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+--- Thread: Strip mining (/showthread.php?tid=2627)
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Strip mining - Lester Perry - 04-29-2010
I know little about strip mining. I remember as a kid in WV seeing bare mountains in Logan county That in the early 70s they had to reclaim the land but that is it. I think I would like to model a 1940s strip mine but don't know how. I have searched the internet but found very little. Can anyone out there help me out?
Re: Strip mining - nachoman - 04-29-2010
A strip coal mine? Basically, the overlying rock (called overburden) is dug up and temporarily hauled away so that the coal seam can be accessed. Common when the coal seam is relatively horizontal and not very deep. The mine itself would be HUGE, and not easily modeled. You could model just the loading facility, which would look similar to that of an underground mine. To set it apart from an underground mine, you could depict the edges of the overburden piles. The digging and hauling machinery at Arizona's Kayenta mine are HUGE:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.peabodyenergy.com/Operations/CoalOperations-Southwest.asp">http://www.peabodyenergy.com/Operations ... thwest.asp</a><!-- m -->
and here is a nice basic summary of wyoming coal operations, (intended for students,
):<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ccsd.k12.wy.us/mines/PR/Pr.html">http://www.ccsd.k12.wy.us/mines/PR/Pr.html</a><!-- m -->
Re: Strip mining - railroader9731 - 04-29-2010
Perhaps some backdrop photos or painting to show strip mine while you model the loading part????
Re: Strip mining - Lester Perry - 04-29-2010
railroader9731 Wrote:Perhaps some backdrop photos or painting to show strip mine while you model the loading part????
Now we are getting somewhere. I guess I need some photos of a strip mine. I also would need to know how & where it is processed and loaded
Re: Strip mining - railroader9731 - 04-29-2010
Here a link to help <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/strip-mining.html">http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images ... ining.html</a><!-- m --> as far as loading and process id imagine a conveyor reaching down into the mine pit and a tipple at the top part for loading into your hoppers.
Re: Strip mining - jim currie - 04-29-2010
Les strip mining in the 40"S was not like it is today most strip pits were small (100 acres or less often just 40 acres)and often they were striped till the limit of the lease was reached or the overburden got too much to remove then they either went underground or did augar mining . I have some old coal age mags that have info of early strip pits some where will try to find them.
jim
Re: Strip mining - railroader9731 - 04-29-2010
Ok i found a book of mine that may help with info so here it goes lester. Surface mining is practical when a coal seam is about 200ft down or less. As you can fogure top soil/earth is removed by loaders and trackhoes to expose the coal. Once exsposed the coal is hauled to the top by trucks to a hopper located above a crusher. The crusher then crushes the coal into 2" size or whats preferd by the customers. Then the coal is conveyed into waiting silos or if you want tipples that stand above the tracks. I hope this helps
Re: Strip mining - BR60103 - 04-29-2010
Is strip mining like open pit mining?
We had (have?) a big iron mine in eastern Ontario. That was basically a big hole in the ground with ramps cut in around the sides. I don't remember if the far side was visible.
It was like standing by the Grand Canyon but ore geometric and regimented and dusty.
Your best bet for modelling it is down into the aisleway.
Re: Strip mining - Lester Perry - 04-29-2010
I think I am figuring this out now, As I have been researching this I can see why there is such a battle over them. I am going to the pencil and paper soon. I will keep you guys updated on progress
Re: Strip mining - MasonJar - 04-30-2010
For some modelling ideas, see <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://lyonvalleynorthern.blogspot.com/">http://lyonvalleynorthern.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->
Chris has set up a small pit/strip mine model in one corner of his layout. I am not sure if it is simply an aggregate pit, but I know he runs lots of coal cars on his layout. Search for more, because he did a "how-to" that shows the construction of this feature.
Andrew
Re: Strip mining - Lester Perry - 05-09-2010
thank you to all for your input.I think I have figured out how to make this work in a relatively small area. I will keep you up to date on the progress. This will be an area under my main layout. It can be up to 30" deep and about 6 feet long. I said can be, it probably will be about 8 to 12" deep and about 3 feet long. As I said it will be or should say is under main layout so available height will dictate the depth. The track is loosely there now very loosely as in not even fastened down.
Re: Strip mining - Charlie B - 05-09-2010
Les, I just remembered there is a strip mine near New Castle, Pa. and they are taking limestone. The mine has been there for years, I just forgot about it. Next time I'm in the area I'll see if I can get a decent picture. It is off the beaten path to get to it but you can see the dragline from the road. Years ago they shipped by rail too.
Charlie
Re: Strip mining - jim currie - 05-09-2010
Les finaly got back to the gauge here is some photos of late 30's to early 50's strip mines. there are a lot of larger mines of the era but many smaller mines were still in opperation then by the mid to late 50,s most of the small opperations were gone and large was the norm. also one thing to rember a lot of coal was still shipped in gon's then.
jim
Re: Strip mining - jim currie - 05-09-2010
this is a photo of a small pit from the 40,s
Re: Strip mining - jim currie - 05-09-2010
here a few photos of late 40's to late 50's