Large Scale Central

Building a 32mm mine tram?

Track and Trestles
#1

OK, here’s my plan. I HAVE a pair of old Faller ‘e’ train 0-6-0s, I’m looking at an Atlas 2 rail O scale 3 axle dismal that could be rescaled into a Plymouth or Brookville. I have wheelsets for 10 4 wheel mine cars, can get more, and am thinking those Larry G scale 4-1/2" long ‘ore car’ bodies would make dandy mine cars, and save a bunch of time. I have some Faller ‘e’ track (2 circles and about 10 feet of straight), or I can get Riverossi or Atlas 2 rail O stuff fairly cheap… Trouble is, 1. I’m not sure what is or isn’t UV stable. and 2. 2 rail turnouts are kind of spendy, and I’ll probably need about 4 or 5 of them (the ‘e’ train ones appear to be made of unobtanium). Also, which would be better, a half hidden loop or does someone make an inexpensive reversing unit ? ideas? suggestions? thanks The mine tram and loading tipple at the mines in Ernest Pa

#2

Mik-

Reportedly, the new Atlas stuff is UV resistant, not sure where I heard that. I cann tell you from personal experience nearly 25 years ago the stuff was not. Did not like Mamod camel dung tablets either for that matter…

Sounds like an interesting project!

#3

If you cant find UV stable track, a good coat of paint from a rattle can should do the trick, then just clean off the rail tops with thinner. Now you’ve weathered your track and made it UV stable in one step.

#4

I’m going to build a Gn15 for a mine on my layout. To build a loop for mine I’m planning two mine entrances that will hide the loop. I decided against a reversing unit because there will be a switch for the tipple and I didn’t want to forget the switch was activated and have the mine train back into the tipple when I was 100 feet away from the controller!