unfamiliar with Sam’s work, this diorama consists of several
small buildings which include a dog mine and a gravel crusher.
A dog mine is a small coal tipple, if you can really call it that,
where large dogs are used to bring the mine cars out of the
mine. Most of these mines were low-output and for local
consumption, but there is a track at the mine for shipments by
gondolas to the outside world. Other structures are still to be
determined for this section.
In keeping with the theme of a backwoods narrow gauge
railroad, the track for the layout will be laid using Code 55
rail, either flex track or hand-laid, and the turnouts will be
assembled using the Fast Tracks jigs for numbers 4, 5, and 6, as
required. The use of lighter rail will greatly enhance the look
and feel of the railroad, making it more appropriate for the
mountain areas that it is supposed to represent. Because of the
4: Street side showing the doctor’s office and two of the
company houses. The street is impregnated with coal
dust dropped from the many trucks running from the tip-
ple with loads for local use. The tracks will be at a slightly
higher level with a retaining wall and a steam pipe run-
ning along the top of it.
4
