New Industry To Model

[MountainMan]

It has just been announced that a company will be getting a license to open two uranium mines and a refining facility in Montrose county, Colorado, near the town of Naturatita - that's in the far southwest of the stae. There hasn't been an operating uranium refinery in Colorado since the Cotter Mill outside Canon City closed down 25 years ago.

Now is your chance to add something a bit more unusual to your modern day layout! (And be sure to post the $18 million dollar bond, too!) 8-)

[lajry]

Would a uranium mine & mill have rail service & why? Are there any other examples?

[MountainMan]

Would a uranium mine & mill have rail service & why? Are there any other examples?

It certainly did, as the ore has to come in and it's actually a bit radioactive, depending on the richness of the vein. Such a plant also needs various chemicals to leach the uranium out of the crushed ore, making tank cars useful, too.

I tried to copy a location or image from Google Earth of the cotter plant showing the railroad tracks and layout, but can't get it work. If you have GoogleEarth, just type in Cotter Uranium Mill, Florance, CO and track south a bit. You can't miss it because of the large settlement ponds.

Here's the best that I can do, taken from Bing images. Note tracks on right of lower image.

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