Colorado Midland Railway Engineering Report

[Dave V]

For reference...one of the samplers at Aspen:

http://www.rare-maps.com/PHOTOS_PIC/P-0402-ASPEN-SAMPLER.jpg

[Missaberoad]

What kind of ore was mined on the Midland?

[Dave V]

What kind of ore was mined on the Midland?

Any number thereof, but primarily silver at Aspen, gold at Cripple Creak (via the Midland Terminal Railway) and both gold and silver (and others, like zinc and molybdenum) at Leadville.

[Missaberoad]

Alright, that should provide some interesting operations...

Its outside my element so forgive me if i sound thick  but the image that screams it for me would be a Stamp mill on a hillside...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Smuggler_Mine%2C_Aspen%2C_CO%2C_1900.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c5/Aspen_CO_Silver_Mines.jpg

I think your ebay find can definitely fit the part for a headhouse/ore holding hopper...

http://www.keithclementsphotography.com/Photography/Black-and-White/i-Hp8LMfL/A
http://www.onlycolorado.com/Colorado_Photos/img/Old_summit_mine.jpg

It would be nice if you could represent one of the smelting operations, if only to have an on layout destination
for some of the mine products.

[wcfn100]

Saw this book today which was new to me. It had some maps and basic equipment diagrams.  The cover shows a nice rendition of the red bridges.

Jason

[Chris333]

I watch that book go for like $16 on e-bay. If I would have known I'd buy it just to read.

[Dave V]

Thanks for the tip!  That book has been on my wish list.  The one I have is:



I met the author at a train show in Woodland Park.  Wish I'd had the book with me...

[Dave V]

That little eBay mine structure went for $38.00.  For that I can find the components and do it myself.  Those Bachmann Plasticville coaling towers are everywhere, and those can be easily bashed into the ore bin portion of a mine structure.

[talltales]

Dave,received my Mar/April gazette yesterday and I see in the next issue preview,May/June, there is an article by Andrew Dodge on the Colorado Midland Ivanhoe turntable. Thought you might like to know. Skipp

[Dave V]

Dave,received my Mar/April gazette yesterday and I see in the next issue preview,May/June, there is an article by Andrew Dodge on the Colorado Midland Ivanhoe turntable. Thought you might like to know. Skipp

Thanks for the tip!

Heading out to Caboose to pick up scratchbuilding supplies for a stamp mill...

[Chris333]

I have a bunch of Gazette's if there are any drawings you need.

[Dave V]

Completed the first coal car for the Colorado Midland.



This was a craftsman resin kit from Fine N Scale Models. To be honest, the sides are extremely fragile, brittle, and come warped.  I tried to trim the side stakes such that they contacted the stake pockets but almost all of them broke short while being trimmed off the sprue with a new #11 blade.  I'll know to be more careful next time.  I also tried hard to get rid of most of the swayback warp, but honestly, most of the prototype CM gons show a significant swayback so...  This kit was a comedy of errors with errant glue, parts put in the wrong place (and having to be removed and relocated), and a bunch of other unmentionables.  All said and done, it should look a lot worse than it does with everything that went wrong!  It looks pretty good from a foot away, so...  Good enough for the Midland!

The custom decals were made for a gondola with wider stake spacing, but I made 'em fit!

[pwnj]

Wow, that came out fantastic! I'm really digging how quickly and nicely this is coming together. 

[Dave V]

$5 train show score! It's a Campbell Idaho Springs mine. Needs a little work but still a great deal!



I also sat in on a lecture by Mel McFerland going mile-by-mile along the Midland RoW.  He hopes to have a new edition of his Midland book out this fall.

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

good find.