck. (Did find a walking dragline, though)

[sandro schaer]

no luck so far :-(

[DanRaitz]

I haven't spotted yet, either!

But I've found a lot of other interesting places!:)

Dan

[sandro schaer]

deleted.... need more infos first

[DanRaitz]

I spoke too soon!:(

Found it :)

Granite Canon, Wyoming. Just west of Cheyenne on I80

Edit: Had to come back in and correct the spelling, "Canon" instead of "Canyon".


Dan

[RRfan]

it said that is was in the Video i have of BNSF coal trains on the Power river route
they used alot of Mac70s

[Stourbridge Lion]

Now I see it, right along I-80 (I-80 Service Road) at the Harriman Rd (Hwy 102) crossing. Google Maps does list it near "Granite Canon" about 16 miles west of Cheyenne.

:tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin:

[HemiAdda2d]

I have driven by that one dozens of times, no less. I should have seen that coming!
The load a LOT of ballast there.
Here's a ballast train heading thru the Borie Cutoff, back up the hill to Granite:

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/634/borie_3.jpg

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/634/borie_1.jpg

[TPWMAN]

Granite Canyon Quarry

Granite Canyon Quarry is a unique operation where the history and spirit of the west meet the latest technology to shape the future. Located between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming, the quarry supplies ballast stone to two main customers, the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads.

[HemiAdda2d]

I have seen a UP engine (for the UP cab signal system) on the point of a BNSF ballast empty train heading to Granite; trainsets were usually Herzog hi-side ballast cars.

Sure was odd to see a BN SD60M 3-window and other BNSF power on the point of a train heading west on the UP 4-track main leaving Cheyenne!

[Scott Stutzman]

Congrats! DanRaitz

Granite,Wyoming

http://trainboard.com/contest/granite_wy_done.jpg
Location submitted by otto yard