Hey guys. Now that the build on the Knox mine tipple(the coal hopper on stilts) project is winding down and receiving the finishing touches, the next tipple to build is the two track Drum Mine tipple. This one will be a building rather than a hopper car on stitls. A chute will convey the coal into the tipple from the mine, but the whole structure will be somewhat large. Only one track is for loading straight up coal. The other is for loading both coal and boney(culm, or whatever you guys want to call the coal impurities), since the inside contains a small coal cleaning setup. Additional cleaning will be required at the plant in the town of Knox.

The materials I'll be using will be:
a. stripwood
b. .020" styrene sheet
c. chain, probably brass
d. HO scale plastic ties from an old tie strip
e. Testor's Plastic Cement
f. time
g. patience
h. lots of fun.

This should be an enjoyable scratchbuild, and I can't wait to show you guys.

I will have to get some progress pictures together.

By the way, did I mention this will be 100% operational?

I'm using an article that I found in RMC earlier this year (April 2010 issue I think) showing the construction of a concrete coal loadout. I intend to use the same method he used in it's construction for mine, with a couple of minor changes.

I think I remember a description of an operational loader in RMC a while ago. Sounds interesting! Keep us up to date!
Ralph