I was wondering if anyone here has modeled a coal strip mine on their layout. Or has pictures of one. I'm thinking I would like to put one one my layout but am not sure how to go about doing it. Mark
Hey Mark, I would think that if you did an internet search on stip mining you should be able to come up with some pictures!
I just returned from a trip to AZ, where I saw a couple of open pit (strip) copper mines. I may have a couple of pictures when I get the film developed, but let me warn you - these things are HUGE. You can't imagine the immensity from most of the pictures I've seen. You would have to be talking about serious selective compression. But, once you get to the processing plant, they're quite like any other mine complex. The processing plants are apart from the pit anyway, so all you'd see of the pit would be a tailings pile.
Living in iron country(mesabi range in MN) I have to agree that open pit strip mines are huge.I believe one of the largest in the worls(the hull rust mine) takes up something like 28 sq miles all total.A better idea for modeling IMHO would be the suggestion of strip mining with some of the facilities to serve by rail.Perhaps the beginning of the the pit area dropping several levels at the front of the layout with a couple electrohaul mining trucks winding thier way up the slope.
Go to http://members.tripod.com/appalachian_railroad/index.html for pix on strip mining. A full size pit can cover a lot of ground. Also do a search for coal mining links, as alkcnw said to. There are a lot of sites to see. Do you want a strip mine only or could you use a deep mine? There are many books and websites about mining just take your time and look around. I know that you have some strip mines in England and also have a few deep mines still working also. There are several deep mines that have been turned into museums over there too.
