Hi Folks: Attached is the track plan for the coalmine scene on my new layout. Empties are spotted to the top of the map, and towed (or shoved) under one of 2 loading points in the loader by a switch engine and then spotted in loads yard at the bottom of the scene. The mine turn picks them up and delivers them to the marshaling yard at Alamosa a couple times a day, from there the coal drag takes them off layout to a power plant I'd be interested in your feedback TIM
Hi Tim, That is how most non flood loading mines work. The only thing missing from your plan is an escape track for the switch engine. If your switch engine couples onto the cars and pulls them through the loaded, it will become trapped in the loaded yard. Another idea is to use the method the Montour Railroad used at their mines, the cars were gravity feed through the loader. Using this method, you do not need a switcher to push or pull cars through the loader. This method can be accomplished by having a road train place the empty cars in the top yard, then the road power is placed in the siding along side the mine, simulating the crew has been transported to the hotel for their rest. You then 0-5-0 the cars into the bottom yard and add the coal loads. The crew returns from the hotel, couples onto the loaded cars and heads off to their home yard.
HI Rich: Thats pretty much how im planning to do it -- although if I can work an escape in, I'll do that to, would be fun to actually pull them through via engine, we'll see what I can work out TIM
