Looking for N scale coal handling equipment

[James Costello]

So that's gotten me thinking: are there good sources for mid 80s (or lets be honest, 70s) big a$$ machinery?

I think I'm going to need at least two good big front end loaders and probably some dump trucks.

Size wise, to load a string of say 70-90t coal hoppers by a front end loader for a mine's load out, you're going to want something a least like a CAT 988 - 990 or equivalent. Miner's still want to load trains and get the product to market as fast as possible.

Here's a 1985-86 era 988 with the classic 80s era CAT logos:
https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/150243371/1985-cat-988b
https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/33835947/1986-cat-988b

For comparison, a 90s era 990:
https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/47864639/1994-cat-990
https://images.app.goo.gl/DCSvFoxjRuvYw1RV8

Plenty of research here:
https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/list/category/1060/wheel-loaders/manufacturer/caterpillar/model-group/988
https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/list/category/1060/wheel-loaders/manufacturer/caterpillar/model-group/990

You could see if you could get this printed with a General or Coal bucket:
http://shpws.me/O5P5

[CodyO]

You need a big walking dragline

[peteski]

You need a big walking dragline

Didn't some company produce N scale model of this type of a machine in brass.  I think Bob (Traincat2) bought one, and while he was still active, posted photos here.

[mu26aeh]

Following with interest, as I'm still looking for something to load my Cat 777F's, and the 43' MT Ortner cars

[cfritschle]

Didn't some company produce N scale model of this type of a machine in brass.  I think Bob (Traincat2) bought one, and while he was still active, posted photos here.

It was TWH Collectibles back in the spring/summer of 2013.

[James Costello]

Following with interest, as I'm still looking for something to load my Cat 777F's, and the 43' MT Ortner cars

Same advice, at least a 988 (WA600) but a 990 or 992 (WA800) would be better - a 777 is a big truck and the faster you load the better, so here's a photo from CAT with a 982 loading:

http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/Caterpillar/C718714?$cc-g$&fmt=pjpeg

But like most things, plant selection within a quarry or mine site process depends on a lot of variables.... but size wise anything like a 988 or bigger should look realistic. Comparably, you'd be looking at a 110t to 180t excavator.

[mu26aeh]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8306161,-77.0280333,149m/data=!3m1!1e3

Here's an overhead view of the equipment parked at the Vulcan Quarry in Hanover, PA that is on the CSX Hanover Sub.  You can see they host all sizes of front end loaders.

[wazzou]

Looks like two or three of these Ed and you are all set.

Again, way too recent if he wants them to be in the 70-80's era.

[nsbob]

If you are looking for modern equipment, go to a John Deere dealer and check out their key chains.  They sell a front end loader that scales out close to a large n scale one.  You will have to file off the part that attaches to the key chain, but for the price, it is an easy fix.  I have two of them for my layout and I am very satisfied with how they look.

[James Costello]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8306161,-77.0280333,149m/data=!3m1!1e3

Here's an overhead view of the equipment parked at the Vulcan Quarry in Hanover, PA that is on the CSX Hanover Sub.  You can see they host all sizes of front end loaders.

Interesting operation Adam - thanks for sharing. You can see a couple of large excavators and a loader down in the pit (the yellow part, NNW of the parked equipment), plus the variety around the plant like you say. Smaller loaders are obviously better for the loading of the road trucks that leave the plant vs the medium and large loaders for feeding the plant and TLO.

[Point353]

You need a big walking dragline

Wonder if this HO scale model of a smaller machine would be suitable:



https://www.reynaulds.com/products/Kibri/11254.aspx
https://www.trainz.com/products/kibri-11254-liebherr-excvtr-w-bucket

[glakedylan]

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7093977,-76.2451236,198m/data=!3m1!1e3

[thomasjmdavis]

Don't know how applicable this is to your prototype, but it'd be an eye-catching feature:

https://www.3000toys.com/Weiss-Brothers-4100-XPC-Mining-Shovel/sku/WEISS%20BROTHERSWBR022-1801

I couldn't find the dimensions for that equipment on the site with the video, but found another site that had them
https://www.keystonediecast.com/product/weiss-brothers-ph-4100-xpc-mining-shovel-1160/

While that equipment is probably used for the mining (vs loading rail cars), it does give an idea of the size of equipment used at mining sites.  Note the staircases on the side.  You might be able to kitbash something similar using the pilot house of a modern Great Lakes freighter combined with an O scale crane and the tracks from an HO version of one of those huge WWII siege guns.

Dimensions:  8″ long x 3″ wide x 5.5″ high

In N scale, that makes it wider than a 2 bay hopper is long, longer than most locomotives, and 6 or 7 stories tall.  That stuff is BIG. 

[NtheBasement]

A haul truck the size of a 777 (100 ton) would dump coal at a conveyor pit which would go thru a crusher to a flood loader.

[Petty Cash]

You could see if you could get this printed with a General or Coal bucket:
http://shpws.me/O5P5

That may make a good kitbash base too, perhaps using a bucket from a smaller HO model.   

Blair Line makes a decent truck dump.   I'm actually sitting at my workbench working on one as I'm typing this.